Celebrity Life

Hailing from one of Hong Kong and Macau’s most prominent families, Sarah Ho decided early on to carve out a path that’s truly her own. In a candid chat, she tells us about a life far removed from the trappings of society, the joys of her hard work rewarded, and how she would never dream of having it any other way.

Sarah Ho has lived much of her life at a fair distance from the shadow of her famous family. The granddaughter of the late casino magnate Stanley Ho, her father Robert is the oldest son of the patriarch and his first wife, Clementina. Yet Ho has shied away from the glitterati of the social circles of Hong Kong and Macau, opting instead for a relatively low-key life in London where she carved out her own path as a jewellery designer who runs a successful brand, Sarah Ho London (SHO), which this year marks its 15th anniversary.

I’ve had the pleasure knowing Ho over the years and, just as you’re drawn by the air of sophistication that envelopes her, you’re also enamoured by her self-effacing qualities and that hint of childish mischief. In an intimate interview, Ho opens up about her life abroad and on the journey she’s had so far as a jewellery designer, businesswoman, wife and mother. She also lets us in on how she and her family are settling into their new, sun-drenched life in Monaco.

How was it like living overseas at a young age? Did you like the obscurity?

Moving abroad to boarding school accelerated me as a person. I had freedom that I’d never experienced before, having lived a very restricted childhood growing up in Macau. I remember running across fields in the countryside and climbing trees for the first time. I wanted to experience life like everyone else.

When I was studying in London, I never told anyone about my family background – and it was great to be treated as a normal person, not being judged, as you’re born with all these privileges. Even [my husband] Sam didn’t know anything about my background until we got engaged and when he flew to Hong Kong for the first time to meet my family. That really gave him a big shock!

You and Sam make such a wonderful couple. How did you meet?

I met Sam early on in life. We’d been dating since we were 22 years old, so he’s been with me every step of the way during this amazing journey. He used to pick me up from uni or meet me during my lunch break if he had time. He also came to Antwerp to visit me for a few weekends during my studies there. And 2006 was not only the launch of my brand but also the year we got married.

Sam is my rock. We make a great team, and our skills are complementary, especially when it comes to travelling for shows and our VIP events and making sales.

Indeed, SHO has come a long way since you first started it in 2006. What was this journey like?

The first word that comes to mind is “rollercoaster”. It certainly hasn’t been an easy journey, but I’m extremely proud of what I’ve achieved. SHO has not only been a business development for me, but it’s also a personal one. It pushed me to do things that I never dreamed I would do. I’ve always been a very shy person – even at school I’d never speak up in class.

Having created my brand, it pushed me to do things that are outside my comfort zone and it’s still constantly challenging me to be a better businesswoman and designer. Without SHO, I think I’d be a vastly different person right now.

What was the most rewarding part of it all?

One of the most rewarding parts for me is seeing my work come to life from a simple idea to reality. I love it when I have time to design, as ideas come to me all day long, even in the middle of the night. I get excited when an idea starts to take shape while I’m drawing it out. If I get butterflies in my stomach, then I know it’s the one. Then I work closely with our workshop on the development side of the design, slowly seeing the piece taking shape in precious metal and gemstones. I can’t tell you how excited I get when we finish a piece.

By the same token, what was the most challenging part?

When I set up the company, I thought I just needed to be a good jewellery designer. I didn’t take into consideration running the business. My focus at the time was purely on creating beautiful and unique jewels. I was rather naive about the cost that’s involved in running a fine-jewellery brand, with PR, marketing and the investment in precious materials and gemstones. The overheads were incredibly high and at that time retailers in the UK would only stock more established brands. The only way to get visibility of your work was on a sale-or-return basis, which is extremely hard for a start-up.
To keep the business afloat, we had to keep our overheads to a minimum for the first couple of years until we started getting recognition from buyers. At the time, we operated the business in my one-bedroom apartment in London. I remember sleeping on the sofa bed in the living room during that time until we were able to have a small office.

Did you ever heed advice from your grandfather?

My grandfather was iconic in the world of business and I admired him for what he achieved in his lifetime. He’s a real inspiration and I hope I can achieve a small amount of what he did in my lifetime. I’m also hugely influenced by the work ethic and business acumen of the women in my family. My aunts have all been incredibly supportive in advising me on my work. Everyone is always interested whenever I’m home for a visit!

