Steven Boccone and the Philippine Jewelry Industry

Jewelry design in the Philippines dates back to early 16^th century.  In fact, historical records show that early Filipinos made bracelets, pendants, and beads during that era…. see www.ayalamuseum.org .  Today, Philippine jewelry industry continues with its tradition, showcasing the unique and brilliant artistry of new designers.

The design of Philippine jewelry pieces came from varied influences and the materials used by Filipino designers are often a mixture of metals, stones, gems, and other indigenous materials that can be found abundantly in the country’s rich reserve of natural resources.

However, there is no official data on the local jewelry industry and the market size. Much of the available jewelry in the market is either locally-made or imported from abroad. In 1994, De Beers placed the Philippine diamond market at $62 million.

An avid supporter of Filipino arts and an art connoisseur himself, Steven Boccone gets the opportunity to see events showcasing the Filipino artist such as the one featuring the country’s premier jewelry design studio Hoseki.

Hoseki, which means jewels in Japanese, is one of the country’s most exclusive, high-end jewelry design house and its brand and designs are well known worldwide. The studio store is owned by renowned Filipino jewelry designer Facio, who has joined competitions for jewelry design and it has won 26 awards to date.

Faico is also the only Filipino designer chosen in the prestigious 17 World’s Best Designers alongside Tiffany, Henry Dunay and other international design luminaries chosen by Paspaley’s White Magic World Touring Exhibition.

Steven Boccone, together with friends, attended one of the exclusive Hoseki exhibits during the launching of a Hoseki store at the Shangrila Hotel in Makati. During the exhibit, he was able to see for himself the alluring jewelry pieces that were masterfully crafted by Faico out of materials such as precious South Sea pearls, stones, gems and other native materials.

As a businessman and an admirer of the arts, he appreciates both the value and beauty of a fine set of jewelry. He knows that creating a good piece of jewelry takes more than just getting all the precious materials but in having an idea that can be translated into a unique art piece.