Nar Wong's Exquisite Jewels
As a young girl growing up in China, Nar Wong could not have dreamed that one day she would become a much sought after designer of exquisite jewels. Today, her stunning one-of-a-kind pieces are sold through her store, Tivoli Jewels, in San Gabriel, California and collected by clients around the globe.
Nar Wong spent her early career working as an electrical engineer in China, but destiny was about to play its hand. In the 1970s, she moved to California to join other family members, and settled in the Chinese community of Monterey Park, east of Los Angeles. A casual get-together with a few friends changed her life forever. “I was visiting some friends,” she explains, “when I learned that one of them had opened a jewelry store in Chinatown, and that another had opened a jewelry booth in Downtown LA. They suggested that I go into this type of business as well.” While the idea was appealing, she had no knowledge of the industry. With a bit more encouragement, however, Wong 1979 started her own company in 1979. Despite the obstacles, she was determined to succeed. “I studied a great deal about gemstones and learned from other established jewelers about the jewelry trade,” she adds. She also developed a rather unconventional way of creating strong relationships with her clients. “I would meet them in the comfort of their home, and was able to get to know each one on a personal level. This allowed me to see their world and the things that hold a special place in their hearts.” It also allowed the designer to gain a better understanding of her customers’ tastes, preferences, and needs. “It soon became clear to me that I needed to focus on creating stunning individualized jewels for my clients. So I immersed myself into learning and understanding the process of high-end customization.” With the notion that the “customer comes first” as her guiding principle, Wong grew the business by earning the trust and loyalty of her ever-expanding client list, one person at a time. “The most important trait a jeweler can have,” she insists, “is the ability to really put people first.” Over the years, Nar Wong has developed many close and meaningful relationships with her clients, and enjoys nothing more than traveling the world in search of exquisite gems, and then designing the perfect one-of-a-kind piece for them. Her love of nature and vibrant colors also influences the design of her unique and remarkable pieces. In 2007, Wong expanded Tivoli Jewels to launch annual collections, showcasing an even greater number of spectacular, trendsetting, and original works. Many of her pieces include very rare fancy colored diamonds and other unusual gems. Nar Wong’s three children have joined her in the business. “My son, Michael, is very social, and oversees the sales and marketing aspects of the company. My daughter, Rosemary, is talented in interior decorating and does a wonderful job displaying the jewels, and making sure our environment is inviting to our clients. My daughter, Lisa, is quite creative and is involved with the designs. She also oversees the entire customization process, and travels the world with me to source the gems.” It is this teamwork that Wong feels has contributed to the incredible success of her company, which, to this day, still specializes in one-of-a-kind pieces, pieces that are as unique and exquisite as the world Nar Wong has created. (www.tivolijewels.com) |