Tessera, the homegrown jewelry company, which stole the spotlight on the global stage by crafting Catriona Gray’s “Alab at Dangal” ear cuff in the Miss Universe 2018 pageant, continues to shine on its 10th anniversary.
Whether for weddings or coming-of-age parties — or even becoming the most beautiful woman in the universe — Carl Fider and Papat Aquino-Fider’s Tessera, along with their exquisite collection of diamond and fine jewelry, have been presenting both local and international markets with iconic designs and potential heirloom pieces for 10 years now.
The couple began their journey in 2011, when they entered the market of fashion accessories — curating monograms and custom-made necklaces at home. Dubbed as Tessera by PAF, Papat named the business after the small fragments that make up a mosaic, for each piece is an artwork in its own right. Later, they veered away from monograms and focused on diamonds, changing the name to just Tessera.
“I’m a designer by nature. I like to design stuff. I like to draw. Art is something I’ve always done,” Carl shares.
Through the years, the company, according to Carl, has evolved into a powerhouse that offers a “vast variety of diamonds, which gives our clients complete freedom to enjoy the experience of choosing a stone that represents them best.”
The jeweler also takes pride in its wide-range of designs of naturally mined and certified diamonds from 0.30 up to 10 carats, which are sourced and manufactured in India and Belgium. “Today, we have more than a thousand internationally certified diamonds in our collection, ready to be selected and made into your next heirloom,” Carl says.
Philippine pride & silver linings
The company even gained worldwide buzz when Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray sashayed down the Binibining Pilipinas coronation night wearing the “Three Stars and a Sun” earrings that she designed herself. The original piece that Tessera created for her was an 18k yellow gold cuff, bejeweled with four-carat diamonds.
The public then urged Catriona and Tessera to upgrade the design to match her fiery look in the Miss Universe competition with “Alab at Dangal” — studding the gold cuff with rubies and diamonds.
They also collaborated for other various patriotic designs inspired by the Philippine flag, including Pearl of the Orient, and the sun studs. During that same year, Tessera’s regal creations flooded the ABS CBN Star Magic Ball, as they were worn by local celebrities to the Filipiniana-themed affair.
Like many companies, Tessera’s mettle was also tested by the pandemic. And just like Catriona, the company saw silver linings when it came to their operations. “Since people’s movements were limited—no holiday travels, no nights-out, no fancy dinners — our customers had more resources to spend on other luxuries and investments like jewelry,” Carl says.
Others, they add, also invested in their relationships. “As always, our engagement rings have remained our best seller because pandemic or no pandemic, people still get engaged and married,” Carl explains. “In fact, since elaborate proposals are not an option, people end up spending money on nicer rings that make an impact instead.”