How good are you with compartmentalising?

I believe a work/home life balance is important. We’re a remarkably close family unit, and we enjoy spending quality family time together, whether it’s exploring new places and finding new restaurants, or having a long walk with the puppy and a picnic. When the children are at school or playing with their friends, there’s time for me to work and design, though I never really switch off.

After living in London all these years, you decided to move to Monaco. Why?

We moved to Monaco at the end of July last year, but the decision to move only really came about three months before. The move was a completely spontaneous decision we made during lockdown. Our plans were to move to the English countryside earlier last year but unfortunately things didn’t work out, so we decided to stay in London.

In May, a friend who lives in Monaco suggested that we should consider moving there, as it’s a great place to live, extremely safe for children growing up and the sun is always shining. From that moment on we started looking at the possibilities. Plus, it’s always been a dream of mine to live by the sea.

It all happened so fast. Was it an easy decision to make?

We flew to Monaco in June when the borders reopened to look at the options and immediately realised this was for us. We researched the schools, as the children’s education comes first, and they were quickly accepted. So, we searched for an apartment and before we knew it, we were packing up and making the move to Monaco by the end of July.

It all happened so quickly that it was a miracle! Our family and friends were shocked, and nobody could believe that, in the middle of an international pandemic, these were our plans. So, within three months of making the decision we were settling into our new life.

How different is it from life in London?

Monaco is very small, and life is at a much slower pace compared
to London, but it suits me. I think the whole of Monaco is roughly similar in size to London’s Hyde Park. Although it’s small, I really like it as I can walk everywhere. We also have similar restaurants, and it has a very international feel as well. In a way it’s like living in a mini-London by the sea and with good weather.

And you have quite a beautiful home in Monaco, too.

We looked at several apartments but as soon as we saw this one, we knew immediately that this was the one for us – and it has an incredible terrace, which is extremely rare to find in Monaco. We were in the right place at the right time.

I like decorating each new home completely differently from the last. I like the idea of a fresh start. With this place I wanted lots of colour – vibrant, exotic and with eclectic furnishings. Something about living by the sea has inspired me to go for a more bohemian style. We brought some furniture from London, then decided on a colour scheme and found new pieces to complement the style and ambiance we wanted to create.

The apartment is very light and airy, and I’ve created an area where I can design overlooking the terrace and sea. Without a doubt our terrace is my favourite part of the apartment. We have a lot of our meals here overlooking the sea and we can enjoy the sun.

How have you and the family been coping with Covid?

I learned a lot over the last year, especially appreciating the importance of time. It is, without a doubt, the most significant gift in life. During the lockdown I spend a lot of time for myself, taking care of my wellbeing, mentally and physically. I took the time to learn new skills and, most importantly of all, to spend quality time with my family.

For years and years, I was constantly saying to myself that I wished I had more time to do all these things, but with a busy work schedule this was always hard to achieve. I’m sure I’m not alone in this. In a way, I feel the pandemic has granted us the one thing we have always wished for – and it’s time. Having this time with myself, I now feel my priorities in life have changed, I now understand what’s truly important to me, which is family and a healthier lifestyle.

I think the pandemic opened a lot of people’s minds and to review their priorities in life. Things don’t have to operate the way we always thought they needed to. This is the time to reset ourselves so we can come out of this a healthier, better version of ourselves. If everyone uses this time wisely, just imagine the future ahead of us.

The post Sarah Ho’s Charmed Life in Monaco appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

The inspiration is in the name. The Berlin Collection, the latest collection from bespoke gemstone jeweller Minka Jewels, condenses the decadence, glamour and architectural landscape of Berlin's roaring twenties into a collection of gorgeous cocktail rings crafted in 18k yellow gold, featuring a single gemstone in an octagonal-cut.

True to designer Lucy Crowther's style, the rings are relatively minimalistic, making them versatile pieces that can transition easily from day to night. The opulence of the decade is in the central gemstone, rendered in a vibrant palette of tanzanites, tourmalines and sapphires.

