How Veterans Taking Their Businesses Forward During The Pandemic

Three veterans from the local jewellery scene share the new ways they have been taking their businesses forward during the pandemic.

- Karen Tee And Lynette Koh

“What I sell is totally unnecessary,” says Marilyn Tan, a bespoke jewellery designer, smiling wryly. But as her customers tell her, some beautifully designed sparkle can lift the spirits during these challenging times and provide a silver (or gold) lining to an otherwise gloomy day.

We speak to three local jewellery industry figures – Tan, JeweLuxe founder Angela Loh and vintage jewellery specialist Brenda Kang – in the following pages. Despite the fallout from the pandemic, they have found new ways to make their business more effective. The future is bright for them.

MODERN VINTAGE

Vintage jewellery expert Brenda Kang took advantage of the pandemic to introduce vintage aficionados to contemporary jewellers who are producing collectibles of the future.

With travel still far below pre-pandemic levels, vintage gem specialist Brenda Kang came up a novel way to offer her clients access to unique bijoux. Last September, the founder of Revival Jewels curated an exhibition of four of the world’s leading artist-jewellers – JAR, Bhagat, Hemmerle and Forms HK – at her Wheelock Place boutique.

“I have admired these contemporary jewellers for many years. With our clients unable to travel, many were keen to experience something different in Singapore. They had seen some of these jewellers’ creations in auction catalogues or on Instagram and love what they do, but never had a chance to try them on,” says Kang, who spent 15 years at auction house Christie’s as a jewellery specialist before opening Singapore’s only vintage jewellery store to date.