The Wees and the Khoos are two of the most prominent moneyed families in Singapore, with extensive interests in finance, banking, and real estate. The later generations, however, have mostly struck out on their own, driven by a deeper understanding of life. Incidentally, GJ Wee and this month’s cover personality Lauren Khoo (LK) have never met despite overlapping social circles. So, we got GJ to ask the jeweller five questions.
GJ: Do you have a favourite piece of jewellery you’ve designed?
LK: It’s from my first collection. A locket necklace called Delight & Bleed Me, which has a heart with three arrows in it. You can remove each arrow according to your mood. The story behind this piece is that I dated someone for three years—each arrow represents one year we spent together—and we had our ups and downs like any other relationship. I put all my emotions into creating that Delight & Bleed Me necklace.
GJ: Who is your favourite band or musician and why?
LK: I have a few! There is Earth, Wind & Fire. I also like Lisa Stansfield, but not many people know her these days, so now you know the age gap! Marvin Gaye would probably be my last choice. Growing up, my mother listened to all these artists, so I memorised all their lyrics. When she sent me to or from kindergarten, their music would play in the car.
GJ: What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
LK: I’ve received some good ones. First, stay strong no matter what. When I was about 12, my late grandfather told me this. In school, I was bullied because I was quiet and not as outgoing as I am now. The bullies probably thought that meant I was easy to push around. He said that to me when I came home upset one day. I ruminated over those words for a while. As a result, I became stronger and more confident, and the bullies never bothered me again. Since then, it has stuck with me.
My stepfather gave me the second piece of advice. He told me to always get the facts right before jumping to conclusions. This applies to everything, from friendships and relationships to work. You’ll become very detail-oriented. I have found this to be very helpful in how I approach my life.
GJ: What is your go-to wellness or self-care routine?
LK: I started watching Korean dramas about 1.5 years ago and it began with Crash Landing On You with Hyun Bin. Following that, I watched the series The King: Eternal Monarch. In the show, the cast wear this Cellreturn LED Mask. It looks like a Daft Punk helmet and has three different LED lights and a fourth Express option for your skin’s different needs. It also covers your neck, very important for ladies!
I wear the mask at least once a week while watching TV through the slit around the eye area. I wore it every day when I first got it. I think it works. When I bought it, I told two friends and some cousins about it and they bought it, too. I’m sure I’ve sold at least four masks!
GJ: If you were a pastry, what type would you be and why?
LK: I would be a chocolate croissant. When it comes out of the oven, it is flaky with a gooey chocolate centre. The same goes for me. I feel like I don’t have an approachable face, but if you get to know me, I’m actually quite sweet. I am definitely not 100 percent dark chocolate.