Jewellery is so much more than precious metals and gemstones―it’s an extension of your personality and style. So whether you’re into couture pieces, everyday classics or more unconventional styles, these 30 Hong Kong-based jewellery designers cover all the bases

1. Cindy Yeung

Tatler Asia

Cindy Yeung is the chairperson and CEO of Emperor Watch and Jewellery, which was founded by her grandfather in 1942. She learned the ins and outs of the business at a very young age and eventually took her place at the helm of the company. While she is very much involved in the commercial and business side of Emperor Watch and Jewellery, Yeung—a certified gemstone expert—is also passionate about jewellery design and precious stones.

She personally curates the jewellery sold in stores, and designs pieces for the brand’s L’Atelier Cindy Yeung High Jewellery Collection. Her pieces are inspired by nature and her frequent travels.

Find out more at emperorwatchjewellery.com

See also: How Cindy Yeung Is Taking Emperor Watch & Jewellery Into The Future

2. Cindy Chao

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Moses Ng/Hong Kong Tatler

Raised in a family of artists, Taiwan-born Cindy Chao has become synonymous with sculptural craftsmanship and technically ground-breaking jewellery. She established her high jewellery house, Cindy Chao The Art Jewel, in 2007, and just two years later became the first Asian jewellery artist to have a piece added to the Smithsonian’s permanent gem exhibition at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC.

While every piece is a work of art, Chao’s most coveted creations can be found in her Black Label Masterpieces collection. Each year, she releases a unique butterfly brooch to symbolise her growth and evolution as an artist. Each piece of Chao’s jewellery features thousands of rare stones, sinuous curves, and an impossibly delicate structure made with feather-light titanium.

Find out more at cindychao.com

See also: How Cindy Chao Took On The Global High Jewellery Stage

3. Anna Hu

Tatler Asia

Anna Hu has an unusual background. Raised in Taiwan, the haute jeweller is a classically trained musician who spent the first 20 years of her life with a cello bow in hand. After her career was derailed by a shoulder injury, she studied at the Gemmological Institute of America and founded Anna Hu Haute Joaillerie in 2007 at the age of 30. In 2012, she became the first Asian jeweller to have a solo exhibition at the Museum of Decorative Arts at the Louvre in Paris. A year later, she broke a world auction record at Christie’s in Geneva.

As for her designs, they poetically tie together inspiration from classical music and impressionist art with hundreds of hand-picked stones, precious metals and South Sea pearls. “My fundamental principle of design is based on composing music, from harmony to melody to rhythm,” says Hu. “I use every single stone as if I’m composing a note in a symphony.”

Find out more at anna-hu.com

4. Michelle Ong

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Moses Ng/Hong Kong Tatler

Renowned designer Michelle Ong is the director and creative head of Carnet by Michelle Ong, the luxury jewellery company she founded in 1998. Her emphasis is on one-of-a-kind, nature-inspired pieces, and they’ve been quickly snapped up by celebrities such as Kate Winslet and Glenn Close, as well as recently featured in the hit film, Crazy Rich Asians.

Precise and disciplined, the artist pairs remarkable lace-like metalwork with precious stones, including fancy coloured diamonds, emeralds and sapphires to create elegant jewellery and timepieces.

Find out more at carnetjewellery.com

See also: Michelle Ong And Friends Celebrate Carnet’s 20th Anniversary

5. Dickson Yewn

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We can’t mention haute jewellery in Hong Kong without including Dickson Yewn. The Hong Kong-born painter and designer studied fine arts around the world—in France, Canada and the US—before establishing his contemporary fine jewellery brand in 2000. Inspired by Chinese mysticism and Taoist philosophy, Yewn’s collections communicate beautiful aspects of ancient Chinese heritage and craftsmanship.

Often made with 18K yellow or white gold, the one-of-a-kind bejewelled creations tend to feature feminine, delicate and dreamlike motifs such as butterflies, latticework, peonies and Chinese fans.

Find out more at yewn.com

6. Diana Zhang

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Jason Capobianco

A self-taught designer, Mainland China-born Diana Zhang launched her jewellery house in Hong Kong in 2012. It didn’t take long for Zhang to catch the world’s attention. In 2014, she became the first female Chinese jewellery designer to participate in the Antiques Biennale in Paris, further validating her remarkable talent.

Specialising in bespoke jewellery and nature-themed designs, the perfectionist may spend anywhere from six months to two years on a commissioned showpiece, personally selecting every single gemstone.

