HOW TO GET THE BEST BESPOKE JEWELLERY
The Expert: Italian jeweller/gemstone specialist Danilo Giannoni, 47. Now based here (he is married to a Singaporean) with Arte Oro, a bespoke jewellery atelier which he opened in February, he has worked with established brands like Bulgari, Crivelli and Damiani, and worked in Hong Kong for nine years.
Always Ask for Ethically sourced Stones
“Don’t support blood diamonds. And everyone should respect nature. We are now leveraging blockchain technology to track gemstones from mining to certification and after sales, so our clients know the origins of each stone and can be assured that it comes from sustainable sources. From 2020, Arte Oro will no longer purchase any stone that was not recorded from the day it was mined.”
Choose Only the Stones You Love
It seems obvious enough, but sometimes people are swayed by others’ opinions or advice to pick something they like less. Your jewellery should complement you. So, the stones should always appeal to you the most. Then you won’t end up wearing a piece that you don’t like.
Clarity Over Size
The three factors for evaluating any stone are cut, clarity, and colour. Choose the purest and most wellcut stones possible. Don’t buy stones with inclusions and defects, even if it means you have to sacrifice size. It’s better to buy a cleaner stone if the choice is between a smaller and cleaner one and a larger one with defects.
Try a Different Method of Mounting
Be adventurous: Ask for semi-precious stones to be mounted upside down (also known as reverse setting) for a different and more modern look and texture. They can be used as accents around a main stone. “I showed a client pictures of a piece I’d done like that, and she requested a similar one immediately.”
Bespoke Jewellers Can Do More
“We can remake your old heirloom jewellery into personalised designs that are more modern and suit your personality. We can also help to restore, repair and resize jewellery.”