Costume beauty

LOOKING AS if dug up fresh from a sunken ship, what looked like a small fortune in opals was placed near my plate during the launch of Les Nereides in Greenbelt 3 last January. Named after the daughters of Nereus, the Old Man of the Sea culled from Greek myth, one of course expects a certain degree of opulence and mystery. Imagine the surprise we felt when the small fortune in “opals” cost well below P10,000.

If precious stones are one of nature’s gifts to mankind, then their polishing and setting are mankind’s gifts to themselves. The old master jeweler Faberge achieved his degree of artistry by veering away from focusing on the stone: in his case, he used the precious stones only as secondary tools to craftsmanship and design. In the case of Les Nereides, a French purveyor of costume jewelry, eliminating the precious stone altogether gives the artisan free rein to focus on its appearance, instead of its purported value.

And my, what an appearance! Collections presented during the launch included pieces inspired by jellyfish, anemone, ballerinas, birds, and gardens. The pieces were executed in handpainted enamel, gold-plated brass, and artificial stones.

The company was brought to the Philippines by Peejay and Anne Yambao, Arthur and Martha King, Ninoy Roco, and jewelers Kristine Dee and Paul Syjuco. The whole thing began when Mr. Yambao made an inquiry directly to the company about a bracelet that charmed his wife Anne. It just so happened that Les Nereides, owned by the Amaddeo family, was looking into expansions in the area. To date, the Philippines is the 40th country to carry the brand’s merchandise, with a reach spanning from Europe, Asia, and Australia.

Old World- women might sniff at the thought of wearing costume jewelry. While precious stones may be traded in times of need or want, costume jewelry serve only as adornment. But perhaps, there is more nobility in buying an object not for its projected financial value, but the joy in can give to its wearer. “You invest in fine jewelry, but sometimes, you need to invest in yourself,” was Mr. Syjuco’s view. “Adornment has always been a strong psychological [ need] for human beings. Humans always [want to] create something beautiful.”

Maybe, that something beautiful is yourself.

Les Nereides is located at the Ground Level of Greenbelt 3. —