Find out more at dianazhangjewelry.com

7. Anabela Chan

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Above Photo: Courtesy of Anabela Chan

An award-winning designer and champion of ethical gemstones, Anabela Chan grew up in Hong Kong, Paris and London in a family of cinematographers. Drawing from her training in architecture, art and fashion, Chan launched her eponymous label of colourful, nature-inspired high jewellery in 2014. “Birds and butterflies are the two things that I’ve collected in the last 10 years,” says Chan. “I think the most beautiful colours come from nature and that’s what I mimic in my jewellery.”

Loved by stars such as Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Salma Hayek and Rita Ora, each piece is individually handcrafted using ethical lab-grown gemstones, romantic motifs and an almost obsessive attention to detail. You can find Chan’s works of art at Lane Crawford.

Find out more at anabelachan.com

8. Audrey Savransky

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Above Photo: Courtesy of AS29

Just after moving to Hong Kong in 2008, Audrey Savransky established AS29. With four generations of diamond dealers on her mother’s side and three on her father’s, Savransky has been surrounded by beautiful stones for her entire life. “I’ve always admired and imagined all the ways I could dress myself and the world in gems… it wasn’t a far leap for me to begin designing,” she recalls.

Savransky is known for her unconventional designs, which tend to strike a balance between edgy and refined, bold and feminine. The designer offers a mix of unusual pieces, covering everything from ear crawlers and cuffs to phalanx rings, feminine floral rings, arm cuffs and stackable jewellery that often feature diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds.

Find out more at as29.com

See also: What's In Carol Murray's Jewellery Box?

9. Wendy Yue

Tatler Asia

With more than 25 years of experience in the jewellery industry, Wendy Yue founded her namesake brand in 2008. After growing up in Hong Kong, Yue left for Vienna, where she studied the language, explored the rural landscapes and sketched the scenery. Her sketching led her into the world of jewellery making, where she learned to transform these memories into abstract pieces and wearable objets d’art.

She is best known for her nature-inspired designs, which often feature sculptural and whimsical shapes and colourful gemstones, and always meticulous attention to detail. “I’ve always been drawn to semi-precious stones such as coral, green turquoise, jade and black opal because they give me the flexibility to recut and carve,” says Yue. “My new obsession is birchwood.”

Find out more at wendyyue.com

See also: This Prestigious Jewellery Buyer Will Give Your Gems A Second Life

10. Melissa Fok

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Courtesy of Melissa Fok

No. Thirty Three Joaillerie was founded in 2011 by Melissa Fok, a graduate of New York’s Parsons School of Design and the Gemmological Institute of America. It is named after the street address of the designer’s family estate in Hong Kong. Fok’s collections feature an elegant and opulent aesthetic that pays tribute to bygone eras, with towering rings, dramatic onyx and chandelier silhouettes.

Each piece is more majestic than the last. The fan-like designs in Jewels of the Orient glitter with black gold and white diamonds, while the elegant Marquise collection centres around lustrous pearls, diamonds, black gold and fancy yellow diamonds. Every piece is handmade and unique, with bespoke creations available on request.

Find out more at number-33.com

11. Jeanine Hsu

Tatler Asia

The founder and creative force behind Niin, which was launched in 2009, Jeanine Hsu has become known for creating sustainable, eco-friendly pieces without sacrificing style. The designer aims to leave a light environmental footprint by working with ethically and sustainably sourced materials.

“I love to use offcuts such as wood from furniture factories or shells from restaurants and then mix them with metal and crystals,” says Hsu. As a result, her one-of-a-kind pieces showcase a contemporary, refined aesthetic, with chunky stone necklaces, delicate gold leaves, cuffs, pendants and more.

Find out more at niinstyle.com

See also: In The Bag: Jeanine Hsu of Niin

12. Corina Larpin

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Courtesy of Corina Larpin

The owner and head designer of Stefere, Corina Larpin has been dreaming of dazzling gems from a young age. She grew up in Romania, where a career in jewellery design was a foreign concept. When communist rule ended in 1989, she finally had a chance to pursue her passion. “My inspiration comes from multiple sources, mainly from people, landscapes and things around me,” says Larpin. “Travel is also an important aspect, as exploring offers me exposure to different cultures, light and scents.”

Known for its rock ’n’ roll aesthetic and notable clientele—celeb fans include Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj and Madonna—Stefere creates extravagant knuckle dusters, diamond-studded ear cuffs, gem-encrusted four-finger rings and more.

