CINDY CHAO The Art Jewel Focus
Cutting-edge craftsmanship meets intense shades of peach, rose and navy in CINDY CHAO The Art Jewel’s 2019 Black Label Masterpieces
The greater realisation that jewellery is an art form that just happens to be wearable is now at the forefront of jewellery collectors minds worldwide. CINDY CHAO The Art Jewel has played a key role in this recognition and much has been made of the brand’s extraordinary juxtaposition of materials: lightweight titanium structures support precious, kaleidoscopic jewels in previously unheard-of-combinations.
Established by jewellery artist Cindy Chao in 2004, the brand has quickly skyrocketed to the upper echelons of the international high jewellery stage, with Chao becoming the very first Asian female jeweller to be invited to the then Biennale des Antiquaires in Paris. More recently, the brand debuted at TEFAF Maastricht where it unveiled its 2019 Black Label Masterpieces.
Colour graduating gemstones are incredibly impactful. My grandfather taught me how to achieve these techniques by using traditional methods from before technology was available.—Cindy Chao
The granddaughter of an architect and daughter of a sculptor, Chao is celebrated for her architectural mindset, having taken inspiration from Renaissance sculptor and architect Michelangelo. The 2019 Black Label Masterpiece VI “Scultura di Giglio Bangle,” for example, features a unique design that was developed over six years so it’s able to be spread flat like a canvas.
Michelangelo once said, ‘I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.’ With wax sculpting, impeccable pieces are created by removing material.—Cindy Chao
The scale of these pieces shows a bold and brave approach to high jewellery with the 2019 Black Label Masterpiece XI “Solstice Sculptural Bangle” boasting a 12.51-carat conch pearl surrounded by nearly 5,400 pieces of diamonds, fancy-coloured diamonds, green sapphires and alexandrites, all totalling 260 carats.
