Janina Dizon, a third-generation jeweler, is celebrating her 10th anniversary in the business with 10 collections. Her bridal collection, one of the 10 dubbed “Kasal,” is a reflection of the modern couple’s desire for something personal and intimate.

“Brides and grooms always tell me they want a personal stamp on their rings,” says Dizon. “So I have my most well-loved wedding pieces as well as new designs.”

These new designs fall under her Morse code category, rings emblazoned with jewels that spell out a special message.

The wedding collection, while retaining a semblance of tradition, is designed to mark the special occasion. “I played with rose cuts, Morse code and a mix of fancy colored diamonds.”

Earrings with pearls and diamonds in a vintage-inspired setting, delicate pearl bracelets and necklaces in graduating sizes are also part of the wedding collection, but they exist outside of it. These may mark a special occasion but they’re equally able to play an everyday role in your wardrobe, whether worn with a black dress or a T-shirt.

 

A decade of style 

At her show at Manila House, Dizon unveiled the collections that included “Goddess” (Romanesque pieces), “Buddha” (inspired by her time in Thailand), “Galaxy” (pearls and astronomy), “Mobile” (inspired by Alexander Calder).

“One theme is named after my sister, Candy,” Dizon says, referring to her sibling jeweler Candy Dizon. “She can drive me bonkers but I do appreciate her fun, flirty personality.”

The pieces are a playful combination of colors and textures in larger scale, like a pair of emerald-cut citrines with white sapphires surrounded by salmon and green enamel on vermeil.

 

Design language

“These lines,” Dizon says, “symbolize the themes that have defined my first decade of design language.”

Some collections go far back, with pieces she refers to as her “iconic” styles. Take her Transformers collection for example, which she created to address her jet-setting clients who preferred to mix and match jewels without carrying a vault’s worth of precious stones.

“Traveling is a big part of my clients’ life. I wanted a pair of earrings that can suit all your travel needs, from casual walks in the park to big fancy dinners. These transformers can adapt to the occasion at hand.”

The jeweler credits her enduring career to her ability to translate her personal aesthetic while channeling the zeitgeist. Though her jewelry is current, she wouldn’t call it trendy.

Dizon acknowledges the role of trends but chooses to disregard them.

“Jewelry trends usually last far longer unlike fashion, but I personally don’t believe in trends as they’re limiting,” she says. Her rule is simple. “Wear what you love and make it your own personal style mantra.”

 

Janina for Jul Dizon is at The Peninsula Manila. Call 8450140.