As a finishing touch, each ring comes with a feather engraved inside the body of the ring — a subtle nod to the glamour of Berlin and its world-famous cabaret scene. We speak to designer Lucy Crowther about her new collection and her inspirations.

Can you tell us a bit about how you became to be a jewellery designer?

Becoming a jewellery designer started really with being surrounded by the gemstones themselves, working as a stone trader in London taught me so much about the quality of the gemstones and I wanted to be able to make a platform for them to be worn. I used to work for a very talented textile designer, Madeline Weinrib and everything was about colour so this has really stayed with me. Colour definitely is a powerful communication tool it can affect your mood and invoke emotions. Did you know the ancient Egyptians used sun-activated solarium rooms constructed with coloured glass for therapeutic purposes?

Do you remember the first piece of jewellery you designed?

I remember the first piece of jewellery I designed very well and have it still. I made an articulated turtle pendant, all the legs moved separately so it looked like it was swimming when worn.

Tell us a bit about your latest collection, Berlin, and where that inspiration came from? Why Berlin in particular?

The Berlin Collection is all about being big and bold with a flash of colour. Inspired by the bold architectural landscape of the city and the time known as the golden twenties (1920’s) where creatives and intellectuals from all over the world gathered in Berlin. It became the intellectual and creative centre of Europe. This was the time of the Bauhaus movement in art and design and the cabaret scene really took off- Josephine Baker introduced the Charleston dance and famously danced in little more than a string of pearls and a skirt made of 16 rubber bananas.

‘The city had a jewel-like sparkle’ Baker said of Berlin - Inside each ring is a hand-engraved feather, a nod to the cabaret girls and the glamour they helped bring.

Both my brothers lived in Berlin for a long time so I have spent a lot of time there over the years.

In this collection, you've also focused on the octagonal/ emerald-cut for the gemstones. Why did you choose this particular cut?

I chose to use octagon cut gemstones in this collection because it reflected the linear, geometrical forms of the Bauhaus movement. The gold then compliments this with its block-like form surrounding the stones. My last collection, Athena was all about cushion cut gemstones so this new collection I wanted something a bit more modern and linear.

How did you go about choosing the colours of the gemstones used in the collection?

The colours in this collection are really to do with what quality stones I was seeing at the time, I love contrasting colours so yellow gold with blue or green always stands out beautifully. The stones themselves have to be eye clean of inclusions and have a great pop of colour. ‘The city had a jewel like sparkle’ - I wanted to reflect quote of Josephine Baker, in this in this collection. Tourmalines for me have that stand out quality.

In a year where we've spent so much time under lockdown, do you feel that your creativity has been affected?

Lockdown has been tough on everyone, however I do feel incredibly grateful to have spent it in the English countryside where I have been surrounded by nature and felt like I have had more time to be creative. Production has taken a little bit longer than usual and having meetings via zoom with goldsmiths has been a little challenging but we have got there in the end.

What are you inspired by right now?

I feel very inspired by a company called Sky Diamond, they have created a technique of removing co2 from the atmosphere and creating diamonds from this, it goes beyond carbon neutral and is actually carbon negative, which is amazing. I will be working with them hopefully later this year and designing a collection formed around sustainability.

If you could only have one piece of jewellery, what would it be?

A ring with the most gorgeous gemstone set into it, maybe a bright pink spinel or an intense cornflower blue sapphire. Rings bring the wearer so much joy, I love appreciating the gemstones themselves and how they change in different lights.

The post Minka Jewels’ Berlin Collection Makes Cocktail Rings an Everyday Essential appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

On the cover of Time magazine this February is poet Amanda Gorman, who made the headlines when she performed the powerful poem, The Hill We Climb, during the Inauguration Day ceremony for President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris. Gorman's impactful poem made an impression, as did the vibrant red headband that she wore around her braids. On the cover of Time, she's wearing a choker styled as a tiara, in a portraiture that's very much inspired by Maya Angelou.

The choker Gorman wore is none other than Khiry's Khartoum Torc Embellished choker necklace, designed by the rising star designer Jameel Mohammed, whose afrofuturist vision and beautiful jewellery pieces that celebrate the culture and heritage of African diaspora is the brand to know right now.

