At Aktual , we believe that every piece of jewelry holds a soul. Not only because it's handmade, piece by piece, with care and dedication, but because behind each creation lies a story, an origin, a family, and a faith that sustains us.
Our story begins in Barquisimeto, Venezuela , a city full of music, tradition, and craftsmanship. That's where we grew up, Katy and María Isabel , two dreamy sisters, daughters of a seamstress mother who taught us the value of detail with needle and thread, and a tirelessly entrepreneurial father who instilled in us a passion for creating and never giving up. We are a large family of nine siblings , all united, who have always supported us immensely, along with our nephews , who are also part of this journey and this shared dream.
Life took us down different paths: we both studied journalism , but while Katy dedicated herself to baking , María Isabel found her deepest calling in handmade jewelry . And although our paths seemed different, in the end we always knew there was something bigger we wanted to build: a project with purpose, with faith, and with our own hands .
With great enthusiasm and trust in God, we opened our first workshop in Madrid, located at 6 Fomento Street , very close to the Royal Palace. A small space, but full of light and energy, where we began to bring to life what is now Aktual : a handcrafted jewelry store that not only creates pieces but also shares experiences, classes, and workshops so others can discover the power of creating with their own hands.
Time proved us right. Three years later , we opened a second workshop in the Retiro neighborhood, at 20 Menorca Street , a charming space that has become a meeting point for locals, tourists, and craft lovers.
Here we've welcomed people from all over the world who come to take home not just a jewel, but an unforgettable memory. The local community supports us with love and pride, and every customer who walks through the door reminds us why we do what we do: because we believe in the beauty of authenticity, in the strength of the handmade, in the union of faith and a job well done.
And since life always surprises us, we were recently part of something very special: our workshop on Fomento 6 became the setting for the series "La Encrucijada," broadcast on Antena 3. There, Amanda, the protagonist and artisan jeweler, worked surrounded by our pieces, in the same place where we create and show every day. It was an unexpected gift that filled us with pride, because it meant that our story, in some way, also reached the screen.
Behind every step we take is faith in God and the protection of the Virgin Mary . She is always with us, in moments of uncertainty and in times of celebration. We firmly believe that nothing we have achieved would be possible without that spiritual guidance and the strength that comes from feeling supported by something greater than ourselves.
Today, Aktual is not just a handmade jewelry brand . It's a movement of love, faith, and community. Every piece we make tells a little piece of our history, our roots, our dedication. Every customer who chooses us becomes part of this family.
If you come to our workshops in Madrid, you'll see that you're not just entering a store: you're entering a living space, where creativity breathes, where you can learn, converse, give yourself a moment, and take home much more than a jewel: an experience that connects with your very soul .
Because for us, Aktual is just that: a reminder that what's authentic, what's made from the heart, always endures.
💛 Thank you for joining us, for supporting us, for believing in small projects that have a big purpose.
📍 Come visit us at: – Calle Fomento 6 (Royal Palace, Madrid) – Calle Menorca 20 (Retiro, Madrid)
