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Piece of the Week: A Little Aloha
Hawai’i-based designer Sharon Lehua Gilbert’s gold and diamond “Kumu Nalu” bracelet pays homage to the ocean.
Last Saturday, the Hawaii Jewelers Association held its annual banquet and the highlight of the evening was learning who won the association’s design contest.
Presented live at the banquet each year, the contest recognizes the best in jewelry design the Aloha State has to offer.
Pieces entered into the contest are judged based on quality, wearability, and overall appearance, and are sorted into three categories: Jewelry Under $3,500 retail, Jewelry Over $3,500 retail, and Hawaiian Theme Jewelry.
This year, this author had the privilege of being one of the judges and had a hard time playing favorites, though Sharon Lehua Gilbert’s “Kumu Nalu” bracelet was a standout.
It caught this author’s eye and nabbed the People’s Choice Award in the Jewelry Over $3,500 category.
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Presented live at the banquet each year, the contest recognizes the best in jewelry design the Aloha State has to offer.
Pieces entered into the contest are judged based on quality, wearability, and overall appearance, and are sorted into three categories: Jewelry Under $3,500 retail, Jewelry Over $3,500 retail, and Hawaiian Theme Jewelry.
This year, this author had the privilege of being one of the judges and had a hard time playing favorites, though Sharon Lehua Gilbert’s “Kumu Nalu” bracelet was a standout.
It caught this author’s eye and nabbed the People’s Choice Award in the Jewelry Over $3,500 category.
Gilbert is the owner of Lehua Jewelers on the “Big Island” (Hawai’i). She has been handcrafting Hawaiian heirloom jewelry depicting flowers and other motifs from the islands since 1985.
Her Kumu Nalu bracelet is an embodiment of traditional Hawaiian jewelry and craftmanship.
The piece also serves as a nod to the connection between the Hawaiian people and the ocean, which is always teaching valuable life lessons, whether it is through sailing, swimming, surfing, or fishing. Its name means “the source of the wave.”
The bracelet is crafted in 18-karat yellow gold with teal and white diamonds hand-picked to reflect the vibrant spirit and colors of the ocean.
Learn more about Gilbert and her work on the Lehua Jewelers website.
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