Radiating Confidence: The Mother-Daughter Energy Behind Growing Brand Aponine

As one of this year’s Couture show debutants, Turkish brand Aponine impressed me with its blend of colourful creativity, timeless elegance, and stylish femininity. This roster of characteristics is thanks to mother and daughter duo Yasemin and Nisa, who founded the company to reflect their shared passion for vintage jewellery and trendy day-to-night dressing. To get to the heart of Aponine, I spoke to Nisa Cakar about the root of her passion for jewellery and the collections she is most excited about right now, including the Pebble Gems, Sparks and Gem Vault ranges that wowed in Las Vegas. Let’s take a closer look… 

One of the many beautiful things about jewellery is its ability to connect families. And I don’t just mean the process of passing a diamond ring or statement gemstone necklace from one generation to the next. Like other forms of art, jewellery can unite people in the present, whether that’s through a shared interest in craftsmanship, a sentimental memory, the energy of a particular mineral, or simply fighting over a creation to wear on special occasions! The world of jewellery is also deeply family-orientated from a business perspective; many of the companies I meet are multi-generational and steeped in heritage. 

When I first encountered Aponine as part of my research for the Couture Show 2025, I loved the mother-daughter relationship at the heart of the brand. Nisa Cakar tells me that her mother, Yasemin, is the one who inspired her love of gems and encouraged her to pursue a new path in life. “Since I was a little girl, I’ve admired my mother’s deep love for jewellery,” Nisa explains. “It always made me happy to see how others were drawn to the pieces she wore and how special they made her feel. After two years of working in the corporate world, I knew I wanted to do something more personal—something that held meaning for both of us.”

After studying gemmology in London with the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Nisa quickly realised that she had made the right choice to pursue jewellery as her new career. This kind of intuitive sense that you’re on the right road is something that really resonates with me and the story behind KaterinaPerez.com. It’s not always easy to branch out, so I certainly admire Nisa’s confidence and the incredible support and encouragement she received from Yasemin. 

The brand they created together, Aponine, is cool and stylish without being ostentatious. It has a playful streak that allows for colourful gemstones to be mixed and matched in both pendant, ring and ear stack formations. I perceive it as a ‘self-gifting’ brand that is perfectly crafted by women for women who want to purchase their own pieces to enhance their personal style and serve as a vehicle for self-expression. On its Instagram, Aponine shares that its mission is to craft fine jewellery for “women who radiate confidence and timeless elegance”. If you believe there’s power in femininity and expressing that in a contemporary way, then Aponine is definitely a brand you should explore further. 

“We believe jewellery is not only about diamonds, sapphires, emeralds and rubies – but also about the beauty and value of coloured gemstones that add timeless charm and meaning,” Nisa tells me. “We aim to convey that jewellery can be heirlooms passed down through generations and that these pieces accompany our every moment, completing and enhancing our personal style.” 

This is aptly demonstrated in the brand’s key collections, including Pebble Gems and Sparks, which “embody the romantic warmth and colourful spirit that lie at the heart of Aponine,” according to Nisa. The former encrusts an organic, pillowy shape with tonal-coloured gemstones, whether that’s the misty blues of aquamarines and blue sapphires or the deep cognac tones of smoky quartz and champagne diamonds. These may be colourful minerals, but they don’t shout for attention. The subtle gradients of colour in huggies, drop earrings, pendants and rings are ideal for everyday wear but can easily be enhanced by layering for the evening. 

Next, the Sparks collection gathers loose gemstones in medallion-like quartz vials, allowing the mixed cuts to move around at random and create something elegant yet unexpected. Personally, I like the heart-shaped pendant with purple crystals, although there is something uplifting about the ‘sunshine crystal mix’ with orange, yellow and colourless gems, all encased in white quartz. Each pendant hangs from a diamond-set bail on an 18k yellow gold chain. It makes sense that the next evolution of this collection would be a loose gemstone locket that can be opened and closed for a more personalised finish. Nisa has developed a mechanism for this, which is now on display in the octagonal-shaped Gem Vault pendant with diamonds, pink sapphires, mother-of-pearl inlay and a pink, raspberry and lilac mix of fancy-cut gems inside a transparent quartz cage. 

The true brilliance of this piece lies in its patented triple-pin locking mechanism, which is invisible to the eye and impossible to open by hand. Instead, it requires a custom-made key, crafted from rare purple heart wood, to “unlock the pendant with a graceful, intentional gesture,” Nisa explains. She continues: “Inside, the wearer can safeguard personal gemstones, symbols, or heirlooms—each one a fragment of memory, love, or legacy. We believe jewellery should be more than ornamental; it should be soulful. With each Gem Vault, we invite you to carry your story—protected, treasured, and always close to your heart.”

Looking ahead, Nisa is focusing her attention on nurturing the Gem Vault concept and taking customers on a more emotive jewellery journey. “Our new mechanism offers endless possibilities for personalising,” she tells me. “This gives each piece not only sentimental value but also a timeless, adaptable style.” 

Another thing I have found to admire about Aponine is its attitude towards jewellery that not only looks good but feels good. Although it’s easy to get lost in the preciousness of a gemstone or the monetary value of an item, it is important to remember that jewellery should be meaningful, artistic and inspiring, especially to the person wearing it. Nisa says she looks for stones that “capture a vibe” for the “bold, confident and unapologetic” women who shop her collections, which also include Twirl, Mingle and Sassy Classics. “The Aponine woman knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to stand out. Her style is chic and timeless but always with a twist – something that shows off her fearless personality. She’s playful yet powerful, strong-willed but fun, and she loves a touch of luxury in her everyday life.”

Looking to the future, Aponine is committed to expanding its sparkling portfolio, especially with limited editions, new materials and customisable pieces (hello, Gem Vault). Nisa and Yasemin are moving forward with the goal of creating jewellery that both complements and enhances the wearer’s personality, and it’s this sentiment that will pull me back to the brand in a few months’ time when I check in to see what’s new. I hope you will also do the same.