Community Corner
La Jolla Behind The Scenes – Saigon Spring Jewelry
Jen began traveling to the U.S. to attend gem shows and met and fell in love with La Jolla (who doesn't?).
January 27 , 2021
by Robby Robinson
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Baubles, and bangles, and bracelets – oh my!
Saigon, 2016: Jen Pham hands over $200 and follows her dream by purchasing an armload of jewelry supplies and begins designing fashion jewelry in her bedroom. Fast forward one year. Ms. Pham opens a jewelry store in an expat-favorite outskirt of Saigon (Thao-Dien) and her dream of being a jewelry designer becoming a reality. Her shop rapidly becomes a Must Visit destination in Saigon’s guide books. Well done, Jen!
Find out what's happening in La Jollafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Jen began traveling to the U.S. to attend gem shows and met and fell in love with La Jolla (who doesn’t?). Sadly, her Saigon store was forced to close due to the pandemic, but, magically, a perfect space became available on Fay Avenue, La Jolla. One door had closed and an absolutely beautiful door opened! She relocated to La Jolla, and Jen and her husband (an engineer) built out the store and decorated it, bringing in bits of Vietnamese flavor, such as the bright yellow colors of the Vietnamese colonial past and photos of former Vietnamese female leaders. “These important women were way ahead of our time in women’s rights issues”, proudly states Jen. “I’m proud to have come from Saigon – a city where I grew up and explored – almost all on my moped of-course!”, smiles Ms. Pham.
The store is elegantly merchandised with a variety of gemstone jewelry made from labradorite, larimar, agate, lapis lazuli, jasper, malachite, amber, and the list goes on. “Each piece is a one-of-a-kind unique piece – just like each of us”, says Jen. Saigon Spring displays a varied selection of water buffalo horn pieces. This domesticated ox-like Asian mammal is an integral part of life in Southeast Asia and here’s why:
“I am in awe of the beauty of La Jolla and the caliber of the jewelry designers who live here. I hope to follow in their footsteps”, says Jen.
Would you like your La Jolla Village business featured in this column? E-mail jodi@lajollabythesea.com
This press release was produced by La Jolla by the Sea. The views expressed are the author's own.
