My name is I Wayan Adi Parta, although most of my friends call me Jung, a shortened version of my nickname, Pujung.
Thank you for visiting our website. I would like to share a little about myself and how I became involved in Bali’s jewelry industry.
My journey did not begin in a jewelry workshop. In fact, I had never planned to enter the jewelry business.
However, a chance meeting in Ubud eventually changed my career and led to the establishment of Puri Lautan Mutiara in 1998.
Growing Up in Bali and Starting My Career
I was born in 1976 in Peliatan, a village near Ubud, Bali.
After graduating from senior high school, I started working as a tourist driver in 1996. At that time, tourism seemed like a natural career choice.
Although Bali already had a well-established silver jewelry industry, I knew very little about it.
Celuk, one of Bali’s best-known silverworking villages, was around 15 kilometers from my hometown. Nevertheless, the jewelry business felt quite distant from my everyday life.
I was simply trying to earn a living and build my future.
A Chance Meeting That Changed Everything
Around 1997, I met an American businessman in Ubud.
He was involved in selling Balinese silver jewelry in the United States. Occasionally, he hired me to drive him to Celuk to collect jewelry from local workshops.
During those trips, I began learning about the industry.
I saw how Balinese silversmiths worked and how finished jewelry reached customers overseas. Gradually, I became interested in the business.
At first, I was only a driver helping a customer with transportation. However, those visits introduced me to an industry that would become an important part of my life.
Eventually, my American business partner encouraged me to establish a jewelry workshop.
It was an unexpected opportunity. Nevertheless, I decided to try.
Establishing Puri Lautan Mutiara in 1998
In 1998, we started Puri Lautan Mutiara, also known as PLM Import/Export.
The business later developed into PT Puri Lautan Mutiara.
We began by working with local silversmiths and building a team to produce jewelry for international customers.
Fortunately, we already had a customer when we started. This gave us an opportunity to enter the business without having to develop an international market entirely from the beginning.
However, running a jewelry workshop involved much more than receiving orders.
We had to organize production, purchase materials, manage workers, maintain quality, and arrange exports.
Some materials, including gemstones and jewelry findings, were difficult to obtain locally at that time.
Consequently, importing certain components became an important part of our operations. This was one reason we used the name PLM Import/Export.
Over time, I learned more about jewelry manufacturing, international trade, and business management.
Much of that knowledge came from practical experience rather than formal training.
Learning to Manage a Jewelry Manufacturing Business
As the business developed, our workshop took on more production responsibilities.
We worked with different designs, materials, and customer requirements.
Meanwhile, I gradually became more familiar with the challenges of jewelry manufacturing.
Producing jewelry requires coordination between several activities. Casting, soldering, stone setting, polishing, and quality control must all work together.
Moreover, international customers expect clear communication and reliable delivery.
I learned that managing a jewelry business is not simply about making beautiful products. It also involves understanding costs, solving problems, and maintaining relationships.
Of course, we made mistakes along the way.
However, those experiences helped me understand the industry better.
Facing One of Our Biggest Business Challenges
Not every part of our journey has been successful.
Around 2016, our main customer experienced financial difficulties and eventually went bankrupt.
Unfortunately, the business also left unpaid invoices.
At that time, we depended heavily on this customer. As a result, the situation had a serious impact on our company.
We had previously employed approximately 45 people. However, we eventually had to reduce our workforce significantly.
It was a difficult decision, especially because many workers depended on the business for their income.
The experience taught me an important lesson: relying too heavily on one customer creates considerable risk.
Although we could not change what had happened, we needed to find another way forward.
Rebuilding Through Custom Jewelry Manufacturing
After that experience, we began looking for ways to reach more customers.
One of our decisions was to develop our online presence.
We created several websites, including jewelry.co.id, to introduce our manufacturing services to international buyers.
At the same time, we expanded our focus on custom jewelry production.
Instead of depending primarily on a single customer, we started working with different jewelry designers, retailers, and small businesses.
Many of these customers were developing their first collections.