Find out more at stefere.com

13. Marielle Byworth

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Courtesy of Marijoli

Organic free-form settings, lab-grown diamonds, feng shui principles... Marijoli has fast become a go-to fine jewellery brand for lovers of a spiritual, contemporary style. Launched in 2006 by Marielle Byworth, who worked in architecture and fashion design before pursuing a degree at the Royal College of Art, the jewellery house shot into the limelight after Miss Universe Japan started to use its pieces in style shoots.

Soon enough, Kate Moss and Madonna were snapping up their own Marijoli accessories. Today, Byworth’s style combines inspiration from Chinese spiritual beliefs and Japanese Zen philosophies with a commitment to 100 per cent ethical and sustainable gemstones.

Find out more at marijoli.com

See also: High Jewellery Picks 2018: Graff

14. Payal Shah

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Courtesy of Payal Shah

L’Dezen founder Payal Shah grew up in the family diamond consulting business and worked as a furniture designer before making the leap into jewellery design in 2011. From fierce studs to statement rings, L’Dezen offers a colourful and energetic approach to fine jewellery. Using various types of 18K gold, Shah often embraces the raw beauty of sliced diamonds in her creations, which have been worn by the likes of Carrie Underwood, Mindy Kaling and Sofia Vergara.

Her current collection demonstrates a host of influences, including neo-Gothic architecture, baroque paintings, flowers, minimalist architecture, animal prints and Shah’s Indian heritage.

Find out more at ldezen.com

15. Nathalie Melville

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Courtesy of Nathalie Melville

During pre-degree art foundation classes, Nathalie Melville worked with metal for the first time. “It was love at first touch,” recalls Melville. “To this day I still love being at the bench.” After that eureka moment, she pursued a degree in jewellery design at Central Saint Martins in London and was then apprenticed with goldsmiths in the city. She also worked for several years at Tiffany & Co. before launching Melville Fine Jewellery in 2010, the first firm in Hong Kong to hold a Fairtrade precious metals licence.

Her designs range from whimsical to dramatic, featuring contemporary influences with roots in vintage details. Melville often works with sustainably sourced emeralds, sapphires, tanzanite and tsavorite but says she’ll add a touch of black, like a black diamond or onyx, if it’s perfect for the piece.

Find out more at melvillejewellery.com

16. Zoe Siu

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: courtesy of Zoe Siu

A knot artist who studied fashion design at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Zoe Siu combines her talent for ropework with a passion for sculptural accessories. Siu launched her accessories label, Zo-ee, in 2011 with a focus on playful, contemporary and inventive designs, many of which feature knot-like details, 3D printing, white porcelain, stone, rope and mixed metals.

“I love the endless possibilities that can come from a simple piece of string,” says Siu. In 2014, she established a dedicated Zo-ee Accessories Select Shop at the Hong Kong Arts Centre in Wan Chai as a platform for independent designers to showcase their designs. Zoe’s work has caught the eye of big names in fashion, such as Omega, Thomas Sabo and Marimekko, and New York fashion icon Iris Apfel.

Find out more at zoeebyzoe.com

See also: 7 Unconventional Necklaces That Bring Sexy Back

17. Narcisa Pheres

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Courtesy of Narcisa Pheres

Michelle Obama, Beyoncé, Halle Berry, Madonna... myriad A-listers have donned jewellery by Narcisa Pheres, who has been designing for her eponymous brand for almost two decades. In her early days, the Gemmological Institute of America graduate primarily focused on redesigning antique and vintage pieces. Recently, her style has become more eclectic—a combination of classic and modern, East and West, with geometric, sculptural and art deco influences at its core.

“I love working with organic shapes, fancy coloured diamonds and rose gold,” says Pheres, who creates both ready-to-wear collections and bespoke red-carpet pieces. “This particular alloy, with its warm, earthy tones, blends nicely with the skin and makes the jewellery look so natural that it feels as if it almost belongs there.”

Find out more at pheres.com

18. Carmen Chan

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Courtesy of Carmen Chan

Known for crafting bold and contemporary designs using semi-precious stones and silver, Carmen Chan launched her brand in 2013 after studying silversmithing with an old master in Hong Kong. She says individuality and imperfection are the two core aspects of her designs. For example, Chan hand-selects cloudy quartz minerals to feature in her Stardust rings.

“The inclusions are like beautiful stardust,” she says. “In addition, each inclusion pattern is one of a kind—just like its wearer.” Chan tends to use the traditional lost-wax method to craft silver jewellery, and she dabbles with unconventional materials such as tektites—rare pieces of terrestrial rock melted when a meteorite strikes the Earth.

