Design Sensibilities

The two designers of Hoseki – Fai Co and Knoi Esmane – have their own design preferences. Fai has an affinity for dainty flowers and feminine looks. Knoi tends tp make bold chunky jewelry that “can be seen two kilometers away”.

“My design require execution by master craftsmen,” says Fai. With three consecutive wins in the International South Sea Pearl Design Competition under his belt, he continues to innovate in his chosen field. He was included in the South Sea Pearl Consurtium’s White Magic, a travelling exhibition and publication featuring works by 17 world-renowned jewelry artists.

In spite of it’s flamboyance, Knoi’s design reflects it’s love for the abstract, linear and minimalist. He has 13 international citations/awards, making him the Philippines’ most internationally awarded jewelry designer. He is one the directors of the Guild of the Philippine Jewellers, Inc. and also heads the Hiyas Award, the country’s top jewelry design competition.

The Hoseki teams’ creative process starts with brainstorming session. Some of the things that inspire them include traveling and the materials they are able to find. After brainstorming and collecting materials, the next step is drawing sketches which add up to as many as 100-200 sketches. From there, they choose which designs will be manufactured.

They employ a select few artisans in their factory, goldsmiths, polishers, stonesetters, and the like – all experts in their fields. The whole process, from concept to competition, takes about a year. Hoseki comes up with one collection every year and holds exhibits twice a year – a collection launch in June, and a thanksgiving/sale exhibition for clients towards the end of the year.