“Tomei was the first jewelry store to open in a shopping complex,” said Mr. Ng Yih Pyng, the Group Managing Director of Tomei, which is one of the leading jewelers in our region, when we asked him about the history of Tomei. He recently made time out of his busy schedule to enlighten us about Tomei, and, of course, jewelry. In 1968, Tan Sri Datuk Ng Teck Fong started Tomei as a manufacturer and wholesaler, and in 1970, the doors of the first Tomei store opened in Malaysia’s Campbell Complex, which made them the first jewelry store in Malaysia to open in a complex. Almost half a century later, all of their 64 outlets in Malaysia are in complexes too, and it has since become a company policy.

They have outlets in Malaysia, Vietnam and China, and also export to countries like Indonesia, Hong Kong, the Middle East, and Europe. “Tomei diversified into a few brands in the early 2000s. We started My Diamond, T.H. Jewelry, and we recently acquired Le Lumiere, and the Diamonds of Light.” Earlier this year, they also obtained Goldheart, making it the fifth brand under Tomei.

White gold, which is Tomei’s strength, is the trend of the moment, though people are now turning back to yellow gold for investments. These two aren’t the only types of gold, however, as there is also pink gold. “I think we are one of the only ones in Malaysia promoting pink gold,” said Mr. Ng. Some of their gold comes from Belgium, India, Hong Kong and China, but their gold comes mostly from the banks, and they also refine scraps as well as gold fresh from the mines.

Diamonds, a woman’s best friend, are becoming rarer with each passing day, but Mr. Ng said that they will always be the best-selling gem. “But of course, there are customers who will go for rubies, sapphire and even the semi-precious stones… It depends on personal preference… whereas diamonds are universal.”

“The quality of a diamond depends on the cut,” he said. It is the most important thing in a diamond, and a diamond with the perfect cut will reflect eight hearts and eight arrows. There are many different types of cuts: princess, emerald, heart and radiant cut are amongst them, but the type that Mr. Ng advices us to choose is the round cut instead of something too fancy.

Diamonds are the hardiest of gems, but they do need to be taken care of too, like all good things. Avoid wearing them around bleaches and the like, as that will induce corrosion, and of course, try not to wear them when you’re exercising. The same goes for pearls and all other gems.

When I asked him what the differences are between Asian and international designs, he replied saying that ours are simpler, while countries like Europe consider their designs works of art. “We have very unique designs given out multi-racial background,” said Mr. Ng, who also said that people from all over the world come to buy our jewelry because of this. As for the possible differences in quality, he said, “Whatever we produce is of international standard because we do export directly and indirectly to some of the big brands.”

The process of making international-standard jewelry begins with designing, and Tomei has their own team of in-house designers for all of their brands, which ensures that their designs are one-of-a-kind. After a design has been approved, a skilled crafter makes what is called the master mold before they do diamond setting. Diamonds have to be selected carefully for a particular design so that they fit, and size, quality and color are all factors to consider when the gems are being chosen. The last and final steps are mass production, and, of course, selling their jewelry to customers.

Tomei obviously cares a lot about being both unique and universal, and jewelry certainly is that way too. Everyone has different pieces of jewelry, and there are so many different designs that are influenced by various cultures from all over the world. Through jewelry, one can also express themselves by choosing designs and gems that fit your personality.

American pop singer David Archuleta has a lot under his belt already – from a platinum-selling first single, Crush, to three albums and a New York Times best-selling memoir. Other than having toured in the US several times, he has also been to Europe and has came to Asia, receiving warm welcomes in both places. His fans form a very loyal fan base known as the Archies, and they have supported him all the way.

His latest album, The Other Side of Down, showcases his vocal prowess as well as his songwriting skills. It shows what a long way that David has come from his Idol days and self-titled debut album back in 2008. He spent a year working on it, and his hard work can be clearly seen. Co-writing 10 out of the 12 tracks, David collaborated with acclaimed songwriters and producers like Emanuel Kiriakou, Claude Kelly and David Hodges.

“My goal with the album was to make it was ‘me’ as possible,” he says in an interview will Billboard. There is no doubt that his goal was accomplished – every song in this album is definitely a very ‘David’ song, and they’re fun and really easy to dance along to.

The title track opens up the album in an upbeat manner as David sings that nothing is going to break his stride. It’s one of my favorite songs, and it never fails to put me in a great mood. As for the rest of the album, there’s no denying that it has the same positive outlook on life as David himself has.

Elevator is a really interesting song, and I love how he uses going up and down in an elevator to explain life. It’s a song to get you in a good mood and the lyrics keep it positive, the lyrics tell you that “you just gotta go with the flow ‘til your feet are back on the ground.”

One of the two songs that David didn’t have a hand in, Falling Stars, is the only song in the entire album that he says doesn’t represent him, but the melody is absolutely beautiful. Though it is a song about heartbreak, I found myself falling in love with it.

The last track, My Kind of Perfect, is a song that David loves very much. This slow ballad, as he said himself countless times, is his love song. The lyrics are wonderfully written with meaning, and his voice, accompanied by just the piano, is stunning.

The Other Side of Down is a must-listen for anyone who loves good music. It has a great vibe, and the songs are extremely catchy – I found many of them, including quirky Look Around stuck in my head – and it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll love it.

Sites to visit:
http://davidarchuleta.com (official site)
http;//twitter.com/DavidArchie (David Archuleta’s twitter)
http://archuletafanscene.com
http://archierx.com

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, is set in the post-apocalypse world of Panem. In this corrupted era, a place called the Capitol controls everything and everyone, with its citizens living in a plethora of luxury. The 12 districts under its rule, however, live with less than enough to scrape by. Such is the life of 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who bears the sole responsibility of keeping her family alive, her father having been killed in a mining accident.

Every year in Panem, a pair of tributes between the ages of 12 and 18 are chosen from each district to fight it the hunger games, which are the Capitol’s way of reminding the population of who is in charge. The games are a fight to the death, with only one victor escaping the arena with his or her life. For the 74th annual games, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark are chosen from their district.

When he makes an unexpected announcement of his love for her, the pair are instantly deemed doomed star-crossed lovers, with at least one set to die. No one is more surprised at his announcement than Katniss herself, and even though she doesn’t want to kill him or any of the other tributes, she will do it if it’s what it takes to go home alive.

There is never a dull moment in this book, and every page is filled to the brim with excitement, leaving the reader constantly on the edge. Though some parts could be considered violent, Collins has written it her book in such a way that while the actions play out clearly in your head and can make you feel the emotions, the bloody fights aren’t gruesome.

I would definitely recommend this book as well as the rest of the trilogy to anyone looking for a good read. Even in a situation so extreme to ours, the characters are infinitely relatable, and the ending will leave you hungry for more. As Claudius Templesmith always says, may the odds be ever in your favor.