Interview about The Galaxie Collection Jewelry Set, winner of the A' Jewelry Design Award 2025
The Galaxie Collection redefines jewelry design by merging cosmic inspiration with meticulous craftsmanship. Derived from the Big Bang, Taichi Yin and Yang, the eye, and the cushion hexagon, the design symbolizes rebirth and prosperity. Australian Crystal Opal, with its vibrant play of color, presents challenges due to its softness and translucency. These were overcome using custom crafted settings and a blackened gold backing, ensuring enhanced fiery hues and durability when paired with 14K white and yellow gold.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design Details1. In The Galaxie Collection, I chose to center the design around Australian Crystal Opal not merely for its aesthetic beauty, but for its philosophical symbolism. Among gemstones, opal is uniquely capable of displaying a full spectrum of vibrant colors within a single stone — colors that shift dramatically with light and angle, evoking a sense of wonder and mystery. To me, opal is not just a material, but a metaphor: something small in scale yet vast in meaning, capable of inspiring different reflections in different contexts — much like the origins of the universe or the essence of Taichi.The Big Bang theory and Taichi philosophy, though born from different cultural lenses, both describe a universe that begins from a singular point — an origin that appears simple, but contains within it all potential, waiting for the right moment to unfold. This conceptual similarity captivated me. I saw the opal as a visual and symbolic representation of that singularity: radiant, concentrated, and ready to expand.In my design, the opal becomes the Taichi — the still point from which movement begins. Its crystal clarity and brilliant fire reflect the latent energy just before transformation. From this center, two golden arcs emerge in opposite directions, symbolizing Yin and Yang — the dual forces born of unity — but also the diverging paths of creative evolution. They do not speak of destruction, but of expansion, growth, and harmony. Accent stones positioned along these curves represent the tangible, beautiful outcomes that arise from transformation — the “stars” born of a cosmic unfolding.Crystal opal, with its purity and luminous energy, was the natural choice for this concept. It embodies the idea of potential becoming form, of simplicity becoming complexity. In that sense, each piece in The Galaxie Collection is more than jewelry — it is a meditation on origin, balance, and becoming. The beginning of any journey — whether cosmic or personal — holds the greatest intensity. That’s the moment I wanted to eternalize in my design.
Crystal opal, with its vibrant fire and luminous purity, was chosen as the heart of The Galaxie Collection — a visual and symbolic representation of “Taichi,” the point of origin and dynamic balance in the collection. Its brilliance made it ideal for expressing the concept of cosmic energy and birth. Yet, that same transparency presented a unique technical challenge. While crystal opal is celebrated for its color-play, its transparency can sometimes diminish the intensity of its fire. This is where the well-established technique of black backing becomes invaluable. By placing a dark foundation beneath the stone, we can dramatically enhance its chromatic depth — ensuring that the opal’s internal fire remains bold and vivid. In The Galaxie Collection, I implemented black backing not only as a technical solution, but as a meaningful design element. Symbolically, the dark base represents the primordial void — the silent expanse of space before the Big Bang. It became a conceptual anchor for the collection, amplifying both the stone’s brilliance and the narrative of emergence, transformation, and balance. Technically, applying the black backing was relatively straightforward, but refining it to meet the collection’s aesthetic and symbolic standards required careful calibration. I worked on surface finish, layering, and integration with surrounding elements to ensure it felt intentional and elevated, rather than purely functional. This experience showed me that even time-honored techniques like black backing can continue to evolve. In future collections, I hope to explore more advanced variations — solutions that not only enhance performance, but also allow the backing itself to become a poetic extension of the cosmic narrative.
The cultural synthesis in The Galaxie Collection reflects my belief that meaningful design emerges when form and philosophy come together. Rather than choosing between Eastern and Western approaches, I sought to create a dialogue between them — one rooted in structure, symbolism, and the emotional experience of the wearer. Western design traditions often emphasize proportion, geometry, and technical clarity — a language of control and refinement. Eastern aesthetics, by contrast, tend to prioritize symbolism, intuition, and narrative. While the West shapes the object to serve function and form, the East infuses the object with spirit and story. In The Galaxie Collection, I applied this dual perspective through both concept and execution. The curved golden arcs draw from Eastern fluidity — inspired by Taichi’s flowing duality — while the hexagonal base structure references the geometric precision of Western form language. The opal, placed at the center, becomes the Taichi itself — a spiritual origin point expressed through a technically calibrated bezel and carefully proportioned setting. To ensure the fusion extended beyond philosophy and into practice, I used 3D modeling to refine the curves and angles of each form — achieving balance between flowing energy and structural clarity. The proportions of each piece were also considered in relation to the body, with subtle adjustments made to ensure that the symbolism never compromised comfort or wearability. This approach reflects my larger vision for modern jewelry: to create pieces that are not only beautiful, but also meaningful — designs that resonate intellectually, emotionally, and physically. Through the fusion of cultural perspectives, The Galaxie Collection becomes a quiet conversation between logic and spirit, between ancient wisdom and contemporary craft.
