NICOLE WHISENHUNT
Storytelling is a big part of Nicole Whisenhunt’s love for jewellery. Using precious stones and metals as her canvas, Whisenhunt creates a fantastic narrative that’s both art and accessory. The spirit of sentimentality is also very much alive in her pieces, something which adds an extra dimension of meaning into what she fashions. “I do a lot of reworking of old jewellery into something new,” Whisenhunt explains. “Most of the time clients are commissioning a piece which holds sentimental value to them. With that said, I am often asked to interpret their story into the jewellery [and] I think this is what makes my work unique.”
Her career, which has burgeoned beautifully throughout the years, finds its humble roots in 2004, when Whisenhunt first explored beginner level “jewellery making”. As she advanced her skills, Whisenhunt brought her talents to Europe and trained at L’Ecole Van Cleef and Arpels. Now, the jeweller manages her own company with her own in-house plateros and craftsmen. Though she laments the few number of goldsmiths in the country, she also believes in the opportunity of growing the market. “What we need to do is grow more interest in the art and skill of jewellery making. By doing this, the younger generation can learn and continue the trade,” she says.
Especially at a time like this, when most jewellers recognise the growing movement within their own fields, Whisenhunt hopes to bring about more local influences into her work. “I have yet to create a Filipino-inspired collection in fine jewellery but given the time and opportunity I would love to design and create pieces inspired by our local heritage,” she says.
Whisenhunt is now working on a new collection inspired by ancient Eastern mythology. If it’s anything like her previous works, it’s likely to include influences from her favourite movements— Art Deco, La Belle Époque, Art Nouveau.