Find out more at carmenchanjewelry.com

19. Belinda Chang

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Courtesy of Belinda Chang

Belinda Chang is one of the visionary co-founders behind Obellery Studio, which has become a need-to-know shopping platform for Hong Kong contemporary jewellery brands, thanks to its curated collection of minimalist styles and delicate designs. Chang, who trained in the UK before moving to Hong Kong, launched Obellery in 2014 at the same time as she debuted her eponymous brand, which has become synonymous with voluptuous freshwater pearls, precious metals and feminine aesthetics.

“The inspiration for my designs can always be traced back to themes found in the natural world,” says Chang. “My first Frost Collection is an artistic interpretation of morning dew, while the Fruity Pearls Collection, among many others, has its roots in floral motifs.”

Find out more at obellery.com

20. Natasha Guinness

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Courtesy of Natasha Guinness

After studying diamonds and diamond grading at the Gemmological Institute of America, Natasha Guinness joined Ryder Diamonds as senior designer of bespoke diamond jewellery, satisfying a desire to work with gemstones she’d had since childhood.

“When I was 16 my father gifted me an oval blue sapphire from Sri Lanka, where my mother was born,” says Guinness. “My mother then made it into a ring for me, which was incredibly special. I love reflecting on that memory and it inspired me to work with clients to create sentimental pieces that will be treasured for many years to come.”

Today, the artist crafts bespoke pieces featuring timeless, unique designs. Guinness works with diamonds primarily and has a penchant for cushion-cut stones because of their vintage-chic feel.

Find out more at ryderdiamonds.com

21. Sandra Hagege

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Courtesy of Sandra Hagege

Eye-catching fancy coloured diamonds, hand-selected rough diamond slices, edgy ear cuffs, stackable rings... former interior designer Sandra Hagege designs personality-packed pieces that take inspiration from her world travels. The Parisian, who grew up in a family of diamond dealers, moved to Hong Kong in 2012 and set up Lorde Jewlery in 2016.

She creates highly versatile pieces, ranging from rock ’n’ roll rough yet delicate vibes to ultra-minimalist, in an effort to reflect the many moods of modern women. Starting with VIP private sessions and trunk shows, Hagege later launched her brand at Lane Crawford and Rue Madame before setting up an online shop in Hong Kong.

This year, she has expanded to several retail locations around Europe and Asia. “I feel that jewellery is like a second skin, expressing who you are,” says Hagege. “I want to provide a style of fine jewellery where you can express yourself with luxurious diamonds and sparkly colours yet playful pieces and stackable styles that can be worn every day.”

Find out more at lordejewlery.com

22. Aimee Lee

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Courtesy of Aimee Lee

Aimee Lee got her start in the jewellery business at Chow Tai Fook Jewellery, where she worked on the high jewellery team while pursuing a degree at the Gemmological Institute of America. In late 2016, Lee and her husband established Paradeisos, which showcases handcrafted, unique and bespoke pieces made with natural gemstones.

With its name meaning “paradise” in Greek, Paradeisos takes inspiration from ancient hanging gardens and celestial motifs, colour and beauty, dreams and inspiration. As such, Lee aims to balance classic jewellery with creative touches.

“I often incorporate dots, lines, geometric shapes and structures into my design for a refreshing twist,” she says. That twist often comes in the form of her gemstone choices—picture classics like diamonds, emeralds and sapphires alongside semi-precious stones like lapis lazuli, malachite, tiger’s eye, labradorite, garnet and tourmaline.

Find out more at paradeisos-jewellery.com

See also: Charmed Life: 11 High Jewellery Pieces For Good Luck

23. Carina Wong

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Courtesy of Carina Wong

While studying at the Gemmological Institute of America, Carina Wong fell in love with the characteristics of less common stones. In 2015, she founded Heting Jewellery, which takes its cues from nature—but not as you know it. Sporting a mystical yet refined aesthetic, Wong’s fantastical creations often depict insects and mushrooms with a touch-me texture, rich colours and mesmerising attention to detail.

Crafted primarily from 18K gold, Wong’s latest collection, Enchanted Forest Part II, incorporates smoky quartz, pink sapphires, colour-change garnets, South Sea pearls, diamonds, rubies and more.

Find out more at heting-jewellery.com

24. Sarah Zhuang

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Moses Ng

Sarah Zhuang took the creative reins of her family’s business, Tak Fook Jewellery, in 2013 soon after gaining a design certificate from the Gemmological Institute of America and a professional diploma from the Hong Kong Design Institute. Just four years later, she launched her own brand, Sarah Zhuang Jewellery, with the goal of creating fashion-forward pieces for contemporary women.