Receiving the Silver A' Design Award for The Galaxie Collection affirmed one of my core beliefs: that truly exceptional jewelry is not a compromise between art and utility, but a harmony of both. Over time, I’ve developed a framework to evaluate each design based on its intended category — whether it’s a conceptual piece, ceremonial jewel, or luxury object for daily wear. Each type requires a unique balance of meaning, style, functionality, durability, comfort, refinement, complexity, and cost. With The Galaxie Collection, my goal was to create high-end jewelry that could live with its wearer — not just be admired, but worn, moved with, and felt. The collection draws its inspiration from cosmic motion, feminine transformation, and the vibrant energy of crystal opal. These themes naturally led me to design for women who are philosophical yet practical, who value both narrative depth and everyday elegance.Balancing expression with function meant making precise technical decisions. The bezels were engineered not only to protect the opal, but also to allow it to receive as much ambient light as possible — maximizing its brilliance while preserving visibility into its depth. The black backing enhanced the opal’s fire by creating visual contrast, but it also served a structural purpose — conceptually symbolizing cosmic darkness, and technically offering foundational support.I also paid close attention to how each curve was resolved — ensuring that no edges would catch on clothing or disrupt movement. These flowing forms were carefully refined through modeling and wear-testing to prioritize both comfort and practicality. Equally important was the versatility of each design. I aimed for pieces that could be worn seamlessly with a range of outfits and styles — allowing the jewelry to become a part of the wearer’s daily rhythm, rather than reserved for special occasions alone.I used 3D modeling to test proportions and simulate movement, ensuring that each piece maintains a sense of elegance without compromising strength. Accent stones were placed with equal care — not only for beauty, but also to support wearability, structural balance, and overall harmony in composition.Craftsmanship, to me, is not just about finishing a piece to perfection — it’s about anticipating how it will be lived with. A fine piece of jewelry should be tactile, enduring, and increasingly meaningful with every moment it spends with its wearer.In this way, The Galaxie Collection aims to be more than just beautiful jewelry; it aspires to be a daily companion — one that quietly reflects the strength, grace, and story of its wearer.
In designing The Galaxie Collection, one of my main priorities was orchestrating how light interacts with the jewelry — not just as illumination, but as part of the narrative. Because jewelry is worn on the most visible parts of the body, its visual performance under shifting angles and lighting conditions becomes crucial. I wanted each piece to do more than sparkle — I wanted it to perform, to move, to breathe with the wearer. To achieve this, I approached material selection with both scientific precision and symbolic intent. The crystal opal, with its ethereal play-of-color, was chosen as the center not only for its visual fire, but because it represents cosmic energy — dynamic, unpredictable, and alive. Through optical spectroscopy, I studied how different opals responded to varied lighting environments. This helped me select stones with the most vibrant spectral shifts, ensuring the “cosmic core” of each piece would remain captivating in real-world conditions.The gold bezel around the opal was crafted in yellow gold to symbolize the explosive energy of the Big Bang. But technically, it also serves to create what I call a "rolling light effect": curved surfaces that capture and move light along their edges in two opposing directions — evoking the duality of Yin and Yang. The curvature, width, and depth of these forms were tested through 3D modeling, allowing me to simulate how light would travel across the surface and optimize the sense of motion. Accent stones were introduced to bring a secondary light behavior — small, flashing reflections set in white gold, producing a classical halo effect. Their placement was not just aesthetic, but calculated: the angles and metal finishes were selected to complement the central fire of the opal without overshadowing it. This created a layered composition of light — concentrated in the center, dispersed at the periphery, always shifting, always alive. 3D modeling was instrumental in refining these details. It allowed me to test different geometries, surface angles, and proportions in real-time, reducing guesswork and enabling precise communication with artisans. What once would have required multiple rounds of physical prototyping or imprecise sketches could now be visualized and validated before a single stone was set. Ultimately, technology became my partner in expressing something inherently poetic: the choreography of light. By integrating spectroscopy, 3D design, and traditional craftsmanship, I was able to shape not just form, but experience. This is where I believe modern jewelry truly evolves — when science, symbolism, and emotion converge through the lens of light.
