On the rocks

In the past, all a girl wanted was a rock on her left hand and a man holding her right hand. More high maintenance types opted for the crown jewels or a tiara at the very least. Today, there’s nothing like waving a bling on your right hand to celebrate your independence (and you being high maintenance). Along with your right-hand ring comes a whole new shakeup in the luxury system.

Take Garrard for example. The company hired seasoned ice queen and rock royalty Jade Jagger as its creative director after it broke up with its longtime partner Asprey (now its nemesis). The result: a sexy and eclectic collection of medallions, badges and rings using stones in the most rolling way. Breakups can lead to breakthroughs.

Back home, Jul B. Dizon – better known for her classically strung and set blings – has created a younger and hipper incarnation of the stone. Worn best ironically, these stones take the matrona effect out of the rock. Brooches used as hairpieces, rings as pendants, cocktail mafiosi rings worn all together in one hand, necklaces as bracelets or belts – the possibilities are endless.

While they still look best with couture confections, they also shine with jerseys, tees, bikinis and most especially lingerie.

Ever the Renaissance woman, Jul attributes the formation of her design sensibilities to her father who is an architect and just being around art at a very early age. Her prowess in jewelry design manifested itself when her mother opened her store. Jul’s designs are not modern in the sense that it is spare and linear, but contemporary in a sense that they possess a youthful humor and whimsy. Most of the designs are drawn from nature and have flowers, birds and fish as strong design inspirations. Art Deco elements that are on fire this season also play a big part in the collection.

Aside from inhaling everything there is to know about jewel design, Jul also keeps a hawk’s eye on fashion trends and furniture designs. This consolidated approach on design is reflected in her unconventional use of material, like her charming bahay kubo brooch, which has real woven material set in gold, as well as the modular qualities of her pieces.

From quartz icicles strung together into a sexy choker, to corals bundled up together, to colored diamonds creating a luxurious strobe light of glam – the stones are part of the new wave of bling. As predicted the flashy numbers of MTV Jams might have had a short shelf life in the runway and glossy world of fashion. However, the new kind of rock is just enjoying the limelight and lighting up every facet in a whole new way!

"Firstly, I try not to use the word ‘semi-precious’ because there is really nothing ‘semi’ about these colored stones. They are mined, too, just like diamonds. I have always believed that colored stones are not secondary stones. I feel that they can equal gems and diamonds in beauty. I have always used them in my designs ever since I started designing," Jul shares.

"My three children, Cedric, Janina, Candice and my daughters-in-law, Ginny and Lucille. They have all won in local and international awards in designing. My youngest son CJ is managing the workshop. I am very happy that my children are into this business. It makes my work a whole lot lighter. I hope my grandchildren will also follow the same path," Jul says upon being asked about the future of the jewelry house.

With all the rock n’ roll involved in this whole new wave of bling, Marilyn was right that diamonds (and quartz, too!) are a girl’s best friend.