“I’ve also redesigned some engagement rings [in the case] of divorce,” she adds wryly. One of the most satisfying aspects of her job is reinterpreting heirloom pieces for customers and creating a “narrative arc” that will connect one generation with the next. She tells of how she recently repurposed a broken vintage jade bangle for two daughters after their mother died, working with a stonecutter to add the mother’s garnet birth stone to create two new bangles in jade, garnet and diamonds, set in 18k palladium white gold. “I feel very proud when I see someone wearing [one of her pieces],” she says. “It feels very special. The client who ordered this jade and garnet bangle wears it every day now. “The stonecutter called me a magician, [because] out of something really sad, I created a moment; something that makes her really happy. She wears a lot more green now and has adjusted her wardrobe to her bangle. I spend hours on these pieces, so it’s lovely to have them recognised and loved.”
While she plans to add new pieces to the Colorhythms collection, including more earrings and a new line of men’s rings, she’s intent on creating one-of-a- kind pieces using gemstones that have been sitting in her jewellery box for some time. “My great uncle was a radiologist and loved travelling, and he gifted me a lot of stones from the 1970s: lovely aquamarines, large sapphires, great for making pendants, and some lab-grown alexandrites,” she reveals, smiling. “It’s a lovely treasure trove to come across, and the next step is to work on those.” She admits that she finds the logistics of running a new business challenging at times. “I love it but it’s a lot of work as it’s only me,” she laughs. “For a while, I did all the sales and shipping - things as a designer you didn’t necessarily have to learn before. “Designers love to have a
quiet and creative space, whereas this is quite the opposite and means getting out of my comfort zone.” Although she’s aware she will need more assistance as her business expands, she is determined to let it grow organically. “I like the pace we are growing,” she says simply. “I still love the personal contact with all my clients and walking them through the process of customising a piece. That is very important to me, and I feel if I grow a lot, I will lose that. kiaschwan.com
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