Floral designs are the theme of Thai jeweler Goldmaster’s pieces, now on sale at Goldmart. (Photo courtesy of Goldmart)
Jakarta. Not all that glitters is gold, it’s been said, and that old chestnut rings truer than ever these days with the proliferation of jewelry made from silver, nickel, copper and various alloys. Visually, they can be just as pretty as real gold, while packing less of a punch to the wallet.
Such metals are also preferable for the rich variety of designs that they come in, and for the peace of mind you get knowing that if they get lost or stolen, it won’t be as bad as losing an actual piece of gold jewelry.
“And yet,” says Michelle Taslim, the marketing and PR manager at jewelry retailer Goldmart, “pure gold never goes out of style.”
Goldmart has been crafting and selling gold jewelry, often with diamonds, since 1991, when it first set up shop in Jakarta. Since 2013, it has collaborated with its Thai counterpart, Goldmaster, to distribute the latter’s 24-karat gold jewelry here in Indonesia.
“Previously, goldsmiths around the world thought it was impossible to create wearable jewelry from 99.99 percent pure gold,” Michelle says. “It was Goldmaster that successfully pioneered it.”
Goldmaster, also established in 1991, is renowned for its exquisitely crafted jewelry and for its signature corn-yellow matte hue.
Goldmaster in known for its use of 24-karat gold. (Photo courtesy of Goldmart)
“The global [gold jewelry] trend these days is toward rose gold,” Michelle says, referring to a burnished shade of gold. “But in Indonesia, the customers prefer yellow or white gold.”She says white gold is popular among younger people, while older generations prefer the classic yellow gold.
“Yellow gold looks more glamorous as jewelry. It looks great with batiks or evening dresses,” she says, adding that Goldmaster’s shade of gold also suits a variety of skin tones and can even make the wearer look younger.
Each Goldmaster piece is adorned with hand-finished strokes and shiny outlines, which contour the items for a vivid appearance.
Their latest collection went on sale recently at Goldmart’s outlet at the Plaza Indonesia mall in Central Jakarta.
“Because it’s the spring/summer 2015 collection, the predominating designs are flowers,” says Agnes Hadiwono, the merchandising manager at Goldmart.
The jewelry on show features a wide array of jasmine, rose and lotus designs on rings, necklaces, pendants, brooches and earrings. Most of the necklaces boast gorgeous drop-down V shapes.
“This shape is ideal to wear with a low-cut evening gown as it accentuates the décolletage and brings attention to the chest area,” Agnes says.
A statement piece in this collection, which would definitely be the focal point of any evening attire, is a necklace called “Starry Night.” The 50-gram piece looks like a shower of shooting stars dropping down from around the nape toward the cleavage.
Complementing the look is a pair of earrings that look like a string of blossoming lotuses on a pond. So intricate and detailed is the design that you can actually see dancing goldfish in between the lotuses.
Besides flowers, foliage designs also adorn the latest collection of Goldmaster jewels.
There’s a necklace with intertwining leaves, a simple piece that at first glance almost resembles a wreath, and that impart an appearance of a slender and feminine neck for a particularly elegant look.
The pieces all use yellow gold, a timeless classic. (Photo courtesy of Goldmart)
The prices of the new Goldmaster collection vary according to the gold content and intricacy of the designs, starting from Rp 2 million to Rp 3 million ($152 to $228) for small stud earrings, to Rp 8 million to Rp 10 million for simple necklaces.
Bolder and more elaborate statement pieces range from Rp 50 million to Rp 110 million per piece.
Buying gold has never been purely about vanity. With the price of the precious metal holding relatively steady in recent years, these jewelry items can also be considered valuable investment pieces.
“Twenty-four-karat jewelry is comparable to gold bullion,” Michelle says. “It’s a stable investment, which you can also wear.”
Goldmart also offers trade-in and buyback services for all their items, provided you still have the original certificates and invoices.
However, Michelle advises against buying gold jewelry simply for the monetary value.
“Personally, I wouldn’t just buy jewelry for that reason alone,” she says. “You should always choose jewelry whose design appeals to your personal taste. Also, bear in mind that you will someday pass down these pieces to your children and grandchildren.”
Because 24-karat gold tends to be softer and more malleable than lower grades of the metal, extra care has to go into wearing and storing them.
“Wear them only after you finish getting dressed,” Agnes says. “This way, you can prevent them from being damaged by perfume, lotion or powder, which can tarnish the gold.”
She also advises storing each piece in a separate box to prevent scratching.
“But don’t worry,” Agnes adds. “Should your pieces need some repair or retouching, just bring them to our outlets. We’ll do them for free for all our customers.”
The Peak
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