Famous fashion designer Diane Von Furstenberg once said, "Jewelry is like the perfect spice - it complements what's already there." And we couldn't agree more! Jewelry has that incredible power to make you feel unique and to tell a story. Like adding spices to your cooking is the best way to add your personal touch, the same thing is with jewelry. Just one statement piece can make such a difference. Imagine food without salt, bland, right? Today, we'll introduce a unique spice, oops, earrings you never knew you needed until now. Remember these two words; Barbanski rančin.

Earrings that Even Spanish Queen Letizia Wore

Sometimes we're even surprised at how many gems Croatia hides. And Barbanski rančin proves to us that we have to dig and dig. Like, who would have ever thought that a small picturesque medieval village in Istria hides such fabulous jewelry? With only 235 inhabitants in the southern part of eastern Istria, Barban has written its name on the pages of numerous world newspapers and portals. The reason for this is the Spanish Queen Letizia and the Barban earrings, the so-called rančin. Namely, during her visit to Croatia, the queen completed her outfit with these beautiful earrings. Known for her refined fashion combinations, which often end up on numerous magazines' front pages, Queen Letizia won the hearts of many fashion enthusiasts with this outfit and earrings. As we said, jewelry has the power to tell an incredible story. And the one behind Barbanski rančin takes us all the way back to the 11th century.

Story Behind 'Barbanski rančin' Earrings

For a long time, the beauty of Barbanski rančin earrings was hidden at the bottom of the ground of the Istrian peninsula. In the Gočan excavations, its outstanding design and brilliance finally saw the light of day. The discovery of these earrings indicates the existence of an ancient Croatian necropolis whose exact location is unknown, and it belonged to the costume of the Slavic peasant population. The earring dates from the middle of the 11th century, when Istria belonged to the Holy Roman Empire, to the beginning of the 14th century, when Istria became part of the Venetian Republic. Just imagine the stories this earring could tell! The earring is originally silver with gold plating and has three strawberries, made using the casting technique. It is protected by registration in the Register of Cultural Properties of the Republic of Croatia, and its specimens are kept in the Archaeological Museum of Istria in Pula.

The ones that Queen Letizia wore were replicas, of course! But their design follows the original beautifully, thanks to the jewelry designer Klaudija Vorić.

Where to Shop Barbanski rančin Earrings?

We know you have been waiting for this from the moment you started reading the article. Unfortunately, there are only a few places where you can shop Barbanski rančin. In the souvenir shops of the Archaeological Museum in Pula and the Ethnographic Museum in Pazin, the Brijuni National Park, the TZ of the Municipality of Barban, and the jewelry store Zlatarna David. Located at Giardini street in the city of Pula, Zlatarna David carries a wide selection of handcrafted traditional Croatian jewelry, so we are sure you will find the perfect pair to match your style. Did we mention that Queen Letizia wore Barban earrings from this jewelry store? So you will have the same jewelry piece as a queen! We can't imagine a better souvenir to take home from Croatia, than Barbanski rančin.