Khiry is also the latest brand to join Net-a-Porter's Vanguard, the online fashion retailer's mentorship programme that highlights emerging designer talent. Khiry was introduced to the Net-a-Porter team by jewellery designer Matthew Harris of Mateo, and the Net-a-Porter team immediately felt a connection.

"Jameel is an extremely talented designer, with his own unique point of view and style," says Libby Page, Senior Fashion Market Editor at Net-a-Porter. "He uses inspiration from many different sources to form a collection that champions both diversity and change. As a global online retailer, we have the expertise to nurture brands and in this instance, we were able to introduce Jameel to three sponsors; Muzo, Hearts on Fire and The Betts Group who have consigned materials for the collection. This initiative is absolutely the first of many."

For Page, the designers they're looking for must have a distinct DNA and design aesthetic. "They truly have to be brands we are behind as a business and believe will resonate with our global customer," she says.

Mohammed had only worked with gold-plated fashion jewellery before partnering with Net-a-Porter and his exclusive collection with them debuts on Net-a-Porter this month. We speak to Khiry's founder Jameel Mohammed on his debut fine jewellery collection with Net-a-Porter, how he got his brand off the ground and the kind of impact his brand has on the world right now.

Jameel, tell us about your very first jewellery design.

The first jewellery I ever made was in Legos when I was a freshman or sophomore in high school, and then I started making necklaces from knotted rope, macrame, and leather cord. The first piece that defined my brand KHIRY as an Afrofuturist luxury brand was the Khartoum Nude Bangle. That really set the tone for both my design signatures, as ongoing parts of the brands aesthetic, and our mission statement — our reason for existing.

Did you see design as a career from the beginning? What made you decide to study political science (as opposed to design/ fashion etc)?

Not from the very beginning. I actually, luckily, had an aunt who had a friend who had worked and made good money designing for other companies. As a kid growing up in the Midwest, art and creativity didn’t seem like tenable ways of actually sustaining yourself, but my aunt dissuaded me of that notion and said that I could make a living in that industry. Now to the reason I chose to study political science—and not design. At that early age, as I was preparing to take the reins of my own life, there were parts of me that were not comfortable with design being the only thing I could do or the only thing I would have the credentials for. The other part of it is that political science training was really instrumental in my ability to form complex concepts and synthesise distinct experiences, cultural traditions, and visions of the future into a singular expression. It gave me the historical background to understand the context for my work.

What is the meaning behind Khiry and what does Afro-futurism mean to you?

KHIRY is my middle name. It’s Swahili for extremes in fortune and health. To me Afrofuturism is about creating space in the present to envision the means by which Black people and culture will not only survive into the future but also achieve liberation, which is so much the fundamental project of Blackness internationally. It also imagines the broader context that that liberation would sit within—by imagining the liberation of black people you have to think about what kind of world would instantiate and support that liberation. For me it’s really important to spend time in the now thinking about how to design those outcomes in the future, and also reflecting on the past and how it has gotten us to this time and place.

Who and what inspires Khiry? Where do you turn to find inspiration?

I’m inspired by cultural production throughout Africa and its diaspora. I am particularly inspired by the generations of Black artists and activists who have gone before, because implicitly their work was aimed at creating space for themselves and their posterity.

I wanted to touch on the conversation you had with a white CEO who told you luxury brands were only born in Milan and Paris. How did it make you feel then? Did it discourage you or fuel you?

I think at that point it was mostly fuel. because to me it was so clearly and demonstrably false based on my actual experiences and I knew that there were huge swathes of other people out there who would find that sentiment equally ridiculous-and not just ridiculous but an expression of a cultural authority that has existed so long that it hasn’t been frequently questioned, especially in the minds of folk who wield that power. so in that moment it was clear that this was an opportunity from a business standpoint and that this was necessary from a cultural standpoint. and when those two things aligned, it was clear that there was nothing else that I wanted to do more than that.

Do you think luxury has changed since then?

Yes. I think historical luxury brands are increasingly aware that the world is changing and that people of all backgrounds are demanding that the institutions they support further the cause of equity instead of replicating the inequities of the past.

How does it feel to be part of Net-a-Porter's Vanguard?

