Whatever your politics and whichever side you’re on, the heirs of famed jeweler Jul B. Dizon believe that underneath all that is love of country.
That was how “Simbolo” came about, a jewelry collection celebrating Philippine iconography, says Candy Dizon, daughter of the late jeweler.
Dizon says she and her siblings and their spouses, after last year’s hotly contested elections, were inspired to create a contemporary collection that gave a nod to nationalism and Filipino heritage and culture—
visual icons that can be worn on one’s sleeves, or one’s ears, wrist, finger, one’s neck.
“My brother Cedric thought about it,” Dizon says. Whoever they were supporting, people let their voices be heard on social media, she adds.
“It was up to myself and my sisters-in-law Ginny and Lucille to design the collection.”
“Simbolo” is a departure from the high jewelry designs Jul B. Dizon Jewellery has been known for. The 50-, 60-piece design collection consists of easy-to-wear, everyday jewelry that’s targeted at a younger market—or anyone who wants to wear one’s patriotism on his sleeve, Dizon says.
Made to order
The themes include Mananayaw (dancer), Sandata (weapon), Bandila (flag), Kubo (nipa hut), Luzviminda after the country’s three islands, Perdible (safety pin), and Icono. They consist of pendants, rings, pins, cuff links and bracelets, and are rendered in 18-k yellow gold, some with precious and semiprecious stones.
The pieces are made-to-order, and are priced from P20,000 to a high of P100,000. For the pieces with stones, the customer can choose what gems to use. As everything is handmade, orders can take from three to four weeks for delivery.
Dizon believes no other Filipino jewelry brand has done a collection on Philippine iconography as extensive as “Simbolo,” which will become a mainstay in Jul B. Dizon.
“We’re not going away from what our brand is known for. We’re evolving, and we’re adding to it,” she says.
“If Mom were still around, she would be totally behind this. In this company she built with my dad, they were strong believers in what our countrymen could do. They made sure their workers were compensated well so they wouldn’t leave and work abroad. That was because they also believed in keeping families together.”
Legacy
Although their mother is gone, Dizon and her siblings have continued her brand and legacy. “We’re all bosses!” she says with a laugh. Apart from sister Janina who has her own jewelry brand, Candy works alongside brothers Cedric, who’s in-charge of finances, and CJ, who takes care of production.
On the design side, she teams up with her sisters-in-law. Ginny is in-charge of purchasing and raw materials, while Lucille is at the helm of the Edsa Shangri-La boutique. Dizon manages the branch at Peninsula Makati.
Dizon has tapped some of her friends to shill the “Simbolo” collection, all known in their respective fields: lawmaker Lucy Torres-Gomez and teen daughter Juliana; actress Iza Calzado and her entrepreneur beau Ben Wintle; former longtime Preview editor Pauline Juan; gentlewoman farmer Hindy Weber-Tantoco; Summit Media creative director Vince Uy; and interior designer Nix Alanon.
