The latest jewel in the crown
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Miss Tourism International Vera Dijkstra wearing her crown designed by FJC. Pix by Indika Handuwala
Precision Lapidaries and Natural Sapphires Ceylon, internationally known exporters of calibrated and unique natural sapphires from Sri Lanka in partnership with the Fine Jewellery Company (FJC) launched their new jewellery line, ‘Natural Sapphire Blue’ on Tuesday at Rotunda Gardens, Colombo 3.
Reigning Ms Tourism International, Vera Dijkstra was at the launch wearing the handcrafted crown of Ms. Tourism International with Ceylon blue sapphires, rubies and topaz. Also at the launch was Thai actress Nampetech Sunannipar displaying a necklace set with pink sapphires and diamonds, a fine example of the unique artistry imbued within the Natural Sapphires Blue jewellery collection. Also joining the cohort of invitees was international award winning jewellery designer Paloma Sanchez, one of the 30 best jewellery designers in the world who was featured in the ‘Unique Book, The Best Jewelry Designers’ launched at Baselworld 2013.
The Romantic Collection of Royal Blue Ceylon Sapphire Jewellery unveiled at the launch included exquisite necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings, inspired by the romanticism of the 1930s with elements of Old Ceylon and contemporary settings of the dark lustrous blue sapphires, surrounded by sparkling diamonds.
Thai actress Nampetech Sunannipar and (below) invitees at the launch
Creative Director of FJC Nabeel Salie said the collection draws inspiration from the legacy of his great grandfather M.U.M. Salie, or Prince Salie of Ceylon as he was known, who, over a century ago crossed oceans to bring the mysteries of the Orient to the USA in the 1920s and 1930s. “Prince Salie’s donation in 1921 of 55 gemstones stands proudly alongside the iconic gem collections of Charles Lewis Tiffany at Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History at its founding. Robert Shipley (Founder of GIA) referred to the moonstone as Salie’s Stone in his Dictionary of Gems and Gemmology published in 1971.”
“Our stones adorn the collections of some of the most glamourous women in the world, from royalty to Hollywood. We now want to make those high quality stones accessible to Sri Lankans, as we have been in the business of sourcing, cutting and producing some of the finest gemstones the world has ever seen,” said Chairman of Precision Lapidaries, Faiq Rehan Salie.
Nabeel, whose experience is drawn from working at Tiffany & Co, Dunhill and the Richemont Group’s Mont Blanc conceptualized the Miss Tourism crown. During his tenure, FJC has also won the jewellery design award at Fashion Asia in China in 2015. FJC’s jewellery is also on sale on board SriLankan Airlines and Malindo Air.
