“A GOOD GEM does not have to be big. If it comes with a tasteful design and the stone is of good quality, that piece of jewellery can be passed down from generation to generation,” says Polpat Asavaprapha, designer of Asava.

Polpat recently teamed up with diamond expert Pitchaya Lopiti, a member of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), and Sethawut Naruemityarn, a tastemaker at Siam Paragon, to offer tips on mixing and matching outfits as well as jewellery pieces.

Part of Siam Paragon’s “Colour of Love” promotion to mark the month of love, fine jewellery from leading boutiques is being offered as part of a special promotional campaign at the Hall of Mirrors through Monday.

Twenty leading jewellery boutiques at the shopping centre are taking part in the promotion, namely Bijoux de Louise, Blue River, DER MOND, Gems Pavilion, Karat, Le Beau, Mikimoto, P&P Jewelry, Pannarai Jewellers, Premiera, Prima Gems, Sette, Siam Tiara, Sirinapa Diamond, Sirus Tanya, ST Diamond Design, Tang’s by Chua Lee, Trez Jewellery, Xavier by Uthai Jewellery, and Charms Fine Jewellery.

During the talk, Pitchaya spoke at length about how to choose diamonds and the trends for 2016.

“The rule of thumb for inspecting diamonds and precious stones is the 4 Cs: Cut, Colour, Clarity, and Carat Weight. The trend for this year is for light colours, such as pale pink and blue, which give a feeling of relaxation, reduce stress, and look modern. You can also choose jewellery based on the month of birth to bring luck, love, and wealth. Garnet and rose quartz are January stones. Amethyst is for February; aquamarine for March; diamond for April; emerald for May; pearl for June; ruby for July; peridot for August; sapphire for September; opal for October; topaz for November; and turquoise for December.

While agreeing with his colleague about the trends for this year, Polpat points out that picking a jewellery item is really more about personal taste and style.

“Personally, I recommend jewellery that has a classic design because it is timeless and can be easily matched with clothes. The quality of the jewellery is also more important than its size.”

For those looking to buy diamonds and precious stones as gifts, Sethawut stresses this doesn’t have to be a ring. “There are other attractive pieces that also say ‘I love you’, such as coloured gemstone bracelets and bangles. If children are buying a gift for their mother, a coloured gemstone pin or a pin that can be turned into a pendant are an interesting choice,” he says.