The Merlion charms
From now until Aug 10, Pandora will be selling the Merlion and other Singapore-themed charms for $55 to mark the nation’s birthday. Exclusively available in Singapore, the charm is set with brilliant-cut clear cubic zirconia that brings sparkle to the Merlion’s eyes, as well as intricate details in the Merlion’s long swirly mane and fish scales on the tail. Other charms to consider are the Lion King Simba Charm that is made of 18k gold-plated sterling silver or the Chinese Lion New Year Charm that is inspired by the traditional Lion Dance and finished in red, black and white enamel.
Inside a gem library
Founded in 1872, B.P. de Silva Jewellers is among Singapore’s first luxury labels. Its history can be traced back to the 19th century when the founder, Balage Porolis de Silva, set sail from Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and travelled the world before settling down in Singapore to open the first B.P. de Silva Jewellers Atelier. Today, the company is still in the hands of the family and the 5th generation runs the business and with it some fresh ideas such as creating a gem library. With 150,000 natural gemstones and counting, B.P. de Silva’s Gem Library is one of Singapore’s most extensive. The sourcing of stones is led by Shanya Amarasuriya, creative director at B.P. de Silva. Apart from the brand’s impressive selection, B.P. de Silva is known for the exceptional cuts of their gemstones, such as their Morganites, and Tourmalines which are cut by master lapidaries in Germany. Why are they so special? Well, for example, there is only one Paraiba Tourmaline for every 10,000 diamonds, and their striking turquoise colour reminds one of the Maldives Sea and cannot be found in any other gemstone in the world. For more information on B.P. de Silva, visit www.bpdesilvajewellers.com
A time in history
Put a “designed for Singapore” watch on your wrist as G-Shock celebrates our 55th National Day with GA-140 model. The watch has been designed in collaboration with illustrator and visual artist Adeline Tan or Mightyellow, as she is popularly known. Her art inspirations usually come from personal experiences, pop culture and observations. For G-Shock, she based her design on the canvas of the GA-140, a series of analogue-digital combination models which was launched with a new face and hand designs last year. On the strap, she gives her take on an artistic interpretation of the shapes and colours of the tropical jungle, moving and merging in vibrant dynamism, celebrating diversity and resilience. She says, “Two years after independence, Singapore set herself a vision to become a garden city. From wild mangroves and jungles to orchids and gingers, the little island reinvented itself over and over. At 55 years of age, it is a metropolis that kept her biodiversity thriving and her people adaptable. This design is inspired by her ever changing landscape.”
Red, white and proud
Garmin celebrates National Day with a collection of smart watches that feature the colour of our flag and can monitor your fitness level as well. Forerunner 45/245 Music Lava Red with the intuitive five-button design is easy to operate in any weather condition. It is the perfect running companion, offering you in-depth insights to your running statistics. Swim 2 White is great for those who prefer to swim to keep fit and with this gadget you can monitor your underwater heart rate and record your distance, pace, stroke count, stroke type and distance per stroke. Vivofit jr. Star War Edition is an interactive gadget that is perfect for children. It comes with a mobile app with adventures that can be unlocked through completion of chores and achieving daily activity goals. Parents can view their child’s progress as well as assign chores and designate virtual rewards which can be redeemed by their child.
National pride
Skincare line Skinlycious is the only brand representing Singapore as part of Sephora Accelerate 2020 — a six-month-long programme that is aimed at building a supportive community for women who are in the early stages of a business. Jasmine Kang, founder of Skinlycious, is the only representative from Singapore in the programme and she is among 13 other women from countries such as the United States, United Kingdom and Europe. It has been 14 long years of continuous work for Kang to perfect her skincare line for those with acne problems. She used her biomedical science background coupled with her experience with many anti-acne products to find the right blend of ingredients and concentrations that alleviated her skin problems. The Clear Skin Mini Kits are trial kits aimed at tackling various acne skin conditions such as dryness, peeling and addressing the root causes of acne. Let us support local entrepreneurs as Kang is offering a 55% off all Clear Skin Mini Kits and 10% off all other products from Aug 8–10.
Our national pastime honoured
What do Singaporeans love the most? Eating, of course. We are known to travel from Jurong to Bedok just to get our rojak fix. Uniqlo worked with local artist Mandy Kew (@Haruko412) to create eight food designs to be printed on UTme! T-shirts in a collaboration with Singapore Tourism Board’s Singapore Food Festival, which will be held virtually this year from Aug 21 to 30. Kew is a Singapore-based foodie illustrator obsessed with breads. She channels her love for food through painting and hopes that her illustrations can enhance the appreciation for the small simple things in life. For this collaboration, Kew will put her spin on local classic favourites such as laksa, kaya toast and kopi, kueh salat, mee siam, kueh tutu, roti prata, chicken rice and nasi lemak. With her passion and in-depth knowledge of local food, and her unique realistic drawing style, she is the perfect choice for this collaboration.
