Kavant&Sharart: Our Jewellery Allows You to Dream

October 6, 2014

By Katerina Perez

5 min read

You probably have not heard of the Thai-born duo behind Kavant&Sharart before; in fact, until recently, Nuttapon Yongkiettakul (“Kenny”) and Shar-Linn Liew designed jewellery independently. Sticking to my philosophy of finding and showcasing the world’s best brands for you, I met with the artistic duet at the COUTURE exhibition in Las Vegas. I wanted to find out what got Kenny and Shar-Linn into jewellery design, what influences their design decisions and how the pair came up with the earrings with an unusual “ear-tux” clasp which can be changed depending on what you feel like.

To start with, I’d like to point out that the style of Shar-Linn’s pieces is fundamentally different from Kenny’s. Her delicate hand creates ethereal patterns with gently angled, or, by contrast, rounded lines to highlight the central element of her work, be it a pearl or a precious stone. Kenny’s pieces, however, are more statement: in his opinion, the beauty of jewellery is hidden in the minerals used and the precious stones’ natural attributes that are only slightly refined by designers. This diverse, almost contradictory, union is a trump card that the designers feel is, in principle, hard to beat.

Kavant&Sharart Origami earrings in yellow gold with diamonds

“We feel that the merger allows for greater focus on one unified line and we will be able to offer our customers contrasting pieces. Kenny’s avant-garde style coupled with my fascination with the art deco period and Oriental arts has allowed us to weave the design inspirations of two people to create a never seen before line of versatile pieces,” says Shar-Linn. “We incorporate our personalities into a joint collection and the contrast in our inspirations somehow allows for a natural juxtaposition of geometric lines and subtle curves.” It logically followed that I was immediately interested in precisely why simple geometry and complex organic forms have determined the direction in which the pair have gone and dominated Kavant&Sharart pieces.

“I think it’s the elements and the graphics we are surrounded with in our daily lives in Asia,” explains Kenny. “My mind is always calm and at ease when I am out on the ocean. It has a powerful and inexplicable impact on me as a designer. Living close to some of the best beaches in the world is definitely an advantage”. What does Shar-Linn think? “The eclectic style of art deco elements and East Asian art up to this period play an important role in my designs as they really intrigue me”. So the Asiatic origins of Kavant&Sharart’s founders are still very much a part of their work, however after living in the US for over 10 years, the American culture and art scene has definitely influenced some of Kenny’s and Shar-Linn’s creations.

Kavant and Sharart one of a kind emerald ring

Kavant and Sharart one of a kind emerald ring

Kavant &Sharart one of a kind Le Phoenix emerald ring with diamonds

“So when did you basically know that you wanted to work in jewellery design?” I asked, understanding that Shar-Linn was working in the financial sector until Kenny convinced her to take a gemmology course at GIA. “My mum was a couturier who inspired me to be creative. I was spoiled with beautiful fabrics, laces and buttons from an early age. I even suggested a design for a dress when I was 9! Although it was not connected with jewellery, it proves that I had a predisposition to arts.” Unlike his wife, Kenny was born into and grew up in a family of jewellers.

His grandfather ran a jewellery shop  So the young Kenny quickly mastered the right skills before “coaching” his other half in his love for jewellery. That’s when Shar-Linn went to do a course in gemmology and started to work on the line that won her a 2011 Centurion Emerging Designer award. Kenny has three awards which he more than deserves: a 2009 Centurion Emerging Designer award, a 2010 JCK Jewelers’ Choice Award and a prize from the Cultured Pearl Association of America in 2011.

Kavant&Sharart Phoenix earrings with interchangeable clasps

Kavant&Sharart Phoenix earrings with interchangeable clasps

Thanks to Kavant&Sharart’s jewellery creations, women today can choose pieces that help them to emphasise their individuality by means of certain interchangeable elements incorporated into the pieces. I, for example, have been waiting an age for a designer to replace simple butterfly clasps for something more original that could be an interesting part of the design. Someone has finally done it: the replaceable earring parts that Kenny and Shar-Linn call ear-tux are a significant asset of the pieces in their latest collection “Phoenix”.

“The Phoenix Collection is inspired by the graceful movement, form and beauty of the mythological animal. The wing-shaped earrings represent the wind and freedom to move while the clawed (single and triple) shaped earrings represent the earth and being grounded and mindful,” they tell me. The distinguishing feature of the “Phoenix” stud earrings from any other earrings is that out of two pairs of earrings you can create eight or even ten different looks. All you need to do is change the positions of the clasp and pin.

Kavant&Sharart Abalone Earrings

Kavant&Sharart Abalone Earrings

Kavant&Sharart Abalone earrings with mother of pearls, sapphires, emeralds and diamonds

So how did this simple, interesting idea for ear-tux clasps arise? “The engineer (Kenny) woke up one day with the concept for something versatile. Typically, this was after a couple of glasses of red wine the night before,” laughs Shar-Linn. “He felt that the traditional approach to wearing earrings, the most popular jewel amongst women, could be altered in favour of a more contemporary and playful look.

Together, we developed the concept further by merging my view of aesthetics with Kenny’s ability to engineer a jewel that is comfortable. As a result we gave women the freedom to change their look without too much effort.” “We believe that besides the need to wear something charming our customers should be able to identify with their pieces and select pieces that reflect their personality,” adds Kenny. “This is one value we recognize and stand by.”

