An interview on custom-made jewellery with sisters Ling Kwan and Lydia Kwan, co-directors of Universal Jewellery
What is your philosophy behind producing custom-made jewellery?
Our business began with a rose. In the 1940s, our father hand made the first three-dimensional rose-shaped brooch with more than 1,000 pieces of diamonds for a Jewish jeweller in Shanghai. The technique he used for this sweet and vivid piece was ahead of his time, so the public reaction was overwhelming. Following our father's passion for creativity and innovation, we treat every piece of jewellery as a piece of art instead of a commercial item. Emphasising excellent craftsmanship and dazzling designs, we aim to bring out the true beauty of each piece of jewellery.
Who are your clientele? How big is your market?
Quite often we will custom-make pieces for jewellery lovers who appreciate unique, trendy and elegant designs. Our clientele comes from all over the world, including but not limited to North America, Europe, the Middle-East and Asia.
What is your customer demographic? What are the preferences between customers of different ages?
Since our company has had more than 60 years of history, our pool of customers spans three generations. Many of our elderly clients introduce our brand to their children, who in turn introduce it to their next generation too. Customers of different age groups have their own particular preferences, but when they come to us they all look for a common essence: style and uniqueness.
