Charmaine, what’s a piece that feels especially meaningful to you — and why?

Charmaine: This korosong was passed to me just a couple of months ago by my mom. It belonged to my great-grandmother, who passed when she was 101. What I love about it is how simple it is — just three diagonal lines with small diamonds. Compared to other more ornate korosongs in the family, this one really reflects her. She was austere, sometimes even severe. Always woke up early, only drank warm water. Powdered milk too — right until the day she died.

Christine: She was a real matriarch.

Charmaine: She wasn’t the most affectionate, and that made her different from the other women in our family. I was honestly quite scared of her growing up. But I had a lot of respect for her. She was very sure of herself. When her husband passed away, she sold the property, split everything up — jewellery, savings, all of it. She knew what she wanted. It’s kind of beautiful to look back and see different forms of maternal love. We weren’t close, but when I look at this piece, it brings me closer to her. We lived with her when I was young, and it brings that time back to me.

 
Charmaine wears the open back draped funnel neck top in creme paired with the contrast waistband low-rise skirt in black/creme and Christine wears the tailored eyelet vest top in linen paired with the deconstructed exposed seam trousers in linen.

Christine, what made you choose to pass this piece down to Charmaine?

Christine: I’m doing what my grandmother did. I thought, while the kids are around and I’m able, I’d let them choose what they want. When one of my sons came back from overseas, I said, okay, just pick. Instead of me trying to decide who should get what, they chose. And the boys said, cher cher should take most of it — the granddaughters will get them anyway.

But this piece, I chose for her. When you have a daughter, there’s something special about giving her something of your own that you know she'll use. We’re Peranakan, so korosongs are close to my heart. I have one from my mother too, and eventually she’ll have that. But this one, I wanted her to have now.

 
A collection of jewellery and keepsakes, passed through generations and recently entrusted to Charmaine by her mother, Christine.

Christine, is there an object that holds special meaning for you — and what’s the story behind it?

Christine: It would be this ring I received on my 21st birthday. My boyfriend at the time — now my husband — gave it to me. It came in a shoebox. I remember thinking, Oh no, shoes? But inside was this Cartier ring. And Charmaine used to look at it as a kid and go, So nice. My name’s Christine Chan, and the initials were perfect. This watch was a Christmas gift from him too, I think. The other day I brought it in for servicing and the salesgirl got so excited — said it’s discontinued now. It's something special.

 
Charmaine, her mother, and daughters — three generations, at ease and at home.

Charmaine, what is it about your mom's ring that you’ve always been drawn to?

Charmaine: I think it carries fond memories of when I was younger and playing dress up. I was always going through her wardrobe growing up. I’d open up all the jewellery cases, try on her rings and watches. She had so many shoes — she even took Polaroids and stuck them to the boxes so she’d know what was inside. I’d wear them around the house, pretend they were mine.

Now my daughters do the same. They ask me which dresses they can have when I die — it’s morbid but funny. They love makeup. Dalia, especially, will come to me before we go out and say, Can you do my eyeshadow?

Charmaine: Yeah, it’s the circle of life.

Charmaine, what do you admire most about your mom?

Charmaine: I was just thinking about this the other day — how consistent she is. Constant. I never have to worry she won’t show up or forget something. Her memory’s better than mine! She’s so dependable, not just for me, but for the kids, the family, her friends. I know sometimes it feels like a burden, always being the one people count on. But I think that’s the most incredible thing about her.

Christine, what do you admire most about Charmaine?

Christine: She’s strong. Very strong. She knows what she wants. When I was growing up, kids were to be seen and not heard. I never had the freedom to express myself. So when I had children, I always said: It’s your life. I give advice, but the choice is yours.

And Charmaine is strong, but also chill — which I’m not! I’ve had to learn that from her. Now I tell myself, Relax. Let go. She helps me see that. Especially when Charlie wasn’t well and she was pregnant — she held everything together. I remember breaking down, but she told me, One day at a time, Mom. I’ll never forget that.

Charmaine: You say I’m strong, but I definitely got that from you. You might not think you’re chill, but the strength, the hopefulness — that’s you. Even if you're freaking out on the outside, I always feel like you trust things will be okay. And I carry that with me.

Where do you think these traditions come from — and what do they mean to your family?

Charmaine: I think it’s natural to want to pass things down. But what makes these things valuable is the history they carry — how many hands they’ve passed through. These women shaped who we are, who we become. It’s meaningful to be able to pass that on to my girls. These pieces hold a kind of quiet power. They remind them they’re part of something much larger — that even the smallest life holds weight.

Christine: Like Charmaine said, it’s about keeping a part of us alive. It’s not just jewellery — it’s our Christmas traditions, our Chinese New Year rituals. We’ve done them for so many years, and now we see her doing them for her children. That’s what makes me happy — that it won’t get lost. And it’s lovely to have physical reminders of the people we carry with us. 

Watch the third episode of Past, Present, Mom with Christine and Charmaine — now live on our Instagram.