Of late, there are so many jewellery designers out there. And to us consumers, what makes a jewellery designer credible is the fact that they have a degree from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). True, having that degree does make them credible and makes them way more knowledgeable in gemstones and diamonds than a person who has none of that “formal” training. But to be called a designer? You have to be original.
The very reason why designers like JAR (Joel Arthur Rosenthal) and Cindy Chao command high prices *and they have that right to do it* is this– they design and create original pieces. They are gemstone curators (they collect stones all the time and work with them when they create the right design for it), but they do not curate ready- made pieces from their travels to re- brand as their own. (Sadly, a lot of big name jewellery “designers” do this– I just discovered an NY- based “designer” who does)
One of the very few Philippine- based jewellery designers I have grown to admire over the years is Wynn Wynn Ong.