Therefore, they often needed guidance on design feasibility, materials, minimum order quantities, and production methods.
This approach created new opportunities. However, it also required us to adapt to smaller orders and more varied designs.
Today, custom manufacturing remains an important part of our business.
Working with Small Jewelry Brands
Over the years, we have worked with customers from different countries and business backgrounds.
Some operate established jewelry brands. Others are independent designers or small businesses entering the market.
I understand that starting a jewelry business can be challenging.
For example, a new brand may have an attractive design but limited knowledge of manufacturing costs or technical requirements.
In such cases, clear communication becomes particularly important.
We try to explain what is practical, what may require changes, and what our workshop can reasonably produce.
Our typical minimum order quantity starts at approximately 5–10 pieces per style or size, depending on the design.
However, we evaluate each project individually.
We are a relatively small workshop. Therefore, we do not claim to offer every manufacturing technique or compete with large factories in every product category.
Instead, we focus on projects that match our experience and available resources.
The Challenges of Bali’s Jewelry Industry
Bali has a remarkable tradition of silver craftsmanship.
Nevertheless, the industry faces several challenges.
One concern is the availability of experienced silversmiths.
Traditional jewelry skills take time to develop. Meanwhile, younger generations have many other career opportunities.
As a result, finding skilled workers can sometimes be difficult.
Production schedules also become more challenging when several customers place orders at the same time.
In addition, international competition and changing material costs place pressure on small manufacturers.
These issues affect many businesses, not only ours.
Therefore, I believe preserving traditional skills while improving modern production methods is important for Bali’s jewelry industry.
What PLM Bali Does Today
Today, PT Puri Lautan Mutiara operates from Singapadu, Gianyar, Bali.
Our work focuses on custom jewelry manufacturing and selected wholesale collections.
We mainly work with sterling silver, brass, and gold.
Depending on the design, our production methods include wax carving, CAD modeling, lost-wax casting, mold making, soldering, assembly, and finishing.
We also work with gemstones and decorative components according to customer requirements and material availability.
In addition, we coordinate production with skilled local artisans when particular techniques or additional capacity are needed.
Our role is to manage the project, communicate with customers, and oversee the finished product.
For me, maintaining clear communication and realistic expectations remains essential.
Still Learning After More Than 28 Years
Since establishing PLM in 1998, I have spent more than 28 years working in the jewelry business.
However, I still consider myself a learner.
The industry continues to change. New technologies, online platforms, customer expectations, and manufacturing methods create both challenges and opportunities.
Therefore, I try to remain open to new ideas.
I am particularly interested in how technology can help small businesses work more efficiently without losing the craftsmanship that makes their products distinctive.
I also enjoy learning about other Balinese handicrafts and possible business opportunities connected to jewelry.
Not every experiment succeeds. Nevertheless, I believe trying new approaches is part of running a business.
A Personal Reflection
Looking back, I never imagined that working as a tourist driver would lead me into jewelry manufacturing.
My career developed through unexpected opportunities, helpful people, difficult decisions, and many years of practical experience.
We have experienced better years and more difficult ones.
However, I am grateful that Puri Lautan Mutiara continues to operate today.
In Bali, we often say Astungkara, an expression of gratitude to God.
I feel that gratitude when I think about the people who have supported our business, including our workers, customers, suppliers, and business partners.
Our company is not the largest jewelry manufacturer in Bali, and we still have much to improve.
Nevertheless, we continue doing our best with the experience and resources available to us.
Thank You for Visiting PLM Bali
Thank you for taking the time to read my story.
Whether you are a jewelry designer, a business owner, or simply interested in Bali’s craftsmanship, I hope our website provides useful information.
If you have a jewelry project or would like to discuss manufacturing opportunities in Bali, please feel free to contact us.
I am always interested in exchanging ideas and learning from people with different experiences.
You can also explore our other websites:
Thank you again for visiting.
I Wayan Adi Parta (Jung)
PT Puri Lautan Mutiara
Singapadu, Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia
Jewelry Manufacturing Since 1998