MANILA, Philippines – These days, we see the dragon, tiger, eagle and cobra when we watch television — on the shields of Westerosi swordsmen or on capes of child-sorcerers-in-training. Blame it on Southeast Asian mythology and stories that depict them as saviors, protectors, and harbingers of luck and love. Jewelry brand John Hardy, founded in Bali in 1975, has drawn inspiration from these legends. Its founder, John Hardy, studied and perfected traditional designs and handmade jewelry-making techniques, adding technology to the process. This sort of alchemy worked in the brand’s favor, preserving the magic, the uniqueness in each piece, while making it marketable to the rest of the world.
For spring, John Hardy once again takes inspiration from its homeland Bali, and builds a jewelry collection around the strength and elegance of bamboo. Inspired by nature’s gift, the Bamboo collection is sleek, timeless and modern. Versatile and high on contemporary elegance, the graceful designs are brought to life by a skillfully sculpted combination of silver and gold. Highlights this season include polished stones in vibrant colors such as turquoise chyrsoprase and bubblegum pink guava chalcedony that have been smoothed and polished to rounded cabochons, known as orbs.
New to the brand’s Classic Chain collection is the Magic Cut, which magnifies the shine in stones. Available in a colorful array of precious gemstones, this cut is perfect in proportion and captures the light for that potent sparkle.
A fan favorite, John Hardy’s signature hand-woven bracelets are now available in multiple strands, a simple and chic solution to the continuous stacked bracelet trend.
The men’s collection features designs in colorful translucent ename on hand-carved chain motif. Shades of blue ranging from rich leather bracelets to lapis lazuli beads add an intense pop of color to this season’s Classic Chain collection.
John Hardy has boutiques at Rustan’s Makati, Rustan’s Shangri-La, Rustan’s Ayala Center Cebu. For information, visit www.johnhardy.com.