MANILA, Philippines – For spring/summer 2016, head-turning jewelry gets extra playful with quirky designs and bursts of color. On-trend earrings are far from inconspicuous — Gucci’s retro danglers are tiered and tested, Oscar de la Renta’s flirty pair get a taste for the tassel, Alexander Wang’s chain links make for cool hardware, and Marni’s geometric style proves it’s hip to be square. Spiffy necklaces also proved their worth as a contender for next season’s accessory du jour. From layered pendants at Lanvin to sculptural chokers at J.W. Anderson and chunky beaded versions at Derek Lam, statement necklaces are equal parts slick and sleek.
But it’s not just the international fashion houses that are razzle-dazzled by beautiful bling. On the local fashion front, fine jewelers Paul Syjuco and Kristine Dee have us looking at the bright side with their exquisite take on sparkling jewelry. In fact, their recently launched collection, “Necessary Luxuries,” features brilliant investment pieces that shine, regardless of trend or season.
Much like the runway’s show-stopping accents, the homegrown collection doesn’t shy away from colorful brights. Taking inspiration from the medium itself, Kristine Dee highlights the distinctive shapes and lustrous hues of precious stones by crafting them into feminine, sophisticated forms. For Dee, “true luxury, in jewelry as in all things, isn’t about flash,” prioritizing instead the intricate workmanship and unexpected detailing that goes in her pieces. Some of her standout designs include diamond-encrusted tourmaline and jade dangling earrings, bejeweled rose gold cuffs, and dainty yellow gold chain necklaces accented with tiny rainbow-colored sapphires and moonstones.
Meanwhile, Paul Syjuco defines luxury as “having something one-off; something built meticulously, carefully, by hand.” And judging by the attention to detail present in his designs, his idea of luxury certainly shows. Eccentric gilded jewelry such as diamond teeth-shaped rings and slinky diamond-knot danglers give zingy appeal while his more ladylike styles (our favorite being a gleaming pair of indigo tanzanite and rose cut sapphire studs) make for ultra-pretty accents.
* * *
“Necessary Luxuries” is available for viewing at Aum Jewels Peninsula Manila and Firma Greenbelt 3. Photos courtesy of Paul Syjuco.