My grandmother always had on a classic jade disc pendant and a pair of 24K gold earrings. She hardly took them off and when she passed away, they were cherished items that were then passed on to my aunts and my mom. As for my mom, she had a very retro-chic chalcedony and gold pendant necklace that she wore in the ‘70s and was usually paired with platform cork heels and a simple white maxi dress,” shares Brenda Kang, founder of Revival Vintage Jewels, of her earliest memories that involve jewellery.
These memorable pieces have, in a way, paved the way to where she is now: The proprietor of one of Singapore’s most respected vintage jewellery boutiques, as well as a leading jewellery expert in the region, thanks to her years at Christie’s, where she handled some of the world’s most fabulous jewels.
Walk us through your journey through the world of jewellery so far. What moments particularly stand out for you?
When I was working with Singapore Airlines as a flight attendant, I was very much drawn to the various jewellery stores and museums that were so different from the ones we had in Singapore.
It was fascinating to see the vintage stores and learn about the history of jewellery. I then decided to take a course in Gemmology at GIA in Thailand. I topped my class and I was offered a role as a teacher at GIA in Thailand after receiving my Gemmologist diploma. I later had an opportunity to attend a GIA career fair in Los Angeles in 1997. I interviewed with Christie’s and was lucky – they were looking for someone bilingual who could be based out of New York. I moved to New York City and signed on as a trainee jewellery specialist that same year.
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