A strong foundation in Applied Arts has allowed me to intuitively translate abstract concepts like feminine strength and transformation into tangible visual forms. Design, at its core, is a language — and when that language is used with intention, it becomes a powerful bridge between symbolism and materiality. In The Galaxie Collection, I drew upon this language to express layered aspects of femininity — not merely softness, but intuition, resilience, and grace under pressure. I began by incorporating curved lines in place of rigid angles. This is a fundamental principle in visual design: curves naturally convey fluidity, receptivity, and a sense of organic motion — all qualities culturally and emotionally associated with feminine energy. The eye motif was another deliberate choice. Universally symbolic of perception and emotional depth, the eye in my design represents the inner awareness and sensitivity often embodied by women. It speaks not only to observation, but to intuition — the kind of deep perception that transcends logic. Additionally, I employed a cushion hexagon silhouette as the underlying structural form in several pieces. The hexagon, with its symmetry and strength, symbolizes foundation and balance. By softening its edges into a cushion-like form, it gains warmth, gentleness, and a nurturing character — echoing the traditional feminine role as both protector and connector within the family unit. These visual choices — curved lines, the eye, and the cushion hexagon — were not decorative flourishes, but distilled expressions of complex values. They function as visual archetypes, simplified forms that carry symbolic resonance across cultures. By refining these forms and placing them within precious materials, I created jewelry that doesn’t just adorn, but communicates. In this way, The Galaxie Collection becomes more than an accessory. It is a wearable reflection of transformation — of feminine strength that is both fierce and empathetic, precise and intuitive. Through design, these abstract ideals find form, and through form, they become part of the wearer’s story.
Proportion plays a fundamental role in jewelry design — not only for achieving visual harmony, but for creating a collection that feels cohesive, wearable, and emotionally resonant. In The Galaxie Collection, dimensional balance was considered from three interconnected perspectives: how each piece relates to the human body, how the internal elements relate within a single piece, and how all components relate across the set as a unified whole. First, I considered the relationship between jewelry and the body — an essential factor in achieving both elegance and comfort. For example, the pendant’s size was calibrated to rest prominently on the chest without overwhelming the neckline. The ring face was proportioned to suit the average width and length of the finger, offering a sense of balance and presence. The earring studs were carefully sized to rest naturally on the earlobe — avoiding any sense of heaviness while still offering enough visual presence to reflect the identity of the collection. Next, I focused on the internal proportions of each piece. The central opal needed to command attention without overpowering the overall design. I carefully adjusted the relationship between the gemstone and its gold bezel, the accent stones, and the surrounding elements — ensuring that every component worked together in visual harmony. This careful calibration helped the design feel deliberate and cohesive, rather than overwhelming or disjointed. Finally, I considered how all three pieces relate to one another. Jewelry sets are often viewed as a whole before they are appreciated individually — especially when displayed. Achieving dimensional consistency across the pendant, ring, and earrings created an immediate impression of harmony and sophistication. At the same time, I wanted to establish a clear hierarchy. The pendant was selected as the focal point, with the ring and earrings thoughtfully scaled to support it — taking into account both visual balance and the natural dimensions of the chosen opals. This layered approach to proportion ensures that each piece feels individually resolved, yet collectively connected to a larger story. It’s not just about mathematical precision — it’s about guiding the eye, flattering the form, and enriching how the wearer experiences and emotionally connects with the jewelry.
