Quitting the corporate rat race for a new course of her life, Genevie Yeo, founder of Singapore-based Gen.K Jewelry turned her hobby of jewellery creation into a business with the encouragement of her family and friends in 2014.
Yeo developed a love of jade as a kid when she received a jade ring from her mother. Feeling that the design of jade jewellery could not keep up with the times, she decided to reinvent jade jewellery in alluring and chic style.
Catering to her mostly Asian clientele, she creates jewellery that incorporates elements of good vibes and luck. One example is a jade pendant inspired by ladybug which is seen as a symbol of good luck (photo 1). In another collection, she infuses the joy of the birth of her first child into the design with mother-and-child bees (photo 2).
Tapping into the millennial market, Gen.K actively utilises social media for marketing purposes and replaces traditional jade cutting with unique specialty cuts. Besides, to enhance the versatility of her pieces, she designs with the concept of duality in mind and produces pieces that can be worn in more than one way. For instance, the gem-set gold ornament on their jade bangles can be removed and attached easily when the wearer wants to produce a simpler or a dressier look (photo 3).
Yeo told Hong Kong Jewellery that when she first started designing jewellery, it was just as simple as adorning a jade ring with silver wires. By commissioning skilled craftsmen, much more intricate designs were realised. Yeo reveals that her next challenging creation will employ the ‘gem-on-gem’ technique by setting diamonds on jade. (Photo courtesy: Gen. K Jewelry)
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