Discovering the New ESSENCE of PANDORA

Last week, I attended the launch of the PANDORA ESSENCE Collection, and I loved how PANDORA has again given new meaning to jewelry, which is something often associated with indulgence or ostentation.

Because let's face it, more often than not, jewelry is not only associated with memories, but also with price or value. Or is it just me? Ahihi.

But really, they are not just pretty things that express our/the giver's tastes and preferences. The fact of the matter is, more than accessories, they can also be seen as status symbols. Our jewelry collection is somehow an indication of what our ancestors were worth if we have heirloom pieces in our safe, or what we can afford, if we are investing on our own.

PANDORA's newest line, the ESSENCE Collection, deviates from that line of thinking and is meant to be "an embodiment and emotional expression of our inner values."

More than just a pretty trinket, it takes on a deeper meaning and represents the values that we hold close to our heart, and remind us of what is important to us - be it health, prosperity, strength or joy, or all four, or more.

The collection features a slender sterling silver bracelet with an accompanying assortment of 24 delicate hand-finished sterling charms, each representing a personal value

According to PANDORA’s Chief Creative Officer, Stephen Fairchild, the “ESSENCE Collection is defined by women to inspire women”. In fact, in coming up with this product line, he challenged the Design Team to create a new concept that has a different overlying theme – something that depicts not of moments but of meanings.

These meanings are depicted by charms which represent passion, freedom, hope, happiness, confidence, faith, health, peace, compassion, trust, stability, energy, love, courage, wisdom, wellness, prosperity, loyalty, positivity, balance, respect, joy, honesty and strength.

The charms slide effortlessly onto the special Essence Collection bracelet, and are secured in place with the innovative patent pending flexible silicone grip built inside the sterling silver core of each charm.

Because the ESSENCE Collection hopes to inspire women to express their true selves, for the Philippine launch, PANDORA has chosen four inspiring women who are the embodiment of the values of prosperity, wisdom, love and passion.

For Amina Aranaz-Alunan, social entrepreneur/designer and co-founder of School of Fashion and the Arts (SOFA), “Prosperity is having a dream, a goal, a vision, and being joyful while working to achieve it”.

Harvard-educated lawyer, Atty. Karen Jimeno-McBride defines wisdom as “acknowledging that you don’t know everything. It means you are always open to learning and continually growing”. Karen believes that in order to gain wisdom, one should be open to learn from others and their experiences.

Model/Host/Fashion blogger and the recently engaged Kim Jones, enthuses,  “For me, love is eternal. It is a universal language, and nurtures us and allows us to grow by doing things that we are passionate about”. Kim also puts equal importance to faith as part of her life. For her, faith is the firm foundation under everything worth living, and without it, she wouldn't be the woman she is today. “I believe that love and faith work hand in hand. These values influence me in making decisions,” she says. 

"Passion is dance, it's my commitment and my intense love for classical ballet which is the strictest form of dance," shares prima ballerina and nominee for National Artist for Dance Lisa Macuja-Elizalde. 

Her passion continues to spark hope for the young generation through Project Future Ballet, a scholarship program founded to make ballet an option for a way of life and a profession for talented young people who do not have the means to learn ballet. The foundation aims to provide bright futures and breadwinners for families, starting with training in classical ballet supplemented with equipment and nutrition assistance for the students. 

I think PANDORA has chosen their ambassadors in a very inspired manner, because all four women are truly the embodiment of their personal values.

Rochelle Romero-Mangila – Publicist, Pandora Philippines, Kim Jones, Atty. Karen Jimeno-Mc Bride, Emerson Yao – Managing Director for the Lucerne Group of Companies, Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, Amina Aranaz-Alunan, Tricie Legarda – Sales & Marketing Head, Pandora Philippines & Riza Torres – Head of Marketing, Lucerne 

I have always looked up to Lisa Macuja as a young girl, because I am a frustrated ballerina and for her to use her passion for dance to benefit the less fortunate makes her a hero in my book.

Dada knows Karen through the Harvard Law Club, and I have met Karen once, and while she is known for her beauty and brains, she has no yabang or airs at all. She is soft-spoken and charming, it's no wonder she has become such a sensation even outside the law profession.

