The story of a necklace

At a time when bigger is not necessarily better, the handiwork of Nicole Whisenhunt proves that rules just apply to ordinary elements. The generous helpings of semi–precious stones laid on satin ribbons and velvet bibs or alternately delicate loops of gold create the ultimate accessory amid this season’s stark “forever” pieces.

Despite their grand proportions, Whisenhunt’s pieces remain elegant, not lost in the sea of excess. Rather, it’s romance with nature juxtaposed, plus modern nuances to make it a visual dissertation on progressive design. “All my pieces are hand-crafted and my components have individuality. I embrace the natural imperfections of my materials and consider them qualities of character. You can never have two completely identical pearls or stones — the shades and shapes are never exactly alike,” shares Whisenhunt.

The collection’s extraordinary nature comes from the love that comes with creating each piece. “I enjoy the complete design process, start to finish. Each step of the process has its own challenges. I’m a very imaginative person and conceptualizing a new piece is always exciting. I also love traveling and sourcing new materials. Then there’s the execution, which is the most difficult part of the process because I’m trying to recreate an idea in mind and at times the idea gets modified, but always to perfect each new piece. This is one of the reasons why it could take up to 96 hours to make a piece. Upon completion of a new design there is a sense of fulfillment, not only for me but for my girls as well,” enthused Whisenhunt.

As her neckpieces make their way around the most fashionable napes in town, Whisenhunt has recently added cuffs and earrings to her collection — adding just the right sparkle to the party season.

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Nicole Whisenhunt accessories can be found at Firma. For made-to-order items, call 0917-5719050.