Jewelry is forever

MANILA, Philippines — In good times and in bad, jewelry survives, even flourish, as a business.

Kristine Dee, who has designed jewelry for over two decades, says her clients do not see jewelry simply as an accessory but as something personal and enduring.

That the value of jewelry can appreciate over time makes it an attractive investment.

“There’s comfort in knowing that something so beautiful also holds value”, especially as gold continues to appreciate through the years, Dee adds, as she points out that the price of gold right now is at its best.

Dee marked recently her 22 years as a jewelry designer with “Reminisce,” an exhibit showcasing timeless pieces handcrafted for special clients, heirloom items reimagined for customers who wanted to make them more contemporary and custom-made jewelry.

Several one-of-a-kind pieces were on sale to benefit the designer’s favorite charities.

The curated fine jewelry exhibit highlighted pieces from Dee’s most memorable collections over the last two decades.

Many of the pieces on view were graciously lent by their owners for the duration of the show, including one or two pieces from the family of the late national artist for sculpture Napoleon Abueva.

From industrial designer to jeweler

Formally trained as an industrial designer, Dee’s academic background is evident in the many geometric and asymmetrical pieces she has crafted through the years, one reason probably why her work caught the eye of Abueva.

The eminent sculptor bought the Chamber Choker, a sculptural piece with unstranded pearls moving freely inside a carefully constructed sculptural case. This was a main feature in Dee’s first solo exhibit, “Metals in Motion”, in 2003.

Abueva, known as the father of modern Philippine sculpture, bought the piece on the spot for his wife. It is an undeniable endorsement by an esteemed artist of the new jewelry designer.

Falling back on her industrial design training, Dee’s works are edgy and less traditional. She incorporates baroque and gothic elements. But she can also be whimsical, as shown by several floral pieces and an explosion of colors.

The Vanda Collection of 2006 features petals rendered in precious metals that remain soft and exquisite.

Vanda is the species to which the Philippines’ renowned and most-prized orchid waling-waling belongs.

“I just apply my own sense of style,” Dee says of her work.

Her pieces are original, either custom-made or limited editions. About 60 percent of her output, she says, are one-offs.

Jewelry that tells a story

Her designs have been described as “intelligent, striking and thoughtful”.

“My clients, both young and old, appreciate jewelry that tells a story—pieces that are beautifully designed, thoughtfully crafted and made to last,” Dee says.

Even younger people, she adds, are drawn to timeless pieces they can truly live with—“wear now, love every day and keep forever”.

Dee will agree to rework an old item for a client. But he or she will have to accept her design plan.

The designer travels around the world to get the precious stones for her jewelry. She brings them, or ships them home, cut to her specifications.

But the gold, both yellow and white—the main frame for the pieces she designs—are sourced locally. Dee says the country has enough supply of the valuable metal to meet her needs.

Giving back

Since her pieces are either one of a kind or limited edition, Dee only operates a store cum workshop in Bonifacio Global City and a retail outlet at Rustan’s Department Store.

Proceeds from the Reminisce exhibit benefited Pilgrim Queen of the Family, the Women’s Board of St. Luke’s Medical Center, Immaculate Conception Academy Alumni Association (through homecoming classes Aztecs, Rizons and Cozacks) and the Hope for Lupus Foundation.

“This is my way of giving back, helping others [by] using the skills and talents that come from our Lord. As a devout Catholic, I see it as my duty and it is my honor to help those in need,” Dee says. —Contributed INQ