Her mother, who was out on a trip as Cuevas had it done, was surprised to see what she came home to but couldn’t do anything about it anyway. Her only daughter was determined to keep them; she had even worn stud earrings for a week so the holes wouldn’t close.

 

“Actually, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision. I had an ear infection at the time but I saw that the doctor had an instant ear-piercer so I requested that he make the two extra holes. Few girls my age sported multiple piercings then so I’d like to think I was ahead of my time,” Cuevas said at the launch of her newest line for Cova, a play on her surname.

 

This time around, there are more earrings than cuffs.

 

The first collection she launched two years ago had an equal number of bracelets or cuffs and earrings. There was even a pearl choker with a stylized nail serving as jewelry clasp.

 

Although she didn’t have a problem selling her pieces last year, Cuevas noted how the sales of the earrings shot up during the holidays.

 

“I think people were buying the earrings for themselves as well as to give as gifts.” Note, however, that her earrings—except for a couple of pairs—are meant to be worn singly.

 

Current designs include “sliders” you can attach to the top, middle or lower part of your lobe; a slender silver plated gold style accentuated with a solitary pearl; and a coiled design you “thread” through your piercing. The resulting look of the latter is like you’re wearing more than one earring.

 

“I really wanted it to look that way when I designed that piece. If you’re interested but not convinced enough to get additional piercings, this coiled design is one way to ease you into the look,” Cuevas said.

 

She uses mainly gold plated silver, white sapphires and pearls. “I don’t want to be so serious when it comes to my jewelry. I like to play around with the design, make it look fun and effortless. I have one design that makes it look like you have a fan of white sapphires peeking out from behind your earlobe.”

 

The decision to design more earrings came about when she noticed how friends and acquaintances complimented her on her earrings more often than on what she was wearing around her wrist or on her fingers.

 

“Earrings really complete a look and brighten up your face,” she said. With Christmas parties being scheduled one after the other, now’s the time to update your look to give it that holiday sparkle.

 

Cova is available at Firma at Greenbelt 4, Cura V at Rockwell and online at vitostudio.com.