JNA Nov/ Dec 2021

DESIGN 38 | JNA Nov/Dec 2021 of her star creations is a colour-change sapphire ring that opens in the shoulder to reveal a hidden ruby ring within the shank. She came up with the design after one of her clients requested for a one-of-a-kind gift for his wife. He promised her a ruby ring but felt that sapphire suited her best. Chung thought of a creative way to make both things happen. “It looks like a normal ring, but it has a little secret inside – the ruby ring, so he can say he did not break his promise. It is such a romantic surprise,” explained the designer. “I am always inspired by what my customer wants. They tell me their stories and I translate those into jewellery designs.” Geometry and jewellery Nesta Man’s jewellery designs are easily discernible – they stand out in form and style while exuding a modern, versatile vibe. As a designer, Man adheres to the two core principles of minimalism and exceptionality. “It has to look different – that is a keyword in my design philosophy. I always go for a combination of simple and distinctive when I design a jewellery piece,” the designer revealed. “Everyone has his or her own story and preference for jewellery. I create pieces based on that notion.” Man’s journey as a jewellery designer began in 2006 when he took a job as a clerk in a jewellery company despite his educational background in product design. Back then, he would work overtime and submit designs to his manager in the hopes of jumpstarting his career. His efforts paid off: A customer liked his work, and he was given more creative tasks. In 2016, he moved to Neva Ltd where he is now a senior designer. He describes his jewellery as contemporary, with design inspirations from fashion events where he learns about colour trends, and popular culture like music and movies as well as international news. For instance, Man came out with the Hope and Faith Collection of colourful jewellery pieces at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. He designs both gold and silver jewellery using an eclectic range of materials such as coloured gemstones, ceramic, cubic zirconia, glass and coloured cord. Over the last two years, purple, pinkish and green amethyst have risen in popularity, so these are evident in most of his works. According to Man, today’s buyers have become more focused on emotional satisfaction. As such, they are on the lookout for jewellery pieces that resonate with their values or express a message. This, in turn, translates to jewellery pieces with more do-it-yourself or transformable elements. “I expect the modern customer to look for something that represents hope and happiness, so more colourful, light and easy-to-wear jewellery will be in demand. That is why we find more karat-gold jewellery with enamel or coloured cord,” he remarked. “Icons of protection and good luck like the evil eye are also likely to appear in jewellery designs in the coming season.” Yukki Hui of Ikku London Ikku London 的 Yukki Hui Rosemary Chung of Tantra Jewellery Tantra Jewellery 的 Rosemary Chung Nesta Man of Neva Ltd Neva Ltd 的 Nesta Man Jewellery pieces by Tantra Jewellery Tantra Jewellery 的珠寶作品