It feels great. It feels like a total affirmation of what I envisioned from that day [in Japan] of deciding what the brand would be focused on and seeing even then, at that initial stage, the potential that this could have to resonate with the world. I wanted to create pieces that were unquestionably, indisputably luxurious. And now: having the support of such a leader in the luxury space to introduce pieces in our Fine jewelry range which totally expand the brand’s offerings to the highest echelons of design fabrication is totally heartening.

Who would you love to see wearing Khiry? Why?

I think the conceit of the brand has always been to demonstrate to the world the breadth and the depth of culture and experience within the global Black diaspora. For that reason, we really love dressing folks from a broad array of backgrounds – we like to think of the brand as a place where an emerging artist can find a piece to celebrate their trajectory, or where an elected official can find a piece to signify their assent to office, and where there’s no contradiction: it can be the same piece. When I started out it was hard to imagine, but now we are lucky enough to count many globally prominent folks of distinct backgrounds as clients and supporters.

If you were not a jewellery designer, what would you be?

I don’t think I am a jewellery designer actually haha. I would lean further into one of the various creative pursuits that allowed me to explore jewellery and to build a brand in this industry. I’ve always drawn and used two-dimensional art as a way of expressing ideas; I’m also currently working on larger sculptural works, so maybe more three-dimensional works. I feel like if I wasn’t designing jewellery I would lean more into those directions, or maybe I would go to law school.

The post Chatting With Jameel Mohammed of Jewellery Brand Khiry appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

The House of Graff has envisioned a captivating character for its latest jewellery collection, the Tilda's Bow Collection.

The protagonist is Tilda, a young girl with a magic touch who can turn silk into diamond ribbons. Each jewel is a vision from her vivacious fantasies. The voluminous swirl of diamonds, knotted and spun into shining bows, are expertly shaped by Graff's jewellers to capture the realistic form of a silk ribbon and all its femininity, delicacy, and sensuality.

The bow has always been a major motif for Graff, according to Anne-Eva Geffroy, Design Director at Graff. For the Tilda's Bow collection, it's not just the bow itself, but the motion of tying it that serves as the source of inspiration.

"We capture the precise moment a woman finishes tying a bow on her dress or in her hair — the loose, organic shape and expressive movement," says Geffroy.

Tilda might have dreamt up these magical ribbons but the real magic is at the fingertips of the designers at Graff, who bring these whimsical fantasies to life. The masters in the Graff workshop shape each curve and twist of the diamond ribbon to evoke a hand-tied bow. Then, the beautifully shaped bows are used to adorn necklaces, rings, earrings, and bracelets.

Tilda's Bow latest designs

The Tilda's Bow Diamond Necklace is one of the latest interpretations. It's an enchanting white gold necklace that features double strands of round diamonds that loop around the neck. The delicate hand-tied bow rests just off-centre, above the collarbone. The charming necklace comes with baguette-cut and round diamonds with a total weight of 13.50 carats.

You’ll find spectacular high jewellery pieces in the Tilda’s Bow collection, but everyday diamonds are also a huge part of the collection. Petite yet powerful, these new everyday pieces feature ribbons of pavé and pear-shaped diamonds. The designs are minimalist and yet perfectly timeless, evoking the always and forever nature of diamonds that appeal to the young and spirited Tilda within all of us.  

Learn more or shop the latest designs in the Tilda's Bow collection on graff.com.

The post Meet Tilda: Graff’s New Muse appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Choosing the right anniversary gift is a serious affair – after all, it’s a declaration of your undying love to your significant other. We picked some exquisite jewels to consider, no matter whether you’re celebrating five or 50 years of marriage.

4th Anniversary — Flowers

Flowers are the traditional gift for a fourth-year anniversary, but why pick something impermanent when you could get one that will last forever? Boucheron’s Nature Triomphante high-jewellery collection takes real petals from anemone, rose, hydrangea and peony and turns them into eternal works of art through a closely guarded scientific technique that retains their natural colours. Each ring has a rare precious stone in its centre that brings out the ombré tones of the ring’s petals. The floral rings are further enhanced with pistils in a powdered effect and pavé-set diamonds.

