A Sterling Success

CEBU, Philippines – Sy Oliver and James Young may not have had Cebuana jewellery designer, Annie Chen in mind when they said, “It ain’t what you do, it’s the way you do it.” However, that quote couldn’t have fit her more perfectly than the 93-carat diamond Buccellati necklace did around Imelda Marcos’ neck.

With a steady influx of jewellers and jewelry designers entering the age-old jewellery industry the world over, it takes more than just mastering the tricks of the trade to stand out like a ruby amidst a sea of diamonds.   It takes a dash of originality and imagination. What started out as a mere fascination for jewelry design, taking in the craft as a hobby, eventually led Chen to a string of exhibits both here and abroad, as well as her own jewelry boutiques in Cebu and Singapore allowing Chen to carve her name in silver in Asia’s stone circuit.

“Carefully using resources and materials the way a painter would use the colors in his palette, I pay careful attention to the quality and artistic balance in my craft to make the jewelry even more personal,” Chen said in her book Annie Chen: 21 Years of Fine Bridge Jewelry which was launched amidst the backdrop of an intimate cocktail party at the Gabriela Gallery along AS Fortuna St. last May 27, 2009.

Many of her audacious yet wearable designs were showcased during the launch, and even more in her book. Chen’s designs span four different collections from the sumptuous and unusual contemporary designs, to the modern yet intricate noir designs, to the whimsical divine designs, and to the more exotic esoteric designs.

A multi-faceted artist by heart, Chen clearly draws inspiration from the most basic things, only to add a fresh twist into it to come up with something that is uncannily elegant and yet simple. Chen’s designs usually involve “seminal geometric designs”.

“The last two decades of Annie Chen’s silver jewelry work were a period of amazing originality and interest both in terms of design and technique,” Jacinto Ramos said in the book’s foreword.

Well-attended by those who have caught on the rave for Annie Chen’s gems in Cebu, the launch of Chen’s book was a celebration of art, originality, and class.