2019/20 JEWELS & TIME 57SIZZLE & DAZZLE
High Jewellery necklace
in pink gold with rubellite,
emeralds and diamonds,
and High Jewellery
ring in pink gold with
amethyst bead, peridot
bead and diamonds, both
by BVLGARI. Polyester
dress with embellished
details by PRADA
CARMEN OW, 30
Her love for hot wheels is a well-known fact
with her often joining her father, Victor Ow,
on driving trips. Not only does she enjoy the
adrenaline rush, she also appreciates the
fi ner details and craftsmanship in making
the supercars she drives the thoroughbred
mechanical beasts they are. Similarly with
watches and jewellery, the director at property
developer Clydesbuilt Group looks beyond
merely aesthetics, seeking that special
connection with the pieces before she makes a
decision to acquire them.My fi rst jewellery purchase... It was probably
when I was eight or nine on a family trip to
Florence, Italy. I saw this yellow gold charm
bracelet fi lled with animal motifs at a tiny
jewellery shop there. My late aunt, who
doted on me a lot, knew that I liked it and she
was so sweet—she went back to the shop to
secretly buy it before surprising me with it
later on during the trip. Now, it’s too small to
be worn but I still have it with me.Acquisition criteria: design, brand or savoir
faire? Craftsmanship and design defi nitely
play a part in swaying my decision on which
pieces to acquire. But I tend to be infl uenced
by my emotions—what matters most is how
I feel about the piece on fi rst impression.
Sometimes, after I try it on, the piece
evokes a diff erent feeling—for better or
worse—too. So, it’s really about my feeling
towards the creation.The item on my current wishlist The Balcone
brooch from Van Cleef & Arpels’ latest
Romeo & Juliet high jewellery collection.
It features the balcony scene from the
play, which is one of the highlights of the
Shakespearean classic. On the front is a
just beautifully crafted balcony but hidden
behind the clip, where the pin is, are the two
fi gurines of Romeo & Juliet. I particularly
love that little secret twist, which shows their
forbidden relationship as they declare their
love in the darkness.