I started my gemology studies in London February 2009. The whole Gemology program took 6 months of two courses combined; Diamond Grading and Colored Stone Essentials. My class was a pool of students from 18 to 60, ranging from singer, to diamond trader, born-to-the-family-business, designer, silver-smith, fresh grad or the more experienced professional in the trade – exciting that we came from all walks of life, all different nationality. It was very diverse and international setting.

Diamond grading was 7 weeks of intense diamond grading. Each day was spent in the lab looking at diamonds under the microscope. We learned the history and mining practices in the diamond trade, as well as the 4Cs – carat color clarity cut ; which is basically the basis of diamond grading. We had different tools and equipments in the lab; devices to measure the florescence of a diamond, refractive index and specific gravity, an ever dependable flashlight (white and yellow light), the loop and a measuring card for mm and angles. We learned about the 10 other kinds of simulants that look like diamonds. We also learned about colored and rare kinds of diamonds (ie diamonds that change color in different light and diamonds that florescence). It was very technical and interesting. I honestly felt like a scientist sometimes.

Colored Stone Essentials was a 5 month course where we studied the different kinds of gemstones with importance to Rubies, Sapphires and Emeralds. We were trained to check for treatments and fracture filled stones. It was here I also  met some of my favorite gems like fire agate, fire opal, demantoid garnet, star sapphire, rutilated quartz, color changing Alexandrite, and paraiba tourmaline. These rocks are a result of different chemical compositions + chemical structure + thousands of years + heat and pressure. The world of rocks is indeed very interesting even more so when viewed under the microscope – its like viewing an entire galaxy!

My first collection is the Fierce Angel Collection this is inspired by angel wings, floral landscapes and renaissance jewelry. I aim to make the pieces intricate, dainty and graceful.

My materials: I use white metal alloy dipped in zinc. I like this material because it is very light and it does not fade or tarnish. If it gets dirty, simply soak the pieces in detergent solution for 6 hours and brush the item. It will be clean and shiny once more.The stones are swarovski and preciosa crystals, they are brilliant and flawless.

I have approximately 30 pieces for this collection, more earrings, necklaces, and clutch bags being added. It takes approximately 3-7days to make a piece.

Please visit CURA V, R2 Rockwell Powerplant Mall to see pieces from the Fierce Angel Collection or contact me at (+63)9179585217 to make an appointment.

Jewelry designer Wynn Wynn Ong is a very knowledgeable and interesting woman, she has a very graceful presence and sweet voice. She is intelligent and somewhat poetic in her thoughts. Its always nice to talk to her. I intern with her for a few months, and asked her to help me write a recommendation letter for GIA.

I worked on a portfolio to at very least have credentials to apply for GIA scholarship- I first learned about the scholarship while I was in college,when Dad was asking for my plans – and I had presented him the steps I needed to take…I came across the GIA website, and saw open application for scholarship – so I worked in the next two years to get that.

I applied and after 1 and a half month, I received a letter from GIA. Ofcourse I thought it was a “sorry but thank you letter” but to my surprise… as I read my email carefully, I was selected as a recipient for the GIA Endowment Scholarship, soon after, I received a letter by post.. I was soooo happy I got the scholarship!! so here I was going back to my favorite city London!! – it was another dream come true, as I remember clearly on my last day in London the year before, I was looking out the student hall of Central Saint Martins, saying Ill be back again…. visualize your dreams, and they can come true….

When I graduated from college, I expressed to my dad that I wanted to pursue a career in jewelry design. He asked me what steps I needed to take to be able to achieve that, and I gave him a big plan… (hahaha!) He looked at the possibilities (but was careful not to burst my bubble kindly enough) and told me to take first take an immersion course in Central Saint Martins London, Experimental Jewelry and Building a Jewelry Business to see if I would really like to pursue this career.

The short course only lasted 2 weeks, but it was the perfect combination of studio work and classes to get my feet wet in the jewelry industry. In the first course; Experimental Jewelry, I learned to soldier and polish silver, and to create resin molds and pieces. In this course I realized how laborious it is to make handmade jewelry, I commend all the goldsmiths and silversmiths for their laborious work. The second course; Building a Jewelry Business was an in-dept practice of what designers do in London, from the associations they belong to, to funding, to hallmarking, consigning, creating collateral, pricing and simple accounting.

I spent my graduation gift and money in London, for those two weeks as it was a burst of my creative immersion and appetite! I learned and was inspired more from the museum trips to the British Museum and Design Museum. The best gift was to have the freedom to explore a new city on my own. The next two weeks I spent traveling with my friend Mica Santos in Switzerland and Italy. It was such a beautiful and good experience.

