Event: Jewelry Fair Korea 2012

The 2012 Jewelry Fair Korea will be held from 19 - 22 April at Hall C of Coex in Seoul. The first two days will be for trade buyers only. The fair will open to the public on the last two days. Aspiring buyers can register on the event website.

Fine jewelry, diamonds, pearls, and gemstones, watches & clocks, fashion jewelry & accessories are just some of the items that will be on exhibit. Tools & equipment and jewelry publications will also going to be on exhibit.

The fair is organized by the following: Korea International Trade Association, Korea Jeweller Confederation Association, Korea Federation Of Jewelry Industries, Korea Jewelry Design Association, Korea Jeweller's Association, Inc., Korea Gem Trade Association, Korea Pearl Association, Master Valuer Korea Association and the Korea Watch&Clock Industry Cooperative and sponsored by South Korea's Ministry of Knowledge Economy.

Happy White Day! (즐거운 화이트 데이!)

White Day is a significant lovers event in South Korea. It comes exactly a month after Valentine's Day and is the day when males pay back females with candy and gifts. 

For Korean boys out there (especially those who do not live in South Korea yet still celebrate it in line with Korean culture) who still have no idea as to what gifts they could give, go for something subtle yet colorful to match the candies you'll be giving! Here are a few things you can order from YesStyle's "Ready to Ship" collections for your girl:

Candy-colored dresses by YUMI ($31.00 and $20.00, click on the price to go to the site and order)

Pretty earrings by BELLINI ($158.00)

A cute useful bag by PG BEAUTY ($20.00)

Designer: Kim Jeong Ju

How does one continuously create beauty for beauties? The Chosun Ilbo takes a peek into the life of jewelry designer Kim Jeong Ju who also has been designing the crown for Miss Korea for the past four years.

From the Chosun Ilbo:

Miss Korea Crown Designer's Fairytale Life

Jewelry designer Kim Jeong-ju creates beauty. She tries to keep an open mind at all times to get inspiration from everything that exists in the world. Her works are regularly seen in TV dramas, films and at award ceremonies and worn by the winner of the Miss Korea beauty pageant.

After majoring in bio-ecology at Kangwon National University, Kim went to Australia. "I'd told everyone in the department that I was going to be a famous designer," she says. "I studied gemology at the Sydney branch of the Gemological Institute of America, and then jewelry design later. I really worked hard doing various jobs at once to fund my tuition. But I didn't mind at all because I was going to be a successful designer one day. I thought about only one thing -- achieving my dream."  

She thinks she has a charmed life because she has been getting closer to her dream step by step. "After I returned to Korea, I was very busy with marriage, having two babies and raising them," she recalls. "I still worked as a freelance jewelry designer, and my works received good reviews." 

When her husband's business took a downturn, she started her own business, Mucha, in the jewelry shops quarter in Jongno to help the family finances. "I got off to a successful start with lots of customers from day one." she says. Words of mouth spread, and she began to get recognition. There were queues in front of her shop to see her jewelry. "I started dreaming of setting up company headquarters in Cheongdam-dong. And miraculously I realized the dream." In 2007 she settled in the upscale district, home to many world-famous luxury brands. 

Her customers include wealthy foreigners as well. One Arab customer bought a very expensive tiara, and she says it is because he comes from a culture that believes that a tiara in the family will make everything well. Kim has designed the tiara for the winner of the Miss Korea beauty pageant for the last four years, and also participated as a judge in regional preliminaries in Seoul. 

She also sponsors various TV dramas and films, so she has met many celebrities and advised them on jewelry. She plans to publish a book based on her experience.

Kim also hopes to grow her company into a world-class brand. "I would like to make jewelry that can introduce Korea's beauty to the world, perhaps using Hangeul motifs," she says. "I'm going to keep working hard to create beautiful work that has never been seen in the world."

Source: Chosun Ilbo

You can browse for her works via the online site of her brand, Mucha.

Store: IM-HM

A trip to Boracay in Aklan, Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte or Palawan would not be complete if without the hottest resort wear and accessories and the online shopping site IM-HM is the perfect place to go on the web to find them.

IM-HM, short for “I am High Maintenance” is an online shopping site created by Mercedes and Bea Zobel that specializes in resort and swimwear, offers products from English, Australian and South American Brands. Aside from those, IM-HM also carries Southeast Asian-based brands from the Philippines such as Charina Sarte (resort wear), Linya Disenyo, Nicole Whisenhunt and Naga Jewellery by Wynn Wynn Ong (jewellery) and Indonesia such as Balifu Sarongs, Oishii (jewellery) and Vivacqua (bags), one of the very few online sites to do so.

Visit IM-HM now and avail of their Mother’s Day Special!

Photos: IM-HM