For whom the (jingle) bells toll and money no object be, we at Robb Report Hong Kong have several dazzling accessories wrapped in a box… for thee. Forgive us—‘tis the season for waxing poetic as designer houses have been sending us a glimmer of what to expect this season all week: a wild array of diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and gemstones of note. It came as a trickle and trinket, then a flash flood of candy-coloured stones as all the maisons and went all out for the end-of-year celebrations. A phalanx of rubies and emeralds was almost a predictable colour scheme, and a flush of white diamonds, and a heady mix of the classic and the novel are up for view as well. We parsed through the trough and found these glistening among them. Our holiday picks include the usual suspects: Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany & Co, of course, but our Robb Report counterparts stateside also encouraged us to look into Hemmerle and other jewellers who are paving the way with pavé diamonds. 

Cartier 

Oh, the number of times we’ve seen grown adults melt when the signature red-leather case comes into sight… well, that’s Cartier for you. From its long list of cherry-picked gift ideas for the best present for the season, the maison sent our merry way a brochure with staggering figures and figurines. We opted for something truly emblematic of the untamed, wild, nature-inspired motif that the house is famed for: the Panthère de Cartier. While there are significant necklaces of heft and carat that are truly beguiling from the High Jewellery collection, for a little something under the tree, we skimmed over the rings, bracelets, and necklaces to settle on this pair of Panthères: stunning earrings in onyx, emeralds, and 132 brilliant-cut diamonds set in white gold.

Chaumet

Jewellery no longer has gender norms as we live in an age of free-fall from all stereotypes. Earlier this month, Chaumet’s global brand ambassador, Cha Eun-woo, stepped forward to give his interpretation of the Bee My Love creations, sending everyone his holiday cheer. Of course, there are several big-ticket gems at the house of Chaumet, but for gents, this Chaumet Bee My Love bracelet in white gold is as subtle and sophisticated as it gets. It comes in different shades, some studded with diamonds, some more monochromatic—all worth a look.  

Chopard 

This chic pair of Chopard earrings, featuring 4.54 carats of emeralds and diamonds, both from the Haute Joaillerie collection, is set in 18-carat white gold. The purple reign of its colour-scheme is so imperial that from every angle, view, and silhouette, the pieces stand out. There’s also a necklace that perfectly complements this set, but for our stylist’s edit, just the earrings are more than enough.

Damiani

Truth be told, we weren’t too familiar with Damiani jewellery until—pause for effect—legendary actress Sophia Loren came to Hong Kong to open the brand’s store in the city. Chin to decolletage, Loren was dripping in diamonds, and ever since, we’ve been mesmerised by the Italian brand. From its line of seasonal treasures, we’ve picked the Damiani Belle Epoque ruby ring in white gold, studded with diamonds. (An exact replica in emeralds is also in the offing.) For those who love stacking jewellery, you’ll hit the jackpot here. Why buy one when you can buy… all?

De Beers

Do you not see the silhouette of a Christmas tree in these diamond-drop chandelier earrings? Well, we do. From divine De Beers, these glistening accessories are perfect for any time of year, but particularly this frosty season, the ice is nice. 

Hemmerle

Though Munich-based jeweller Hemmerle has been around since 1893, it doesn’t roll off the tongue as easily as the other noted brands listed here, especially in Hong Kong, where the brand has no flagship. We first took note of Hemmerle when Hong Kong socialite Feiping Chang was seen wearing a gemstone drop earrings from them, then Robb Report editor Paige Reddinger featured a diamond ring in her Best of Jewellery column, and now, we can’t get enough of the brand. Seek and you shall find; we live in the digital age, and you can easily peruse Hemmerle’s official website and shop for its gorgeously artistic creations. Different forms, permutations on the humble ring, shapes so different from norm… even the stones are so interesting—tourmaline, garnet, jade, silver, and white gold. Ring and earrings, we’ve chosen these seasonal colours as our pick. A perfect gift to give… yourself.  

Qeelin

On 8 December in Hong Kong, two giant pandas joined Ocean Park Hong Kong’s panda family alongside Ying Ying, Le Le, and their newborn twins. On cue, Qeelin’s latest pendant caught our eye. Call it serendipity or marketing prescience, but the timing could not be better. The Hanfu Bo Bo pendant, limited to 18 pieces, features a bejewelled panda, adorned with a floral headdress with petals made of 18-carat rose gold and a blossoming bud of ruby. The rose-gold waistband is adorned with a ruby as well, while her wide-sleeved garment is embellished with over 200 round pink sapphires, and her inner skirt is studded with sparkling diamonds. Do note in her right hand, a wulu pendant made of rubies and diamonds dances in the light. At six figures, this isn’t just a cute gift, but a serious one. Since its launch in 2004, Qeelin has leaned heavily on Chinese cultural connotation, traditional symbols, and heritage, where novel Asian aesthetics meets contemporary jewellery. We’re here for it. 

Tiffany & Co.

It is a cliché and yet it rings true: Christmas is a wildly popular time to get engaged—we blame 1990s rom-coms (and aggressive marketing strategies) for this rite of passage.  According to the wedding planning app Bridebook, approximately 100,000 people go down on bended knee by the tinsel decked tree. In fact, roughly 40 per cent of all engagements usually take place between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve!

It really is the season of red, green, and blue—Tiffany blue, to be exact. Be spoilt for choice, for the maison does provide a vast assortment of selects—the ring drawer heaves in anticipation. Perhaps the memory of Gladiator II is still in mind, but this accessory caught our eye: the Tiffany T True wide ring in 18-carat white gold with pavé diamonds has a Grecian ring to it. If the receiver of this gift is left all teary-eyed at prospect and proposal, well, there’s always the tear-drop earrings to go with it.

Van Cleef & Arpels 

One can imagine the archives of Van Cleef & Arpels being somewhat like the famed caves of Aladdin: vast registers of treasures and chambers filled with collections adhering to a seminal theme, era, and in-house designer’s signature. We’ve recently shed light on the Treasure Island-themed high-jewellery collection, and of course, the Perlée launch in Hong Kong was the talk of the town, but to round up this year and column, we finally bow out with the Folie des Prés necklace. Rhodium plated, 18-carat white gold, and 18-carat rose gold stem with florid shaped rubies and diamonds galore. 

All images courtesy of their respective brands.