Here you see some of my pics around London, including works in the studio at Central Saint Martins, my instructor Anastacia Young who doesnt talk much but happens to be the author of my favorite Jewelry book Bible of Jewelry Techniques, my finished piece of resin + silver jewelry, my Spanish classmate Christina whom makes beautiful lace-like leather jewelry, pics from the British Museum with Egyptian artifacts (still amazes me all the time), pics from the Design Museum and the Science hospital (something) museum near the student hall, my friend Anna Villalon-Fraser whom I have mentioned earlier regarding my design influence from Harajuku Japanese fashion, and pic of the perfect English gentleman (and friend) Jayme whom was my personal tourguide of the city.

I designed this wooden jewelry piece (below) in photoshop. It was my dream to work with wood. I also had an increasing awareness of wood jewelry from my clients whom were requesting for kamagong cuffs. I had gotten in touch with some suppliers whom work with kamagong, but the process of ordering and getting the correct size and proportion was a tedious one since I was never really talking to the craftsmen themselves.

In January 2012, I was reconnected to Nico Jose thru facebook. I did not recognize him at first then I realized he was the brother of my batchmate Kathryn Jose from Poveda, and friend of my sister Monica. I had met him years ago, when we were in highschool, and by this time he was already an accomplished artist who dabbled in sculpture, furniture design, painting, pyrography. He is also a studio and gallery ownrer.

I told him the synchronicity of my thesis The Commercial Art Complex with working studios, my desire to learn sculpture and painting, and my dream to create wood jewelry. I was curious how Nico’s work came about, and the more I learned about him and his work, the more interesting he becomes. He practices a field of multidisciplinary careers. He has harness his interests enough to make it his evident talent and skill. Once very eccentric, he’s a young man full of character.

I attended his show in Rockwell Feb, 2012. We met and talked about some designs in wood, soon i was with him in his studio already cutting wood and sanding it.

*After Nico’s graduation in Environmental Studies and Studio Art (double degree) in the States, he came back to the Philippines and established his studio and gallery with his whole family behind him – a very industrious and creative family.

I’m glad to know and work with Nico, more so learn important traits and disciplines of a driven designer artist.

We are currently working on wooden cuffs and jewelry… please watch out for our pieces!

www.nicojose.com

Years later (2004), I found a treasure box of a shop The Beadshop sold glass beads and supplies. They also had a very skilled staff who knew knotting and beading. Although I also know how to bead, I seek help from the staff to put my pieces together so I could produce more of my designs. I’d buy beads, draw my designs and put em in little ziplocks… then sold em. That went on for a few months – it was only when I visited F.A.M.E. show and saw companies like AVATAR where I became very interested to pursue accessory design.

These are some of my pieces from 2005

Back in 2007, I approached my friend Emi Jorge of Solea/CuraV and showed her my items. I asked her if she would be interested to carry my items in her shop. We met and talked, and she encouraged me to take further studies. I did not really understand why then. I even told her I was happy with beading but she told me that if I knew more skills and knew more about (fine) jewelry making, I would be able to translate my creativity in fine jewelry. I was puzzled. I did not know anything about (fine) jewelry making. I was initially bored with its technicality, and I had no idea how to design fine jewelry. But there was something about what she said that made me stop bead making, maybe because I realized my work wasn’t good enough. So I stopped and decided to take the next step.

I looked at the available accessories and products in the market. I browse thru magazines. I studied the design and construction of jewelry. I was curious. I also researched in the processes. Soon, I was constantly inspired and so much design ideas would come to my head. I was a 4th year architecture student too. I did not have the money or the time to make them, but I would just visualize and sketch them – Im not sure why I did it. I think I was already preparing my portfolio for when I graduate, or I was thinking that one day I would probably be able to make them, and if I wanted to become a jewelry designer I knew I had to be better than what I had been making… Every other jewelry designer in Manila seem to come from a family of jewelers, so unlike them, I felt – I had to teach myself. So I sketched and sketched till I could find the answers…

My early works were inspired by Harajuku themes. I had a fascination with Harajuku dressing, toys, pastel and bright colors. My friend Ana Villalon-Fraser lived in Japan and introduced me to Japanese fashion and trends. We made jewelry together and dog collars. The pendants here are hand painted by her. Shes so much fun and creative. She even made me a hand painted M.O.P. for my birthday. Theres something undeniably happy and childlike about Harajuku. Thats also how I saw her, she was fun and refreshing and a starting jewelry designer like me. We had the same dreams. She doesnt know it, but she influenced me in my career. It got me very excited to create.

http://www.clickthecity.com/metro/?p=1800 Click to view slideshow.