Skip to main content
Hamburger Menu Close
Advertisement

People

This Singaporean jeweller trumped international brands to design a wedding tiara for Brunei’s royal family

For 28 years, Flower Diamond’s founder Belinda Chua focused on fine workmanship, integrity and timeless design, creating versatile everyday pieces and statement stunners that have earned a loyal following.

This Singaporean jeweller trumped international brands to design a wedding tiara for Brunei’s royal family

The 18k white gold diamond tiara originally worn by Princess Azemah (left, photo used with permission from the Brunei Royal Family) was designed by Flower Diamond, founded by Belinda Chua (right). (Photos: Flower Diamond/art: Chern Ling)

New: You can now listen to articles.

This audio is generated by an AI tool.

When Belinda Chua started Flower Diamond in 1996, it was all part of the former fashion boutique owner’s fascination with beautiful accessories. Little did she imagine that her homegrown jewellery brand would one day be designing for a royal wedding that would go viral around the world.

Last week, the internet was abuzz with the tiara worn by Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri Anisha Rosnah Binti Adam during her wedding with Brunei’s Prince Abdul Mateen. The 18k white gold diamond tiara was designed by Flower Diamond’s creative director Roslind Ng and it comprised 838 diamonds weighing a total of 132 carats.

In an exclusive chat with CNA Luxury in Flower Diamond’s boutique showroom at Ngee Ann City, Chua shared: “As far as we know, this is the first time that a Singaporean jewellery brand has been commissioned to create a tiara for a royal wedding. It is a big thing, considering that royal tiaras are typically crafted by big international brands, so we are excited and sincerely thankful for the trust that the royal family has given us. We truly appreciate this opportunity to create such an exquisite piece and showcase our ability.”

The tiara worn by Princess Azemah on her wedding day comprised 838 diamonds weighing a total of 132 carats. (Photo: Used with permission from the Brunei Royal Family)
From left: Roslind Ng, Belinda Chua, Anisha, Prince Mateen, Irwin Chua and Sabrina Ho. (Photo: Flower Diamond)

The tiara, which took eight months of work, was originally commissioned by Prince Mateen’s elder sister Princess Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah for her wedding to Prince Bahar ibni Jefri Bolkiah in January 2023.

Ng, who has been with the company since 1999, had sketched out three designs for Princess Azemah, who had requested for “a modern and lighter shape that will showcase the diamonds’ brilliance and rarity”. There are 767 round brilliant-cut diamonds as well as 38 square-shaped, 19 pear-shaped and 14 oval-shaped diamonds, all of the rare VVS (Very Very Small Inclusions) quality where the gemstones are almost flawless. Two bronze moulds were made for Princess Azemah to try on the shape before five craftsmen worked on the final tiara, which was positioned to sit squarely atop the princess’ head. It was adjusted to fit Anisha, who wore it at an angle like a hairband.

Ng shared: “We wanted the diamonds to look like they are floating so we designed very fine white gold lines to hold them. We also chose a plain glossy finishing for a cleaner look, instead of an antique finishing, which would have made the tiara more Art Deco in style.”

A sketch of the tiara. (Photo: Flower Diamond)

Chua started Flower Diamond when she had difficulty finding local jewellery stores offering unique pieces and personalised customisation services. “I was in the fashion industry and was always inspired by beautiful jewellery pieces during my travels overseas, so I felt compelled to take the leap to go into this area. I chose the name because I loved flowers and nature and wanted something that was short and very easy for people to remember, especially my non-English speaking customers.”

Flower Diamond soon became known for its warm service, quality workmanship and timeless designs, attracting customers that were not only looking for versatile everyday accessories, but also bespoke pieces that could be passed on to future generations.

Belinda Chua started Flower Diamond because she had difficulty finding local jewellery stores offering unique pieces and personalised customisation services. (Photo: Flower Diamond)

Besides their own creations, Flower Diamond also carries other European labels that share the same ethos for fine craftsmanship such as Greek high jewellery brand Etho Maria; FerriFirenze, an Italian brand popular for their modern gold-and-diamond pieces like rings and bracelets; and a bold Spanish label Damaso that is well-known for their bangles.

The most common bespoke requests are for the re-set of older pieces or the creation of new ones using inherited gemstones, said Chua. There has also been an increasing number of male customers looking for everyday accessories, including one who wanted to repurpose his grandmother’s jade into a meaningful keepsake. So, Ng created a statement brooch that incorporated the jade pieces with diamond butterfly motifs from their signature Butterfly Collection. Other royal commissions include a pair of diamond gloves for the Brunei princesses and a pair of diamond peridot earrings for Tuanku Sultanah Kalsom of Pahang, Malaysia.

Chua said: “Transparency and honesty are very important. If your customers trust you, they will come back again and recommend their friends. We also want to offer pieces that are timeless. When a customer shows me a ring that she has worn for over 20 years, it makes me feel we have achieved something.”

A statement brooch that incorporated the jade pieces from a customer's heirloom with diamond butterfly motifs from Flower Diamond's signature Butterfly Collection. (Photo: Flower Diamond)

In 2020, Chua closed her third-floor retail outlet in Ngee Ann City and opened a private boutique showroom on the 15th floor. The pastel-hued space was designed to offer more privacy and comfort to their customers and to be an intimate venue for trunk shows and the launch of new collections.

Today, Chua’s team is a balanced mix of veterans like herself and Ng and an enthusiastic second generation that includes her daughter Sabrina Ho, nephew Irwin Chua and his sister Amanda Chua, all working closely with one another in the areas of design, marketing, operations and customer relations.

Chua said: “I cannot run this forever. It’s time for me to pass it on and to train these young ones. We will keep learning and be better at what we do. I love coming up with new ideas in jewellery, but we have to work very fast and very hard, while continuing to inspire trust in our clients.”

Source: CNA/bt
Advertisement

RECOMMENDED

Advertisement