When you first enter (by appointment only) the maison of jeweller Cindy Chao (whose company name is Cindy Chao The Art Jewel), the exploratory conceit is, it doesn’t look like a store—or a jewellery shop. When you saunter in, it’s really a museum with singular gem- and diamond-encrusted artefacts in frames. Except, upon closer inspection, it is, in fact, jewellery. And yes, it’s wearable and it’s on sale. It’s also rare, often unique, and made with the most magnificent stones sourced from the world over to create Chao’s notable collection.
18 miniature jewelled artworks were unveiled at the artisan’s maison in the heart of Central last week and, in fine form, they are—as expected—exceptional. At a by-invitation viewing event, VIP attendees had a chance to re-examine the extraordinary craftsmanship that goes into making each individual piece of jewellery that’s displayed in the “gallery.” (Yes, that museum motif is consistent.) After all, three major international museums—the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London—feature Chao’s work.
Chao has bifurcated her latest collection into two categories: the Black Label Masterpiece and White Label Collection. Several pieces in the White Label Collection are perfect for the current season, like the intricate Flora earrings or the Lilac Hyacinth earrings set in a whopping number of 4,832 diamonds, pink sapphires, and purple garnets on a titanium skeleton.
Brooches have such an old-world Downton Abbey-esque charm to it, while Chao yanks it to the modern century with her Sapphire Dragonfly design, a scintillating adornment featuring 18-carat pear-shaped Sri Lankan sapphires, and over 500 pear-, oval-, and rose-cut diamonds set on the slender body in ox horn.
Chao’s most photographed pièce de résistance, however, has been the tri-faceted Picasso Dream earrings, featured in the Black Label Masterpiece collection. Contoured with yellow diamonds, featuring a rare 16-carat emerald-cut brown-yellow diamond set within three loculi, fully paved with diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, and alexandrites, the dazzling gemstone studded accessory is so obviously a collector’s item.
Those already familiar with her award-winning designs, as we are, Chao has always informed her work with her rich heritage, culture, Eastern lineage, and Western erudition. Her work comes under the bracket of “Nouveau Art Nouveau,” integrating East and West. Greatly influenced by her Chinese-temple architect grandfather and sculptor father, her Western education and use of European traditions of jewellery-making make her a grand mistress of design.
Other media has stated that her work “opened a new page of jewellery art and propelled Chinese art jewellery to the international market by heralding a new era” in fine jewellery. Witness the era for yourself: the latest pieces are on display in Hong Kong until 9 June, and will travel the world. And if you like them well enough to take them home, know that the pieces can be bought online.
Suite 1205, 50 Connaught Road, Central, Hong Kong
(+852) 2561 8298
All images courtesy of Cindy Chao (The Art Jewel).