As a newcomer to the field of jewelry design — a landscape already shaped by iconic names and celebrated works — I felt no urgency to compete through visual spectacle alone. Instead, I’ve aligned myself with a growing movement that seeks to restore emotional and symbolic meaning to luxury objects. The Galaxie Collection is my personal response to that philosophy — a commitment to creating jewelry that transcends ornament and becomes a vessel for inner experience.I believe the future of contemporary jewelry lies in its ability to connect — not only with the eye, but with the soul. Beyond beauty, a truly meaningful piece invites introspection. It holds memory, reflects identity, and offers a sense of presence. When symbolism is woven into precious materials with care and clarity, the result is something that feels alive — a companion, not just a decoration.In The Galaxie Collection, I worked to achieve this synthesis through both design language and technical execution. The eye motif symbolizes inner awareness. The cushion hexagon evokes protection and family. The flowing curves represent balance and transformation. Embedded in gold and crystal opal — materials revered for their purity and power — these forms are not merely decorative. They carry cultural and personal meaning, translated into wearable, tactile form.This approach, however, requires commitment from both the designer and the wearer. As designers, we must invest time in research, reflection, and symbolic clarity. It’s not enough for a piece to be attractive — it must also be intentional. At the same time, wearers must choose to engage with their jewelry beyond the surface — to reflect on its story, and allow it to become part of their own.Looking ahead, I see this model of design becoming increasingly relevant. In a world where meaning often feels fractured, people seek deeper connection in what they wear. Jewelry has a unique ability to carry that meaning — quietly, persistently, and personally. If The Galaxie Collection can inspire even one person to see jewelry not just as adornment, but as a mirror of self and spirit, then it has fulfilled its purpose.
My background in architectural design has profoundly shaped how I approach jewelry — particularly in how I give equal weight to function and aesthetics. In architecture, a structure must first serve its purpose — to shelter, to support, to endure. But its success is measured not just in utility, but in how it makes people feel, move, and connect. This belief — that true design must integrate both practicality and beauty — is a principle I carry into every piece of jewelry I create.Opal, with its luminous beauty and inherent fragility, demands exactly that kind of dual consideration. Before setting any stone, I study its physical and optical behavior — its hardness, durability, and most importantly, its individual play-of-color. No two opals are alike, and each one calls for a unique structural solution that highlights its strengths while safeguarding its vulnerabilities.In The Galaxie Collection, I treated each opal as both a visual focal point and a structural anchor. I placed the stone within a protected spatial zone — using elevated bezels, deep-set prongs, and sculptural gold arcs that frame and shield without obscuring. The golden arcs flanking the central opal were designed not only as symbolic expressions of expansion and duality, but also as protective forms to minimize accidental impact.From architecture, I also drew on the concept of “defensive detailing” — integrating structural protection in a way that enhances rather than disrupts the design. I looked to cantilevered elements and sunshades — forms that defend while expressing — and translated these principles into jewelry through fluid, intentional contours.I also learned from master opal setters and jewelers who specialize in fragile stones like emerald and pearl. These craftspeople taught me how to balance structural integrity with refinement, and how to respect a gemstone’s limitations while still presenting it confidently and elegantly.In this way, each opal in The Galaxie Collection is not merely set, but thoughtfully housed — with equal care given to performance and poetry. It’s this integration — of protection and presence, structure and symbolism — that reflects my design philosophy: that jewelry must serve and speak at once.
As designers, we are constantly driven by the impulse to explore, to observe what fascinates us, and to transform it into something shareable. For me, inspiration flows in three directions: from nature — intimate, tactile, and alive; from within — as a reflection of identity and memory; and from beyond — the vast unknown where imagination, philosophy, and hope converge. The cosmos belongs to this third realm. It is both an external mystery and an inner metaphor, and it continues to move me deeply.The Galaxie Collection marked my first exploration of this cosmic narrative. Through opal — a gemstone whose fire and depth seem to contain entire galaxies — I found a material language capable of capturing light, transformation, and mystery. The fact that “galaxy” is also a named fire pattern in opal felt serendipitous, as if the concept and material were destined to converge.Looking ahead, I see many opportunities to further develop this theme. Future Palomy collections may explore celestial phenomena such as nebulae — echoing opal’s swirling internal color; constellations — as symbolic systems of connection and navigation; or the aurora borealis — whose dance of light mirrors gemstone fire in motion. Each cosmic inspiration offers a distinct lens for storytelling and a new way to pair form with meaning.But beyond imagery, the cosmic theme also invites us to touch upon timeless emotional truths: awe, longing, renewal, purpose. These are not just abstract ideals, but real feelings that jewelry — when carefully crafted — can help us carry and express. My goal is to design pieces that are not only inspired by the universe, but that help wearers feel part of it.Rather than repeating The Galaxie Collection, I intend to expand its spirit — to deepen the dialogue between space, soul, and stone. With opal as my compass, I look forward to continuing this journey — guided by light, narrative, and the infinite inspiration of the cosmos.
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