15th Anniversary — Crystal

The next piece that has caught our eye is this En Passant necklace, which was first presented in Boucheron’s 2020 high-jewellery collection, Contemplation. Strings of rock-crystal beads are given a frosted finish to evoke the misty, ethereal nature of clouds. Two diamond clouds rest on the beads, just underneath the collar bones, with diamond beads cascading downwards like tiny drops of rain. It’s a fitting piece for a 15th-anniversary celebration, which calls for a gift of crystal.

19th Anniversary — Jade

Jade is given on the occasion of a 19th anniversary. This fine necklace from Nuò by Cindy Yeung, which is crafted by artisans at Emperor Watch and Jewellery, pieces together natural fei cui jade with diamonds to wonderful effect. The milkiness of the jade green beads contrasts with the brilliant faceted white diamonds and stark black onyx for a wholly chic and contemporary look. The necklace, whose pendant is shaped in a geometric pattern to evoke an immaculate hedge maze, is part of Nuò’s Garden of Treasures high-jewellery collection. Each piece is said to have been inspired by Yeung’s travels.

25th Anniversary — Silver

Buccellati, which celebrated 100 years of jewellery-making just last year, is renowned for its distinctive gold pieces, which are hammered and handcrafted using traditional Italian techniques to resemble silks, tulle and damask. But the company is also known for silverware; its co-founder, Mario Buccellati, had always created exquisite objects for the home in sterling silver, using Renaissance motifs and nature as his inspirations. With the petals and stamen of each bloom engraved in elaborate detail, these photorealistic flower bowls could not be a more perfect gift for a 25th Silver anniversary.

30th Anniversary — Pearl

Bina Goenka is a former lawyer turned jeweller to Bollywood stars, whose creativity and bold use of coloured gemstones have made her designs true works of art. Pearls often feature prominently in her jewellery designs, which is why we’ve picked this pair of earrings for a 30th Pearl anniversary. Handcrafted to the highest ethical sourcing and sustainable standards, the white-gold earrings are inlaid with shimmering diamonds in a leaf motif, from which dangle two gleaming pearls from the South Sea.

35th Anniversary — Coral

Cartier’s latest high-jewellery collection, [Sur]naturel, blurs the lines between fantasy and realities of the natural world. The Panthère Tropicale jewellery watch in this collection is a powerful and vibrant amalgamation of colours and materials. Yellow gold comes together with coral, aquamarine and tourmaline on one side of the cuff watch, while the other is speckled in onyx stones and diamonds to depict the fur of a panther.

The size of the coral used in the piece is an absolute highlight, which is why we found it a fitting gift for a 35th anniversary. The brittle coral is carefully worked by an expert gem-cutter in order to achieve the gadrooned design of the watch. It’s no easy feat, as the material can crack at the slightest touch.

40th Anniversary — Ruby

Romeo and Juliet may have ended tragically, but the Shakespearean play is still considered one of the greatest love stories of all time. Van Cleef & Arpels clearly thought so too, creating a high-jewellery collection that featured more than 100 unique pieces based on the classic. Rubies and sapphires feature prominently in the collection to depict the two feuding families – red for the Capulets, and blue for the Montagues. The Fogliame clips in white gold and rose gold are set with one oval-cut ruby of 2.33 carats, one oval-cut pink sapphire of 2.10 carats, rubies, pink and mauve sapphires and diamonds. The pair of clips are an impressive piece of jewellery to show off on your 40th Ruby anniversary, even if we do say so ourselves.

45th Anniversary — Sapphire

Sapphire is the traditional gift for a 45th-anniversary celebration. Also from the Cartier [Sur]naturel collection is this magnificent Sinopé necklace, a sapphire and diamond masterpiece that’s worked into a supple and wave-like shape to evoke the flow of water. The piece boasts a scalloped lapis lazuli edge that rests against the neck, a ripple of blue that’s offset with the crystal-clear quality of the frosty diamonds. On the lower edge of the necklace are five Ceylon sapphires, chosen for the beautiful “medium cornflower blue” shade. The oval-shaped sapphires are from Madagascar, and total 8.55, 8.40, 8.14, 7.23 and 6.88 carats.

