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A romantic relationship that did not begin until this year, this jewellery enthusiast has found Tiffany & Co’s bejewelled creations alluring and irresistible
When researching and doing pre-production work for this issue of Jewels & Time, the team at Tiffany & Co floated the possibility of profiling “an interesting and new personality” to me. The personality in question was Indonesian entrepreneur Nina Kaginda, who currently resides in Singapore. What stood out to me was her relationship with the brand—Kaginda had only recently developed her penchant for the American jeweller’s creations.
The prospect of having first dibs on featuring a new face on the cover is every editor’s dream—especially one with a fresh perspective on what’s a well-loved brand that’s long been familiar to millions. What’s so special about her, I ask?
My questions were duly answered. Fast forward to the day of the photoshoot, and a petite lady with a perfect complexion and near-immaculate make-up strode quietly into the studio. “Morning,” she greeted everyone on set in an almost shy manner. She sat down in the chair at the dressing area and started a deep but strangely quiet conversation with hairstylist Marc Teng and make-up artist Bobbie Ng. Is she going to be one of those shy personalities who pose awkwardly in front of the camera, I thought to myself? But the ice was broken when we asked her if she would like a small bite before the photoshoot commenced. “Fashionistas don’t eat, no?” she said in her mild American accent with just the slightest hint of Bahasa Indonesia before breaking into peals of laughter.
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WHO WHERE WHAT
If the camera was the north pole of a magnet, then Kaginda must be the south pole because there was an instant attraction. Her poses were natural and confident, and she knew the angles that worked best for her. The high jewellery pieces from the Tiffany & Co Blue Book 2021 collection, which were brought in specifically for a private showcase in August this year, only served to further accentuate her sharp features and make her look even more sophisticated.
As the camera flash went off with each snap, I wondered: just who is Nina Kaginda?
“I am a proud mother of two lovely sons—the eldest is already 13,” she shared with me as she showed a family photo with the boys towering over her. Her family relocated from Jakarta to Singapore two years ago; the decision had been catalysed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Uprooting the family from her motherland was not easy but she declared that she had to do “what’s best for [her] family’s welfare”.
“My sons have adjusted well. It’s been almost two years and I’ve not looked back since—I sincerely love the environment here, which I’ve come to embrace with all my heart,” said the entrepreneur, whose business portfolio includes various investments in the food and beverage sector in Jakarta. Besides a self-professed love for food and cooking, Kaginda also admits that she has a “strong penchant for art, jewellery and fashion”.
“You can tell just looking at my Instagram feed!”
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