Phuket is Thailand’s largest island that flaunts plenty of
beautiful tropical scenery including the Orchid
Garden; Rawai Beach; and the
panoramic treat of viewing three beaches at one time from the Phuket
Viewpoint.
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| Sterling Silver and Lapis Lazuli Majestic Blue Dangle Earrings |
Thailand is also home to
featured jewelry designer Matta Nandrakwang.
Like Brazil, Thailand is known for its plethora of gemstones
and many Thai jewelry designers including Srimuang
and Somluck Komolmith build
their elegant jewelry collections around them.
Nandrakwang opts for the soothing visual of opaque
semi-precious gemstones with smooth cuts; a decidedly understated alternative
to the icy, aloof beauty of sharply faceted, transparent gemstones.
Nandrakwang’s selections of dangle earrings, strand
necklaces and solitaire rings showcase white, pink and orange pearls,
turquoise, grey labradorite and sodalite in designs that are unabashedly
feminine and delicate.
The former nurse loved gemstones from youth, and developed a
passionate fixation for jewelry making upon seeing a young Hill Tribe girl
adorned in the culture’s acclaimed silver jewelry.
“I was born and raised in Chiang Rai. The area is rich with gemstones and the main
activity was their trade. I developed a
passion for a variety of gemstones,” she recalls. “I have also been enamored with Hill Tribe
people’s love of jewelry.
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| Sterling Silver and Turquoise Blue Surf Torsade Necklace |
I was about seven years old and I saw a young Hill Tribe
girl, who was probably the same age, wearing beautiful silver jewelry. I could not take my eyes off her. I realized I could not see myself being a
nurse for the rest of my life. I really
wanted to work with gemstones.”
Her Snow Princess Ring
features a beautiful swirl of silver gently holding a single white pearl. The sculptural Dolphin Treasure Ring highlights a shank cultivated into the lithe
form of the oceanic animal where a white pearl is perched on its tail.
The color combinations are of particular interest that range
from muted greys to hues that evoke a quite tropical paradise. The jeweler’s Lovely Lady Earrings with blue-green amazonite and transparent
citrine definitely bring to mind slightly humid breezes and the seawater smell
of balmy locales.
“I learned a lot about gems and jewelry over the years by
enrolling in gemology school. The
passion is still with me after many years.
I have opened my own studio. I
derive great joy from sharing my enthusiasm and knowledge of gems with my
visitors.”
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| Sterling Silver and Pearl Snow Princess Solitaire Ring |
2013 Jewelry Trend Alert: Gemstones great or small
are on trend for the year and Nandrakwang has a lovely array of colored opaque
gemstones.
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