Jewelry passed from mother to daughter carries more than gemstones and gold. For designer Kristine Dee, it also holds the stories behind each piece, including her mother’s purchase to celebrate a hard-earned business deal. Those personal connections inspire “Modern Heirloom,” one of three chapters in “The Woman Within,” her collection exploring the different sides of a woman through fine jewelry. Its three chapters, “Modern Heirloom,” “Quiet Strength” and “Playful Femininity,” move from sentiment to assurance to joy. Each reflects a side of a woman that Dee has observed in her clients and herself. “They try out other styles which are not their usual, and the choice follows their emotions, what they felt at that time, how that particular jewelry piece made them feel when worn. Each capsule collection shows the different versions we, as women, find ourselves in.” For “Modern Heirloom,” Dee draws on her mother Elizabeth’s practice of passing jewelry to her daughters, along with the memories behind it. Among them is a piece Elizabeth bought after closing a business deal she had worked hard to secure. “It is not just the piece that she shared, but the story that comes with them,” Dee says. That sense of continuity takes shape in classic gemstones and versatile designs. Multicolored sapphire and diamond necklaces hang from substantial gold-ball chains. A pearl necklace features diamonds and a detachable kunzite centerpiece, allowing the wearer to move between dressier and more casual looks. “Quiet Strength” turns toward architecture, emphasizing line, proportion and structure. Smooth gold surfaces, curves and carefully placed diamonds give rings and cuffs their presence. Dee’s background in industrial design informs this attention to form and how a piece sits on the body. “Each millimeter matters,” she says. A softer mood emerges in “Playful Femininity.” Mint tourmaline, pink spinel and diamonds appear in linked elements that sway with the wearer, while a coordinating ring allows for stacking. Elsewhere, a hand-carved mother-of-pearl ribbon flows into waves of rubies and diamonds. Across the collection, gemstones are set in 14-karat and 18-karat white, yellow and rose gold. Many designs bear the names of loyal clients, relatives and friends, extending the personal connections behind the jewelry. For Dee, their place is in everyday wardrobes. Statement necklaces can accompany a tank top and jeans or a dress, while rings and cuffs can be layered to suit the day. “The best way to style fine jewelry for a woman is based on her lifestyle and personality, so she can reach for them day after day, comfortably and confidently, and wear them in more ways than one.” The collection is available at the Kristine Dee showroom in BGC, Taguig City, with resizing and customization offered. A Power Plant Mall pop-up runs from Nov. 7 to Jan. 28, 2027, bringing the collection’s expressions of memory, strength and joy into women’s daily choices.