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Gem of a collection

Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.

glittering lovelies Komalthip and the mind-boggling collection

A visit to the Alta stall at The Hindu MetroPlus Lifestyle Show is akin to an education on gems, designs and jewellery. At the stall you will meet Alta Design head Komalthip and her colleague Bobbie Bobbiek. The latter sounds like a walking encyclopa edia on gems and jewellery, while Komalthip takes the back seat and handing you the gems Bobbiek is talking about for a closer look. Bobbiek talks passionately about the jewellery making even a non-jewellery lover fall in love with the glittering lovelies.

“We are inspired by designs from all over the world but create them with artistry and finesse from Thailand. Engineers craft the jewellery which makes the difference,” says Bobbiek, who shows pendants in the shape of frogs, scorpions, ants or bumble bees. These are so apt for the young and unconventional. They are made in silver and are platinum plated so that they do not tarnish, explains Bobbiek.

Besides these there are earrings, bracelets, watches and chokers and neck chains in varied stones and silver. “The specialty of the chokers is in their making. They are so intricate that you can actually roll them up like a mat,” demonstrates Bobbiek. Like a performer he takes another piece of jewellery and pulls it down your sleeve and says: “look the finish is so fine that it will not even pull at the threads of your garment. That is what the Basel setting of the gems do.”

He goes on to add that there is an interesting story to every jewellery range. There is a section that comes with horse shoe setting. “We are proud of our stone cuttings, so will not hide it. We have instead placed the stone in a horse shoe design. That makes the design unique and also gives the stone the opportunity to glitter from every angle.”

There are designs with rubies, opal, emeralds, jade and blue sapphire to name a few. These start at Rs. 300 per karat. Another speciality he says are the pearls. “The original pearls come from oyster pinctada maxica. And we have pearls that weigh 19 mm. They are so heavy that we advise our people not to wear them for very long hours,” he adds.

Then there is the diet bangle. They are silver bracelets with huge chunky gems. They are so heavy that you feel your hand being pulled down. “These were introduced in the UK when women had to eat finger foods at a party. So every time they would pick a finger food, the weight of this bracelet would remind them not to eat much! Our designs are such that you have to wear only one piece at a time. We do not associate gems with astrology but for their beauty and style,” smiles Bobbiek.

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