Over the years I have been given and collected a lot of charms, some strung on various bracelets, some lying loose and lonely in dusty pouches in a drawer in my dressing table.

I’ve been meaning to go through them all with a view to soldering the ones I love most on to on my own charm bracelet but until recently, have never got round to it.

One of the things that put me off was a horrifically high quote I got from a jeweller in Tanglin Shopping Centre (I should have known better) who was charging an eye watering $20 a charm. Another reason was that in defiance of said Tanglin Shopping Centre tenant, I found an old uncle in China town who was charging just $3 a charm…and he did a terrible job, everything looked ‘breathed on’ and smudgy; things were the wrong way round and in no particular order.  Huge fail.

Walking around good old Far East the other day, on my way for a $5 mani, I spotted these guys and thought I’d give it another try:

Working away and concentrating hard, you have to interrupt them to get any help.  Don’t come here if you regularly shop for your jewellery in Paragon, this is a workshop vs a showroom…in fact they are probably making this particular pavé diamond bracelet (below) for a Paragon store:

When you do speak to someone, they really know their stuff.

Janet may not seem overly friendly on your first encounter, but actually she is and it’s just her manner. She was hugely patient whilst I tipped various bags and boxes on to the table and together we sorted through what was worth using and was wasn’t (I wanted my charm bracelet to look eclectic, like nothing that you could buy off the shelf and have even included a pearl from Shanghai on it as well as a jade teapot (for various reasons).

She also helped me work out the order I wanted things to be attached.  She asked for a day to turn it all around and charged just $7 a charm which included polishing.

Thrilled with having all my old friends in one place including my Mrs Rabbit basket, full of fruit (symbolises my trusty straw and leather basket that I never fail to bring with me on my trips to the wet market), the first letter of my Christian name (given to me by my godfather on my Christening), a hinged book that opens and closes (I love reading) and a gold symbol inherited from my Grandmother. The orchid (best seen above) stands for  Singapore and my time here.

You Chang will also do made-to-order jewellery as well as carry out any jewellery repairs.

You Chang Jewellers, Far East Plaza, #05-38

T: (+65) 6733 0707

Opening times: 10am-630pm Mon-Fri, 10am-3pm Sat, closed Sun – but as they are a small outfit, I’d call first.