Kavant and Sharart ORIGAMI ring in white and yellow gold with diamonds

Kavant and Sharart ORIGAMI ring in white and yellow gold with diamonds

Kavant&Sharart Origami ring in white and yellow gold with diamonds

Kavant&Sharart Official Website: www.kavantandsharart.com // Photos of Katerina Perez are by Lordale Benosa, jewellery images cournesy of Kavant&Sharart.

KavantandSharat-Bangle

KavantandSharat-Bangle

Kavant&Sharart Le Phoenix bangle and a ring in white gold with diamonds

ICHIEN: An Enchanting Bullfinch

continue reading

Male Adornment: The Evolution of Men’s Jewellery from the 1400s Until Today

Men's jewellery is often overlooked, yet its history is both rich and cyclical. Over the past six centuries, the popularity of male adornments has fluctuated, reflecting shifts in fashion, status, and cultural values. Here, Amanda Triossi examines the reasons behind male jewellery, along with its periods of abundance and decline.

by Amanda Triossi

Perfect Proposal: The Top 10 Engagement Ring Mistakes to Avoid 

The moment you start thinking about proposing, everything shifts. Ordinary things become significant: dinner out, a walk in the park, a glance at their jewellery box. And then comes "the ring": a symbol of love, yes, but also a silent spokesperson for everything you feel and hope for. No pressure, right?

by Claire Roberts

Couture Show 2025: The Top 10 Debutants Heading to Las Vegas 

The much anticipated Couture Show will return to Wynn Las Vegas from June 4-8, 2025, shining a spotlight on established design talent, new creatives, and international brands that are vying for attention on the global stage. Just like in previous years, I am focusing my attention on the debutants

by Katerina Perez

Designing the Future: Revealing the Winners of the Katerina Perez x Osmium Institute Design Contest

What a ride it has been, witnessing such pure creative energy and original thinking, especially with a material as rare and futuristic as osmium

by Katerina Perez

New Icons: The Latest Collections by Italian Micromosaic Master SICIS 

I was presented with two striking new collections – Icon and Colibrì – that offer different interpretations of the SICIS aesthetic. Below, I want to give you a closer look at these capsule suites and tell you more about the inspirations behind them

by Katerina Perez

Fabulous Fabrications: TAOS Presents a Trio of Watches Inspired by Couture Fashion

Occasionally, beautiful timepieces demonstrating exceptional Métiers d’Art will land on our virtual desks and result in a round-robin series of emails. In the hours after we received insights into the emerging Swiss brand TAOS, almost the entire team had seen the fabric-inspired dials of its latest creations, and we all agreed that an article was […]

by Sarah Jordan

A Century of Sparkle: Celebrating 100 Years of Art Deco at GemGenève

From May 8-11, 2025, visitors to GemGenève can immerse themselves in a showcase of antique and modern jewellery while also experiencing the innovative spirit of the 1920s and 1930s through a photographic lens. Here, I'd like to tell you more about this creative collaboration and introduce you to the brands taking part…

by Katerina Perez

Tailored Perfection: The Best Jewellery Looks of the Met Gala 2025

Not since 2003 has a Met Gala theme focused exclusively on menswear, so we had high hopes for this year’s attendees demonstrating the best of tailored suiting adorned with high jewels. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best ensembles of the evening…

by Sarah Jordan

Legacy of Love: The Dreamlike Jewels of Emirati Designer Mariyeh Ghelichkhani

Jewellery is a transmitter of memories and emotions through time, which is something that Dubai-based designer Mariyeh Ghelichkhani knows all too well. During our meeting in Dubai, we spoke about the importance of family, the sweetness of finding joy through creativity, and the ability to translate dreamy visions and deep feelings into wearable pieces…

by Katerina Perez

Celebrating Colour: 20 Uplifting Jewellery Creations by Lisa Nik

Whether you're craving a juicy mandarin garnet or an eye-catching bi-colour tourmaline, here are 20 joyful pieces that exemplify the Lisa Nik approach, as well as the inspiration behind them…

by Sarah Jordan

Watches and Wonders 2025: The Coolest Watch Novelties

With pastel pops, Pop Art influences, and playful twists on time itself, Watches and Wonders 2025 delivered a vibrant feast of creativity. Discover the fun new watches setting trends in Geneva this spring

by Rachael Taylor

White Hot: Achromatic Jewellery is Having a Moment

Let’s explore the revival of all white jewellery and discover why this look is universally complementary – and a great investment.  

by Rachael Taylor

Latest Stories

Add articles and images to your favourites. Just

Reinventing Royalty:The European-Inspired Luxury Behind Isabel Gemology

I started 2025 with a series of articles titled ‘Jeweller of the Month’ to highlight the true talent among niche designers in the jewellery industry. For May, it is Isabel Delgado, the founder of Isabel Gemology, who I would like to shine the spotlight on.

by Katerina Perez

Jewels Katerina Perez Loves

Continue Reading

Writing Adventures:Co-Authoring the Book

Paraiba: The Legacy of a Color

by Katerina Perez

Jewellery Insights straight to your inbox

Style Guide

By using this website, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.