2nd year in, I found a humble little office in Central near Sheung Wan, and I began to receive bespoke appointments. This little studio has served as a place of design, a buyer showroom (when I had a collection), and an occasional party pad! An unassuming office meant low overheads, and that has been critical to surviving the multiple lows tides that hit over a decade. I was also able to compete on prices especially when we had high-end limited edition products to wholesale. Pearly is a one-woman show, and it’s been a lean mean smart machine!
Bespoke fine jewelry work rolled in soon after we had a home, with a friend’s referral of a lovely Swiss HK couple, I created my first pair of bespoke wedding rings in HK. This design went on to be our calling card, and was recreated again years later with a redesign. The concept is when you put the 2 rings together, they create a perfect circle, so no 2 sets would fit the same. It was a great start that finally solidifies what I was doing for years. Plus I was the midst of studying Jewelry Design at GIA at the time. It was a great decision to return to school to learn how to properly design fine jewelry since I only had trained in silversmithing. I learned how stones were set, all the basics and the art of creating intricate pieces. The class laid the strong foundation of what I ended up honing in and fully focused on now.
It’s really amazing how this little unassuming studio has become my second home. The same couple returned recently to have their rings refurbished. It was wonderful to see the rings came back, and them having 2 kids. The rings I’ve named Complete Circle, I guess that’s what Oprah would call a full circle moment.