The Rare Stones Purveyor

Together with his wife, Achillea Teng, Michael Koh has shaped the tastes and opened the minds of their local clients for over a decade.

- Mavis Teo

Traditionally in Singapore, jewellery is seen mainly as a form of investment, and collectors would rarely put their money on gems beyond diamonds, rubies, blue sapphires, and emeralds set in conventional designs.

However, when Koh set up Caratell in United Square in 2004, he did it with the purpose of breaking away from the traditional. And also, driven by his own appreciation for rare gems and sense of adventure when hunting for a particular stone, the trained jewellery designer and silversmith managed to establish a name for being the purveyor of rare gems in Singapore and beyond.

Many of Koh’s showpieces feature astounding gems such as fine spinels; unusual pearls such as melo-melo and clam pearls; colour change garnets, sapphires, and apatites; even the extremely rare bixbite (a stunning red beryl). Having garnered international recognition for his creations, Koh is now known as one of Singapore’s key local talents, with Caratell being regularly invited to headline local exhibitions and festivals. It was also the first Singapore jeweller invited to showcase in the Designer Galleria at the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show this March.

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