Tibetan Refugees Start Bead Gallery

    “Made in Tibet.” That’s what Tenzin Chomphel’s T-shirt aptly reads.

    Tenzin and Pasang Chomphel are both Tibetan refugees who moved to California individually before they met and fell in love. Today, husband and wife have two children (a 4-year-old boy named Toshi and a 4-month-old girl called Chuki) and recently started their own businesses in Belmont Shore: The Tibetan Bead Gallery.

    “Business has been good,” Tenzin said after being open for a little more than three months. “People come in because our beads are so unique.”

    Both Tenzin and Pasang design and build most of the jewelry in the store, which includes rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings and a variety of key chains, wall furnishings and charms. Most of the beads and materials they use in their designs come from Dharmasala, India and Nepal, created by Tibetan refugees.

    Tenzin said the items sold at the store help support Tibetan people. In addition to paying refugees for the materials, Tenzin is creating a nonprofit to give proceeds back to the children’s refugee school in Dharmasala, where both he and his wife were educated as children. Also, he and his wife said they sponsor several Tibetan refugees.

    While the couple has sold wholesale beads and jewelry for more than a decade, Tenzin said he and his wife wanted to share their designs and culture with the Long Beach community. The Chomphel family lives in Belmont Shore.

    Ethnic jewelry at The Tibetan Bead Gallery reflects Tibetan traditions and beliefs. Tenzin said he knows the symbolism associated with each stone in each piece of jewelry and can explain the history and meaning of the many pendants hung on every inch of wall space at the store.

    Customers can shop by aesthetic value of the pieces, or the business owners can help shoppers find jewelry that meets certain needs — tiger’s eye might be useful to a gambler who needs extra luck, or turquoise can be used for healing purposes.

    “Each stone has its own unique quality,” he said as he explained to a young customer that the silver pin she was holding was a lotus design symbolizing purity. “Each pendant has a meaning.”

    Tenzin and Pasang create custom jewelry pieces for customers and can repair jewelry too. The couple also is launching in-store jewelry making classes.

    The Tibetan Bead Gallery is located at 5353 E. Second St. For details, call 916-3419.

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