Luna

Here's a special gem. Upon turning, one can see broad flashes or shimmers of blue light. This light phenomena is called "adularescence". Adularia or Adular is moonstone. Therefore "adularescence" is the light that comes from a moonstone. The moonstone closely resembled the various phases of the moon as you turned it, hence the name. Theoretically.

Indian lore states that moonstones provide the wearer beautiful visions during sleep. They were sewn into clothes, unseen, to induce fertility. And it is reputed to have calming effects and positive energy.

Most common varieties of moonstones are white, milky and translucent. They also come in orange, green and brown and have a soft sheen at best. But most exceptional quality moonstones are transparent with intense blue color flashes. There's quite a bit of difference in prices of "milky" and "colored" moonstones versus the "classical" fine blue specimens. With the transparent variety becoming more and more rare.

One word to describe it, though, is tantalizing. It just draws you in. Like gravity.


-Inset are earrings of fine blue moonstones with seed pearls and diamond pave in white gold.

bespoke

Here's a piece largely inspired by a person. Originally, I was supposed to design a cuff; but that turned out to be a spiritless effort. In the end, I had this light bulb moment and sketched out something in an instant. The result was this:


A large heavy ring of fine silver in comfort fit with distressed finish and some oxidation. Set with dark multi-colored tourmalines on top.


And here's the owner wearing it.

What first inspired me was his platinum hair. So I represented that in textured silver. He likes wearing earth tones and has this organic style. Which I represented with dark multi-colored tourmalines arranged in this amoeba/paisley/kidney like shape. Industrial and free-form. I think it suits the wearer just fine.

hot rocks!

It's February again. The so called season of love. To which i never understood why the birthstone originally assigned for February is the amethyst. Amethysts were believed to protect its wearer against seduction and drunkenness. Which is totally the antithesis to the "wining and dining", and so on and so forth activities during the love month.... don't you think? I find nothing wrong with the stone per se; in fact i love purple. But for February I propose a more fitting example of passion through Fire Opals. Whereas the most recognizable white and black opals are found in Australia, it is in Mexico where fire opals' only significant deposits in the world lie. They were the preferred symbols of fervent love by the Indians, Persians and Central Americans long before diamonds became popular. Obviously due to its fiery warm glow! Below is a Mexican Fire Opal pendant with orange sapphires and diamonds in yellow gold.



They're really just fascinating to look at. And I didn't really need to design anything so elaborate for it as the gems stand out on their own.

pinks and blues

So...... here's a pretty simple design using Kunzites. Diamonds encircling the relatively large, excellent samples of the pastel hued stones. And the pear shape drops being detachable so you can just wear the smaller pink studs on top if you wanted to. pretty versatile. From the grocery to a gown...
In the same picture is a necklace made of aquamarine rough; with an off-center pendant of hammered gold and diamonds. I didn't exactly create these two pieces together but they seem to go along fabulously. (I'm really not into matching pieces.)

So what exactly is "aquamarine rough"? The word "rough" is a general term used in the gem business as an uncut/unpolished specimen. Basically how you'd find the gems in the mines or in natural form. Cleaned of course. Precious stones are often found in these "rocky" looking forms and then faceted and polished into the gleaming gems that most are familiar with. However, there's just this certain ineffable appeal to rough gems.

on display

Aum Jewels was originally conceived to bring alternative designs to more people. We do, in fact, purchase jewelry as personal adornment above all. To be beautiful. To be unique. People now have increasingly refined tastes that they overlook the fact that this very human trait to express ones self through jewelry and accessories has probably been around since man was still walking on all fours. BUT i digress.

I am only one of the designers featured in Aum. I also showcase friends who are as passionate as i am in designing equally unique and beautiful pieces. and these designers are:

Patrick Valero - a Graduate Jeweler Gemologist whose items can also be found in Amanpulo. bold silver, jade and tourmaline pieces. very oriental

Kristine Dee - a Pratt alumni, who makes all her pieces with her own hands. she has come out with several one-man-shows already, showcasing her art jewelry. very feminine style



Jul B. Dizon - who needs no introduction; is an institution locally for painstakingly designed and crafted nature pieces.





as you can see, the store has no doors. and has no corners (at least the walls). the brightest areas are the display cases. and all the jewels are treated as pieces of art. which they should be. allowed to stand out on its own. of course jewels looks different when its actually worn so, yes, all pieces can be tried on.

a favorite item is this rose/white gold earrings with diamonds, pink sapphires and rubies set all around.

and lastly a picture of my display.

looks better up close and in person ;)

welcome!

What exactly is "Aum" and why did i choose the word "Aum" for my jewelry?

initially i wanted a simple, one syllable word. Unique and easy to remember. and related to both jewelry and the complete woman.

"Aum" is derived from the latin/scientific word for gold, which is "aurum". "Au" in the table of elements.

"Aum" is also the one word mantra, chanted to destroy negative elements of the mind, body and soul. therefore achieving balance. and this relates to the woman, who despite the many different roles she plays in her life, still maintains to be successful.

there's a certain warmth you feel when you pronounce the word "aum". very organic and natural. and i have noticed my designs, at least for the moment, have been evolving this way. (evolving BUT not being trapped in the design paradigm, thank god)


Below is a leaf inspired bangle with a soft organic finish. i used diamonds as sort of a "stem". i really like this piece and was one of the first items i have sold at Aum in TriNoma. The same series leaf earrings (which have also been sold) can be seen in the background.





a stark contrast to what i started out designing. masculine, architectural pieces. as seen below.


but be it organic, modern, architectural, warm, cool, etc... i still find that i always like things clean. and i guess i still have a certain look, as I'm told.

but anyway, let this first post be a preview of the new pieces, old pieces, and maybe random posts on gemological and jewelry matters. if you want anything in particular discussed, send me a message and let's see what we can do.



Aum