Why Jewellery Is a Love Language for Germaine Tan

From childhood heirlooms to the diamond that sealed her engagement, radio host Germaine Tan reveals why every jewel she wears carries a story.

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For radio deejay and host Germaine Tan, jewellery is more than ornament—it’s memory made tangible. Her collection is filled with treasures that reflect her most meaningful experiences, each piece a link to the people and milestones that have shaped her life.

That connection goes back to her earliest memories. “Jewellery, to me, always carried this unspoken meaning of family, love, and stories passed down,” she reflects.

Growing up in a family who shared her passion for beautiful pieces, Tan learnt early that jewellery can hold deep sentimental value and serve as a way to keep memories alive.

These days, her style leans towards understated, dainty designs for every day, but when a special moment arises, she isn’t afraid to let a bold, statement piece take centre stage. Sometimes, an entire outfit revolves around a single jewel.

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“There are days when I fall in love with a particular piece—maybe a ring or a necklace—and then everything else I wear has to work around it,” she says. Yet sentiment remains paramount. “Style might be what draws you to a piece, but sentiment is what makes you hold onto it forever. Most of my favourite pieces are gifts from loved ones, and that emotional connection makes them priceless.”

Recently, one jewel has taken on profound new meaning: her engagement ring. In a scene straight out of a film, her fiancé, Andrew Li, proposed on a private sandbank in the Maldives, beneath a glowing sunset.

“It’s not just a ring,” Tan says. “It’s a testament to how well he knows me, and everything we’ve built together.” Ahead, Tan shares her journey with jewellery, from her earliest memories to the special story behind her engagement ring.