I have had the pleasure of sitting next to Amina and Kim at separate occasions and apart from being gorgeous and awe-inspiring in real life, they are just so nice and fun to talk to. The kind where I felt like we ended the evening as friends, because they are just so gracious and genuinely kind. I mean really, Amina & I exchanged cellphone numbers and Kim & I followed each other on Instagram levels! Diba, how can you not love them? They're seriously beautiful inside & out!

I really have to say a huge thanks to my Instagram friend Angel Jacob, who hosted and invited me to the media launch and serendipitously re-connected me to my childhood friend Rochelle Romero who happened to be the publicist for PANDORA.

I have always been a huge fan of Angel, way back when I was in grade school (we were school mates for a time and yes, she's been a cool girl ever since she was 12) and being with all these inspiring women in one place for the PANDORA ESSENCE Collection was an experience like no other. Thank you Angel, my Positivity twin!

Yes, Angel & I both chose the Positivity charm, which is the first ESSENCE charm I picked for myself. Because I am positive that I will be adding more to my bracelet! I want to embody Joy, Wisdom, Respect and Health too, heeheehee.

The PANDORA ESSENCE Collection will be available in PANDORA stores this March 2014.

PANDORA is available at Greenbelt 5, Glorietta 4, Bonifacio High Street Central, Newport Mall (Resorts World Manila), Shangri-la Mall East Wing, The Podium, Elemento in Aura Mall, Megamall Expansion, and Century City Mall. 

Which values are you going to be wearing?

About PANDORA

PANDORA designs, manufactures and markets hand-finished and modern jewellery made from genuine materials at affordable prices. PANDORA jewellery is sold in more than 70 countries in six continents with over 10,300 points of sale, including 900 Concept Stores. Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, PANDORA employs over 6,000 people worldwide. PANDORA is publicly listed on the NASDAQ OMX Copenhagen stock exchange in Denmark. In 2012, PANDORA’s total revenue was DKK 6.7 billion (approximately EUR 893 million). For more information, please visit http://www.pandora.net. 

Photos courtesy of Ramon Tan Mangila of Pix Republik Studios.

Aranaz Delujo 2013

De lujo means deluxe in Spanish and that's exactly what Aranaz Delujo, the luxe line that Amina Aranaz-Alunan started in 2011, is all about. Take for instance this pulpo called Octopia. This is the only octopus I know fit to be worn on a donya's wrist:

My friend Kris asked me if Delujo means maluho. Well, lujo in Spanish or luho in Tagalog means luxury, as in, "Hija, don't be maluho because the boys might think you're high maintainance". But I am happy to share that Aranaz Delujo is not exorbitantly priced at all. Given the materials and craftsmanship involved in making Amina's gorgeous minaudières and cuffs, and the fact that we are supporting Filipino artisans by buying these pieces, it's a small price to pay. 

I fell in love with the Corallo which sells for about Php18,500. It is a work of art in itself.

The shell clasp is just precious:

I ended up getting the Sampaguita, a wooden minaudière that is so delicately pretty, yet can withstand years of use. I love how this can go from day to night too.

When Aranaz Delujo first launched in 2011, Amina showed how the lowly coconut shell could be elevated into something luxe, even an object of desire. For 2013, she took the idea a step further by dyeing the shells in different hues and using gold-dipped gilded clasps with colored stones.

According to Amina, "The ARANAZ DELUJO line is an outlet to indulge in our creative fantasies. Each piece is a product of our dreams. Combining master craftsmanship with the most exquisite raw materials and handmade techniques."

Apart from a a range of coconut shell purses, there were also studded shell, snakeskin and brass minaudières. Some with complementary cuffs to match.

Let me point out that in true luxe fashion, the inside of the Raya is lined in soft suede.

It was truly a treat to be invited to the special preview of Aranaz Delujo 2013 and the pre-selling affair at Vask was the perfect time to place an order before the line hits the stores this coming July.

I left with this fantastic brass lily cuff from Amina (worn next to an Aranaz lobster claw cuff and Vita Fede mock croc leather bangle) and the anticipation that I will get my Sampaguita minaudière sooner than most. 

Aranaz Delujo will hit stores by July 19, 2013.