Simone Jewels’ Bombshell collection features pieces that embody old‑world glamour accentuated with modern touches
Cover Simone Jewels’ Bombshell collection features pieces that embody old‑world glamour accentuated with modern touches

The homegrown jeweller impresses with its Bombshell collection, which is at once wearable and whimsical

“Leaving a legacy is less important than being remembered for doing my best,” says Simone Ng. It may be a humble statement, but jewellery enthusiasts remember the creative director of homegrown jeweller Simone Jewels for delivering her very best with each new collection.

This year, she ups the ante once again with the Bombshell collection. Inspired by the documentary, Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story, Ng creates a range of bejewelled pieces that exude cinematic splendour and old-world glamour. The film chronicles the patent that the 1940s Hollywood star Hedy Lamarr filed for frequency‑hopping technology in 1941, which eventually was the precursor to the wifi, GPS and Bluetooth technologies now used by billions around the world.

“During the design process, I was filled with so much emotion. I was inspired by this beautiful actress and extremely talented scientist, who created wifi while juggling her roles as a mother, daughter and wife,” says Ng about the story that inspired her latest jewellery collection, which consists of 200 one-of-a-kind creations. For the moment, only a part of the collection is available, with the full range expected to be ready in mid-2020. “The biggest satisfaction is sharing this story with my audience and showing how it inspired the designs, and why certain gemstones were featured.”

Drawing notes from Lamarr’s pet interests such as music and opera, Ng demonstrates her innovative jewellery design skills and fine eye for aesthetics as she pairs ornamental stones with diamonds and coloured gemstones.

 

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Modular and moveable parts are added to the designs to lend an unexpected touch of whimsy—the gem-set upper part of rings and earrings can be rotated to reveal secret compartments, where more complex designs such as engravings are hidden from plain sight. The pieces that are currently available shows Ng utilising an impressive supply of rubellites that come in a beautiful shade of cherry blossom pink, which she cleverly mixes with sparkling diamonds to create contrast.

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Above Chopin Nocturne pendant

“As music played a key role in the invention of wifi, the idea of incorporating tiny music movements inside some of our highlight pieces came to mind,” Ng explains, adding that creations such as the Chopin Nocturne pendant “required a lot of research and planning”. Anchored with a 3.37-carat blue spinel, the pendant is also fitted with a working miniature wind-up music movement. Besides grabbing attention with its intricate design, the melodious tune it plays makes for an excellent conversation starter as well.

Fabulous designs anchored on a great selection of gemstones is par for the course with any top-notch jeweller. But what distinguishes the best from the rest is being able to incorporate surprises that delight even the most prolific connoisseurs. And Simone Ng of Simone Jewels certainly has plenty up her sleeves.

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