JNA Sep/ Oct 2021

DESIGN 40 | JNA Sep/Oct 2021 寶石故事 Gem narratives C oloured gemstones lie at the heart of the creations of acclaimed Singapore-based jewellery designer Simone Ng. Inspired by history, architecture and culture, she shares her worldview and conveys enthralling tales of bygone eras through bejewelled marvels. Some 15 years ago, Ng established Simone Jewels to weave thematic narratives through coloured gems. Back in 2006, women in Singapore were just starting to view jewellery as vehicles for self-expression, she recalled. The market was dominated by mass-produced, commercial pieces, most of which were diamond- centric. Ng’s bespoke creations showcasing natural coloured gemstones came as a breath of fresh air. “Producing only a single unit of each design, our brand enabled women to own distinctive jewellery pieces that would bring out the best in them. This remains our objective to this day – creating exclusive high jewellery pieces with coloured gemstones, each with its own fascinating story,” Ng said. Driven by the brand’s ethos, “Yesterday’s Tales. Today’s Creations. Tomorrow’s Inspiration,” designs revolve around themes curated annually, with capsule collections reinforcing the narrative. Ng leads a small team of designers in developing Simone Jewels’ collections. “Design always starts with the theme, which is curated organically. Inspiration comes from exploration, intuition and that ‘aha’ moment.’ The theme then sets the foundation for colours, style and technique. The concept, always based on history, is researched extensively and then translated into jewellery designs,” she explained. Themed collections Coloured gemstones are chosen for their quality and rarity so that the jewels can be passed down from generation to generation. “We are story tellers, creating the unimagined art and bringing it to life. Intricate, whimsical and thematic, every design is perfected and intelligently engineered to create movement and transformability,” Ng remarked. In 2017, she focused on the artistic stylings of the Georgian era in her Quintessentially British collection. Romance du Art Nouveau in 2016 melded Japanese ukiyo-e principles with Art Nouveau elements. Her 2015 collection captured the exotic whimsy of One Thousand & One Tales, also known as Arabian Nights. Jewels of the Nile in 2014 showcased stunning gems from Africa in glamorous pieces with rich tones and delicate motifs. Jewellery designer Simone Ng weaves fascinating stories rooted in culture and history through her bejewelled creations that places the spotlight on coloured gemstones. 珠寶設計師吳美賢 (Simone Ng) 通過珠寶創作，把植根於文化和歷史 的迷人故事編織起來，並將焦點放在彩色寶石上。 | Olivia Quiniquini 程愛莉 |