It was 2011, we just returned to Manila, Philippines after my husband's 3-year stint as an expat in Jakarta, Indonesia. I was pregnant with my second child and knew that I wanted to do something and earn on the side. An online business seemed to be the best way to go about it.

I thought of selling tween costume jewelry which was something I used to make before I had kids. But the idea of creating, marketing ad selling them seemed daunting for a then mother of 2 young kids

But I've always loved jewelry- be it costume, fine, modern or vintage. On Etsy platform, if you want to sell something you didn't create, it has to be either vintage or supplies. Vintage sounded more exciting so that was the start of my foray into vintage jewelry!

Brief History of the Tamburin Necklace

In Spanish-colonial times, jewelry like crucifixes replaced the talismans worn by native Filipinos. To the converted Filipinos, it was not only a way to show their new Christian faith, but also adorn themselves while still following austerity measures imposed by the Spanish regime.

Filipinos began wearing crucifixes and scapulars along with tamborin necklaces. The "tamborin" is a traditional Filipino necklace patterned after the rosary. The neckpiece itself followed the rosary bead pattern, but by the early 1900's, different styles and patterns came out. Even the relicario or reliquary that served as the pendant of the tamborin which originally had religious designs, started to feature nature-inspired themes like flowers of leaves. While most tamborins were made of gold, materials like silver and brass were also used.

These beaded necklaces became heirlooms. Sadly, there are only a small number of authentic gold tamborins remaining today, as most have been melted and turned into modern jewelry, or the beads were divided among the family members, and many of the necklaces have missing components.

Tambourine Jewelry seeks to revive this delicate lost art by offering pieces that are in their original condition along with some gently up-cycled jewelry using preserved vintage components.