Splendor in the glass
June 5, 2004 | 12:00am
I have always been attracted to accessories, especially the unique and inex- pensive kind. Are we not always on the lookout for good buys, allowing us to own treasure troves at minimum expense?
Well, I just discovered a tre-asure cove recently, when I was looking for a jewelry box maker and my sister Annie recommended her friend Chari Villanueva Cabral. Off I went to her atelier where, lo and behold, I saw this pile of bracelets, necklaces and earrings. I literally forgot what I was there for because I started to try on piece after piece after piece. I was so confused and depressed after I made my selections. Confused because there were so many exquisite pieces and I couldn’t decide which ones to get, and depressed because I knew I had to limit my choices to only a few pieces. My heart’s desires looked the most expensive pieces of the lot, but to my surprise the pieces turned out to be really affordable. My new friend Chari, I found out that afternoon, is a gemologist by profession, having graduated from the Gemological Institute of America, Sta. Monica, in 1990. Chari put her studies to good use by apprenticing with H. Stern Jewelers, world renowned for their exquisite jewelry and gemstones. Her stint there defined her passion for jewelry and trained her eye to spot good pieces. Upon her return to Manila, she decided to design and manufacture jewelry on a limited scale.
Chari says, "Being a wife and a mother is a full time job. Apart from my jewelry business, I am also managing the family-owned sugar farm in Negros so my cup is more than full! I wish I could spend more time on my jewelry business!"
With her tight schedule, she has learned to compromise. Instead of painstakingly designing and manufacturing every piece, she would go to different jewelry fairs abroad and bring home the latest fashion from the different artists of her choice. Her style is diverse and contrasts excite her: Mixing old with the new, incorporating metal with fabric or leather. She likes the look of oxidized metal and prefers fancy cuts and stones. Coming from a family of jewelry aficionados, Chari has been exposed to fine jewelry since childhood. She noticed the different jewelry trends of the times and would take note of the exquisite creations of great designers. Aside from diamonds, she likes colored gems and her favorites are the rich hues of tanzanites and rubies to the warm tones of amber and the cool tones of larimar, a newly discovered blue stone that’s very similar to aquamarine.
Recently, Chari took a fancy to glass jewelry. Glass beads, glass cabochons, glass stones. "There is something in glass that evokes romance, maybe it’s the history or the origin of the piece. The more popular ones are hand-blown Venetian. But stained glass and dichroic(a product of technology where coatings are made with molecular films of metal, primarily silicon & titanium oxides, evenly shuffled into multiple layers) are now being set on sterling silver too. Finally, there is Vintage glass, which is making a comeback and the stone pieces are restored to their original timeless beauty and set on soldered brass or silver" she patiently explains her craft.
This vintage glass collection in these pages come from the works of early 20th-century glass stone artisans who developed a cottage industry between 1915 and 1945 in the remote areas of Bohemia, Bavaria, Italy and France. Unfortunately, some of the old-world secrets in technique and color have been lost, which make these pieces rare and one of a kind treasures. Surprisingly, these charmers are very affordable and can be worn whether you’re dressed up or dressed down.
Coincidentally, Chari’s glass Hellenistic collection matched Lulu Tan Gan’s summer collection. Inspired by the movie Troy, Tan Gan’s pieces are what Helen of Troy would include in her wardrobe – off shoulders and one shoulder Grecian pieces.
"I have to follow trends, that’s what fashion is all about!" Lulu exclaims.
As for Chari, who is enjoying her life as wife, mother, business woman and jeweler, she says women should follow their dreams – life is too short.
"Women should enjoy life! Their lives should be filled with love and laughter, and they should always wear great jewelry!"
Chari’s shop is Briolette. Call 634-0142, 688-8062; Lulu Tan Gan’s shop is located at SM Megamall.
Well, I just discovered a tre-asure cove recently, when I was looking for a jewelry box maker and my sister Annie recommended her friend Chari Villanueva Cabral. Off I went to her atelier where, lo and behold, I saw this pile of bracelets, necklaces and earrings. I literally forgot what I was there for because I started to try on piece after piece after piece. I was so confused and depressed after I made my selections. Confused because there were so many exquisite pieces and I couldn’t decide which ones to get, and depressed because I knew I had to limit my choices to only a few pieces. My heart’s desires looked the most expensive pieces of the lot, but to my surprise the pieces turned out to be really affordable. My new friend Chari, I found out that afternoon, is a gemologist by profession, having graduated from the Gemological Institute of America, Sta. Monica, in 1990. Chari put her studies to good use by apprenticing with H. Stern Jewelers, world renowned for their exquisite jewelry and gemstones. Her stint there defined her passion for jewelry and trained her eye to spot good pieces. Upon her return to Manila, she decided to design and manufacture jewelry on a limited scale.
Chari says, "Being a wife and a mother is a full time job. Apart from my jewelry business, I am also managing the family-owned sugar farm in Negros so my cup is more than full! I wish I could spend more time on my jewelry business!"
With her tight schedule, she has learned to compromise. Instead of painstakingly designing and manufacturing every piece, she would go to different jewelry fairs abroad and bring home the latest fashion from the different artists of her choice. Her style is diverse and contrasts excite her: Mixing old with the new, incorporating metal with fabric or leather. She likes the look of oxidized metal and prefers fancy cuts and stones. Coming from a family of jewelry aficionados, Chari has been exposed to fine jewelry since childhood. She noticed the different jewelry trends of the times and would take note of the exquisite creations of great designers. Aside from diamonds, she likes colored gems and her favorites are the rich hues of tanzanites and rubies to the warm tones of amber and the cool tones of larimar, a newly discovered blue stone that’s very similar to aquamarine.
Recently, Chari took a fancy to glass jewelry. Glass beads, glass cabochons, glass stones. "There is something in glass that evokes romance, maybe it’s the history or the origin of the piece. The more popular ones are hand-blown Venetian. But stained glass and dichroic(a product of technology where coatings are made with molecular films of metal, primarily silicon & titanium oxides, evenly shuffled into multiple layers) are now being set on sterling silver too. Finally, there is Vintage glass, which is making a comeback and the stone pieces are restored to their original timeless beauty and set on soldered brass or silver" she patiently explains her craft.
This vintage glass collection in these pages come from the works of early 20th-century glass stone artisans who developed a cottage industry between 1915 and 1945 in the remote areas of Bohemia, Bavaria, Italy and France. Unfortunately, some of the old-world secrets in technique and color have been lost, which make these pieces rare and one of a kind treasures. Surprisingly, these charmers are very affordable and can be worn whether you’re dressed up or dressed down.
Coincidentally, Chari’s glass Hellenistic collection matched Lulu Tan Gan’s summer collection. Inspired by the movie Troy, Tan Gan’s pieces are what Helen of Troy would include in her wardrobe – off shoulders and one shoulder Grecian pieces.
"I have to follow trends, that’s what fashion is all about!" Lulu exclaims.
As for Chari, who is enjoying her life as wife, mother, business woman and jeweler, she says women should follow their dreams – life is too short.
"Women should enjoy life! Their lives should be filled with love and laughter, and they should always wear great jewelry!"
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