Star Sapphire and Diamond Ring by Cindy Chao $40,000. Snob readers receive a discount price of $35,000. Email the showroom to inquire!
If you’ve been reading the Snob sites for a while, you’ll remember I featured jewelry designer Cindy Chao a year and half ago on the Jewel Snob site. I wanted to re-introduce her to all of you. Since we last heard from her, she has designed a million dollar diamond fan for deBeers (featured in Hong Kong Bazaar) that is now on a global tour in addition to growing her atelier and reputation as a world class Jewel Artist. I can not think of a more appropriate name for her! The FIT graduate has captured the hearts of her clients throughout the world with her ethereal designs (myself included– I just got my first piece of Cindy Chao jewel art!) since leaving the Big Apple and shows no sign of slowing down. Jump for more photos but a quick warning, you will want everything you see! Email Cindy’s showroom for info here.
This is the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen! It was a re-design job for a private client from the two rings on the left. How she was able to envision this from the original set is beyond me! Cindy told me “The ring was essentially an extension of my Four Seasons Collection, and it illustrated the season of autumn. Six different colors of yellow diamonds were used to showcase seasonal transition and the gradual changes in climate and temperature. The emerald represented vivacious new life thriving through difficult times. The black 18K gold branches posed a sharp contrast making the vivid gems jump out even more so. The trunk and intertwined branches shooting up from the inside out symbolized the mighty force of life and its immense flexibility and inner strength.” Don’t bother inquiring about this ring, it is spoken for!
This fan was designed by Cindy as part of the De Beers group branch company Forevermark’s Precious Collection. Featuring internationally renowned jewellery designers and authors, the collection showcases each individual’s interpretation of “Precious”. With 120 years of diamond expertise, Forevermark selects only diamonds with exceptional qualities; less than 1% of the world’s diamonds are eligible to become a Forevermark Diamond.
During the Precious Collection project, Forevermark’s unlimited and unswerving support allowed Cindy freely expressing her creativity without boundaries. Her design－the Majestic Beauty Fan, represents the notion that every ancient Chinese beauty has her very own fan. The structure of the Fan illustrates a sprouting tree jubilantly embraces the punctual arrival of spring. Meticulous to details, Cindy made sure no two leaves or buds look identical, and that every twist and turn is unique on its own.
As with many great art designs and works, the problems always lie in the execution. One could only imagine the level of difficulty to set thousands of diamonds on the intertwined 18K gold vines outlining the Fan. The very first stage of the make began with the wax-moulding. It took Cindy and her artisans a whole month to sculpture the wax model. Sleeping mere 3 hours a day, they were fueled by passion and determination.
The most difficult part of the making processes was of course setting the diamonds.
A total of 2,399 Forevermark diamonds, weighing together 310.27 carats, were called back from around the world for this project. While thousands of diamonds may sound heavenly, it also meant that any inaccuracy during the make would be disastrous. Estimation of the setting holes had to be exactly precise and accurate to meet the extreme standard and Cindy’s aesthetic.
The diamonds were pavé set in order to truthfully present the 360-degree, 3-layer coiled branches, and to realistically portray the curves, skeletal textures and muscle tones of tree branches and trunks. The setting angle of every diamond was carefully calculated and distinctively designed for maximum fire reflection.
A detachable butterfly brooch made of 18K rose, white and yellow gold was set at the lower left corner of the Fan. Its taking-off position emphasizes again on the force of Nature.
A 3 carat, D colour, pear-shaped diamond set on the body gives a sense of glamour and delicacy of the butterfly.
After 4 months into this arduous task, the Majestic Beauty Fan stood alone radiating its sublime beauty, attracting massive attention and lime lights on Forevermark Precious Collection world-wide debut in Hong Kong.
Following its successful introduction, the Majestic Beauty Fan along with the wholesome Forevermark Precious Collection will go on a grand Asia tour hitting major stages such as Beijing, China and Tokyo, Japan later this year.
I am speechless.
Oh, I remember that post! I love her designs..they’re so extravagant without being too much (if that makes any sense). Her pieces always have such an ethereal charm to them!
gorgeous pieces!