MAKEDONSKI RUBNI DEKO

This jeweler (Македонски Рубин Деко) specializes in "Macedonian rubies", a semi-precious stone whose color oscillates between pale red and pink. A former punk musician, Dejan Škartov, aka Deko, offers brooches, earrings and pendants set with these "rubies" from the Prilep region. The result is superb, inexpensive (from 1,500 MKD) and 100% local. Of particular note are the filigree suns and butterflies: fine silver filaments soldered together to give the effect of embroidery.