Offbeat Baubles

1. One-of-A-Kind Engagement If an exclusive ring is in order, Choo Yilin's got you sorted. She may be a stalwart in the local jewellery arena but this year, she's moved into a completely new category - engagement rings. Choo's forte is in modernising jade jewellery, so she taps into the rich history and culture of the Qing and Tang Dynasties for her designs. Says Choo of her new coloured stones engagement rings, "It is important to mark one of life's most emotionally significant moments with something that honours and speaks to our identities." Choo and her team spent years curating natural, unheated sapphires in unique colours so no two rings are identical.

Shop Choo Yilin at chooyilin.com or at the Choo Yilin boutique, 333A Orchard Road.

2. Heirloom Pieces

The use of coloured stones in fine jewellery is intriguing, especially when beautifully designed. It is a conversation starter and a precious keepsake to last through generations. According to founder of bespoke jewellery Madly Gems, Maddy Barber (her partner is GIA-certified gemologist and designer, Emily Tan), "We work with a select few tradesmen who ethically source, cut and craft for some of the world's biggest and most renowned luxury houses, including crowns and tiaras for royal families - so if you can dream it we can make it."

Shop Madly Gems at madlygems.com or make an appointment with them at Blk 72, Seng Poh Road, #01-63.

3. Trendsetter

The mother-and-daughter duo of Eliza and Brinker Higgins are based in the United States and have been creating jewellery for the past 15 years. Brinker & Eliza first made headlines earlier this year when their stylish shell necklaces were seen on notable fashion insiders like Leandra Medine and Pandora Sykes. But it was their recently launched Zodiac necklaces with hand-painted intaglios (engraved images) from the 1950s that caught our eye. Handmade in Connecticut, the necklaces are stunning on their own or layered with your favourite everyday jewellery.

Shop Brinker & Eliza at brinkerandeliza.com or at modaoperandi.com.

4. Drama Queen Arty dressers and fashionistas love a bit of drama and what better way to show off than with Mondo Mondo's beautifully raw and sculptural pieces inspired by ancient jewellery and baroque ornamentation. Los Angeles-based designer Natasha Ghosn's designs may have historical references but her pieces are strikingly modern. Trained by local artisans in Mexico, Ghosn started Mondo Mondo in 2012. Says Ghosn who hand carves all her pieces out of wax, "I strive to create pieces that are symbolic of strength, mixed with magic and fantasy."

Shop Mondo Mondo at mondo-mondo.com.

5. Making a Crystal Connection SunMoonRain focuses on the healing power, positivity and beauty of crystals. Every bracelet you buy will help various international organisations from the Willka Tika Education Fund in Peru to Singapore's Tsao Foundation - a charitable organisation very close to founder Shabnam Melwani's heart. "I chose to work with the elderly as I feel that this group is often neglected and overlooked," she says. Crystals are fast becoming a phenomenon and some people are even calling it a quasi-religion for the social media generation. But Melwani's not part of the fad as she started her business more than a decade ago, which which explains her simple yet timeless designs. Shop SunMoonRain at sunmoonrain.sg or Edit Lifestyle, 137-139 Tudor Court.