Thai tries
Titanium
1999, April, Jewellery News Asia, page
135
| Platinum jewellery manufacturer, Jewelex Co., Ltd., is trying its hand on a product relatively new to Asia companies: titanium jewellery. "We want to have a headstart over other jewellery manufacturers in Thailand so we ventured into titanium," managing director, Sonny Saw, said. Jewelex is among the pioneers in manufacturing platinum jewellery in Thailand. Production is limited to samples until the company sorts out some technical problems. "Processing titanium is more complicated than platinum and gold. It is a harder metal and wastage may be up to 50 percent." We are trying to mix it with rose gold and white gold. We are also trying to find out whether titanium is suitable with diamonds." | The company uses technology from Germany and Italy. The six-piece collection of platinum rings which the company exhibited during the Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair in March 1999 generated interest, Mr. Saw said. "Titanium is grayish in colour, but when you polish it, it comes out like a platinum. It is also resistant to tarnish. Modern jewellery retailers in Bangkok are interested, as well as some buyers from Singapore and Hong Kong." Mr. Saw said the company might be ready to start commercial production in August 1999. Collection will focus on rings, raging from US$ 200 to US$ 300 a piece. |