It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that bling

Imagine forsaking your dull desk job to pursue your favorite pastime, and jetting to glamorous places all over the world to do it.

That’s exactly what Tamara Comolli did, and she made a sparkling entrance into the world of jewelry, to boot.

The German jewelry designer spent her childhood in Spain, France and Gibraltar. She studied business administration and advertising and actually spent five years in the corporate world. But the siren call of precious gems was too good to resist, and she left the business world to pursue her passion for colored stones and jewelry.

In the beginning, colored gemstones were more of a hobby for Comolli than a business. To acquaint herself with her new profession she studied gems, traveled to the mines, and collected her favorite stones. On one of her first buying trips, as she was looking for sapphires, a dealer, thinking she was an amateur, presented stones to her that she had rejected the previous day, thinking that she would not notice. But she did, and thus she began to earn respect in the field. In 1992 she combined her business acumen with her passion and knowledge of gems to launch the Tamara Comolli Fine Jewelry Collection.

Comolli lives and works in picturesque Lake Tegernsee, a place south of Munich where the peaceful and idyllic surroundings are a constant source of inspiration. Today Comolli continues to design and develop each piece of jewelry, traveling between ateliers in Germany and Italy to oversee their craftsmanship.

Her first design was “Curriculum Vitae,” which featured movable colored gemstones set in 18-karat gold. An immediate best seller, CV served to establish her business. It also became her signature style, and remains a recognizable Tamara Comolli design.

Since then, Comolli has continued to develop new designs and color stories while remaining true to her original concept: to create stylish, original, high-quality jewelry that emphasizes creative color combinations. Each piece tells a whimsical tale with its style and name. “Always Diamonds” and “Hourglass” are classic bracelets adorned with precious gemstones. The ever-popular “Mikado” is another bestseller, especially the colorful and playful bracelet style. The “Grapes” collection lets pearls shine in a whole new light, giving this traditional element a modern twist. Similarly, the “Roulette” collection gives the classic coin bracelet a fresh dimension. The “Signature” collection with its recognizable drop is an ever-present element in both design concepts. The new “Snowflakes” collection portrays the designer’s feminine sensibility in finely detailed designs.

Tamara has fun designing, and women have fun wearing her designs. The various color stories let women build a jewelry wardrobe they can easily mix and match. Comolli has over 25 different color stories in her collection with names like Hollywood, Marrakech, Candy, Rainforest, Indian Summer, Powder and Wild Berry.

“My jewelry should be worn every day — while shopping, meeting friends, dining, or attending events,” Comolli says. “Jewelry does not belong in a safe and does not need a special occasion.

“Accessories in the form of jewelry not only make a statement but also provide the finishing touch,” she says. “My jewelry underscores the individuality of a woman and speaks with her, not for her.”

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In the Philippines Tamara Comolli Fine Jewelry is available at Rustan’s.