50th Anniversary — Gold

KISS (but in this case the acronym stands for Keep It Super Simple) is the name of Carolina Bucci’s latest collection, as well as pretty good advice to take into your 50th year of marriage. The gold bracelet and necklace collection is quite unusually inspired by Carolina Bucci’s partnership with watchmaker Audemars Piguet. The collection’s design is based on the beating heart of mechanical watches – the balance spring – a tightly wound, sinuous coil that causes the balance wheel to oscillate at a constant frequency to keep the watch running. Aesthetically simple and yet deliciously complex, the bracelets and necklaces in yellow and rose gold can be worn on its own or stacked with a watch or other jewellery.

55th Anniversary — Emerald

Emeralds are often considered regal; their glittering shades bely an almost mysterious appeal, but the thing about emeralds is that they’re also very rarely flawless. Almost all emeralds contain inclusions and tiny fractures that could even be visible to the naked eye. But maybe this is why we find them so enchanting. Relationships, too, aren’t always perfect, but they can be absolutely beautiful.

To celebrate a 55th Emerald anniversary, look no further than Graff’s high-jewellery collection, which sees emeralds and diamonds taking centre stage. The highlight is an emerald-cut emerald and pear-shaped diamond necklace, which is set with a 26.22-carat pear-shaped diamond that’s cut and polished from the legendary 1,109-carat Lesedi la Rona.

60th Anniversary — Diamond

To celebrate your 60th anniversary, there’s no more appropriate or timeless gift than diamonds. And not just any diamond, but one from Graff. Every Graff diamond is carefully selected for its rare beauty, before its master craftsmen work with the stones to maximise its brilliance, but this particular one is a piece of diamond history. The principle stone is cut and polished from the 476-carat Meya Prosperity Diamond, which is then set into an exquisite necklace featuring more than 63 carats of the finest white diamonds.

The pendant drop, cut from the Meya Prosperity Diamond, is a 102.38-carat flawless pear-shaped diamond that sparkles with extraordinary brilliance and scintillating fire. The total necklace comes down to 183.18 carats of diamonds.

The post Jewellery to Celebrate Milestone Anniversaries appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Chinese singer and actress Chris Lee flaunts Gucci’s jewellery and timepieces in the brand’s latest campaign, slated for release this month. Shot at the stunning 18th-century Biblioteca Casanatense in Rome, the Italian luxury fashion brand’s campaign is inspired by its creative director Alessandro Michele’s love for libraries and literature.

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In the new campaign, Lee, who is also Gucci’s brand ambassador in Asia, plays the role of a book lover. Decked out in elegant jewellery, she wanders the brimming library with its leather-bound books, antique wooden furniture and neutral hues. Biblioteca Casanatense, built in 1701 by the Dominicans of the Convent of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, serves as the perfect backdrop for the sophisticated and timeless pieces of jewellery showcased in the campaign.

Lee is seen sporting a Gucci Grip timepiece with a yellow gold PVD case engraved with the GG motif and three windows (representing hour, minute and date). The G-Timeless Automatic also appears in the campaign with its understated yet sleek glistening steel case, steel bracelet and black onyx dial featuring a bee motif. Another shot shows Lee wearing a G-Timeless with a striking green-red-green House Web stripe nylon dial, embroidered gold bee design and a white calf leather strap with a yellow gold PVD case.

The jewellery compliments the mood perfectly and the campaign has Lee in GG Running earrings in yellow gold and a diamond-studded ring in yellow gold. She completes the look with a beautiful Gucci Flora necklace with matching rings and bracelet in white gold and diamonds.

The post Singer and Actress Chris Lee Is the Face of Gucci’s Newest Campaign appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Five decades on, Van Cleef & Arpels celebrates its iconic lucky charm with a touch of blue, which collectively embodies the same quality that captivated the luck seekers.

The post Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra: Something Blue, Something Lucky appeared first on LUXUO.

Marianne Etchebarne, Chanel's global head of watches and fine jewellery for product marketing and communication, on the inspiration and highlights behind the new Coromandel high jewellery collection.

The post VIDEO: The Inspiration Behind Chanel’s Coromandel High Jewellery Collection appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

The latest Bulgari Wild Pop jewellery collection was inspired by a single dialogue by Andy Warhol during a conversation with Nicola Bulgari.

The post Roman Night Fever With Bulgari Wild Pop Jewellery Collection appeared first on LUXUO.