On wings of imagination

When dressing up calls for a little more sparkle, jewelry is the way to go. This season, Tim Tam Ong introduces her latest collection of necklaces and earrings, called “Flights of Fancy,” to complete your holiday wardrobe.

Intricate, sculptural and dazzling, each piece in the collection is inspired by the beauty and movement of winged creatures such as birds, bees, butterflies and dragonflies. Ever inspired by nature, the designer creates wearable statement jewelry with precious and semi-precious stones from around the world.

Often a phrase attributed to wild ideas and imagination, “Flights of Fancy,” in this case, takes on a more literal form, capturing how the designer’s winged inspirations came to be one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry.

Aurora gold necklace with Peacock pendant.

One of a kind necklace with Lemon Quartz.

The collection, which will be available at Tim Tam Ong boutiques this month, captures the festive nature of the holidays through color, shine and larger-than-life design. In “Flights of Fancy,” a golden peacock with a brilliant blue sapphire body grows a train embellished with semi-precious stones, an octagon-cut emerald becomes the object of desire of bejeweled bees, a dragonfly attaches itself to a dazzling amethyst.

Each sculptural piece has been designed to evoke movement and mimic the textures of nature, as the designer witnessed during a recent trip to Bali.

Her earrings, as in all of her collections, are versatile and made up of detachable pieces that can be worn separately and can be mixed and matched. Linked together, they swing gracefully by the neck, perhaps even grazing the collarbone slightly.

“I am always inspired by the stone first,” the designer says. “When I find a stone that’s really special, the design often follows. For this collection, I was inspired by a recent trip to Bali that brought be closer to nature, even just for a little while. The details, the colors, even the way the pieces themselves seem to dance, were all inspired by that trip. I made it a point to make sure movement is implied in every piece. Everything from the wings to the petals, to the way they interact with each, suggests movement and energy. Add to that the way the stones sparkle when the light hits, and you have a wonderful interaction of elements that bring the pieces to life.”

Tim Tam Ong works with local goldsmiths in creating each necklace and earring that goes into her collections.

“The precious stones are sourced from all over the world, but I’m proud to say that everything is Filipino- and locally-made. It’s a message that I really want to share, that Filipinos are talented and capable of producing beautiful products. I studied jewelry design, but most of everything I know, I learned from our teamwork, exchange of knowledge and experience.”

Tim Tam Ong’s “Flights of Fancy” holiday collection is available at her boutiques in Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center, and LRI Design Plaza, Makati City. For more updates on the designs and collections of the designer, follow the Instagram account @TimTamOngPage.