Zhuang often reaches for 18K gold and precious gemstones to create her hallmark style: versatile pieces that can be worn in multiple ways for better self-expression. For example, her Butterfly Rose Tourbillon Watch can be worn seven different ways, thanks to the brooch, pendant and rings built into the main design.

Find out more at sarahzhuang.com

25. Yumico Lucau

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Courtesy of Yumico Lucau

Japanese-born designer Yumico Lucau first began to appreciate the power of jewellery when shopping for her own wedding band. Feeling the emotional significance of jewellery, she enrolled in a nine-month metalsmithing course at Studio Jewelers in New York. With this training and an MBA under her belt, and after moving to Hong Kong, Lucau established her eponymous brand in 2015.

Known for her delicate pieces and playful designs, Lucau loves working with white pearls, raw diamonds and matte-finished 18K yellow gold for a feminine, graceful look.

Find out more at yumicolucau.com

See also: 8 Designers Share Tips On How To Design A Custom Engagement Ring

26. Sharon Cheung

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Courtesy of Sharon Cheung

An advertising professional turned jewellery designer, Sharon Cheung founded Midoti in 2014. Inspired by Cheung’s “dot of inspiration,” the brand aims to tell stories behind each of its romantic pieces. Drawing from a passion for art and sculpture, Cheung produces mini pieces of artwork with a delicate, ethereal and minimalist aesthetic.

She particularly loves to work with highly malleable soft metals, so she can get creative with inventive knotting—seen in her signature Knot Lots collection, which revives the traditional Chinese knot as a blessing for the wearer.

Find out more at midoti.hk

27. Bryan Chan

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Courtesy of Bryan Chan

The creative mind behind Amelie Jewelry, Bryan Chan started the business in 2002 after working in the fashion industry for more than a decade. “Back when I worked in fashion, I realised that an exclusive piece of jewellery could accentuate even the simplest style,” recalls Chan. “The possibilities with fashion jewellery are just limitless.”

As a designer, Chan’s pieces veer towards stylish looks with a commitment to handcrafted one-of-a-kind creations. He particularly loves working with glittering Swarovski crystals and tends to mix textures and materials, such as high-quality beads with woven yarn, to create eye-catching statement pieces.

Find out more at ameliejewelry.net

28. Cynthia Lui

Tatler Asia

Cynthia Lui worked as a sales consultant at a jewellery store before striking out on her own and founding Jewcells. “While talking with customers, I started to realise jewellery isn’t just about the value of the gemstones or materials but rather the stories behind each piece,” says Lui. “That inspired me to design pieces with meaning.”

She studied jewellery and metalwork at the Hong Kong Design Institute before launching Jewcells in 2015. Her two collections—TRYNGO, and Pearl of You—are mainly minimalist and contemporary, featuring silver and natural gemstones, such as organic pearls, opals, rubies, moonstone and garnet. Lui also provides bespoke services for customers who’d like to incorporate meaningful gemstones into a new setting.

Find out more at jewcells.com

29. Riyo Chan

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Courtesy of Riyo Chan

Handcrafting collections that are completely out of the box, former advertising art director Riyo Chan pushes the boundaries with her poetic collections. Under her brand Shannnam, which she launched in 2011, Chan creates resin-based rings depicting miniature, lifelike scenes in her Fragmented Chronicles collection, stainless steel pieces capturing the shape of splashing water in Aque, and angular gold-coloured stainless steel pieces in Vis-à-Vis.

Not only has the artist shown her work at art exhibitions in the US and Israel, but you can also find her work at retailers such as Landmark, Harvey Nichols, Ibility at Hysan Place, and Loupe at PMQ.

Find out more at shannnam.com

30. Tiffany Ruthie Lui

Tatler Asia

Founded in 2016 by Tiffany Ruthie Lui, Ruthie L Studio showcases delicate, stackable silver rings, earrings and necklaces that you’ll never want to take off. “Growing up, dance was a big part of my life,” says Lui. “In many ways I felt that it was always easier to express myself through movement rather than through words. Making jewellery became a perfect outlet and I immediately got absorbed by the creative process.”

Lui loves manipulating precious metals into understated pieces with sinuous shapes that “complement the curves and lines of the body.” The designer primarily works with sterling silver, as well as reclaimed materials whenever possible, to create her one-of-a-kind handmade pieces.

Find out more at ruthielstudio.com

See also: Meet the Hong Kong Jewellery Designer Michelle Obama Wore

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