Paris, France —There are the fruit earrings in fancy diamonds and sapphires, a divine dragonfly brooch, seemingly sculptured. And the feather brooch with its color-changing sapphires. These were just some of the astounding and unique pieces from the Taiwanese jewelry designer Cindy Chao that were shown in a private presentation at the Ritz Hotel in Paris last January 24th during the Paris Haute Couture week. The pieces blend together the designer’s masterful technique, the ingenuity of contemporary Eastern art and the centuries-old Western jewelry craftsmanship offering up a new definition of high jewelry.

Both the centuries-old cire-perdu wax sculpting technique and modern-day titanium manipulation were used to create the feather and the dragonfly, which are among her signature motifs. The Four Seasons collection has welcomed a new member, the Fruit Earrings, which embrace rarely seen emerald-cut fancy dark brown-yellow diamonds weighing more than 16 carats each.

Meanwhile the 15th anniversary Capsule Collection contains the Dragonfly Brooch which is set with more than 1,400 marquise, cushion, oval and rose-cut diamonds juxtaposed with emeralds, tsavorites, greyish green sapphires, alexandrites, and color-change garnets, ultimately capturing the scintillating hues of dragonflies in nature.

Collectors have flocked to the unique pieces of Cindy Chao Art Jewel among them her enigmatic annual butterfly collection. One of her butterflies has even flown into the Smithsonian Institue at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

She uses the 18th century craft technique of crafting designs in wax before completing her intricate sculptures with precious metals and gemstones. Her most prestigious collections, The Black Label Masterpieces and The White Label Collection have found their way into auctions, museums and private collections.

Last November 17th, the jewelry designer was decorated with one of France’s most prestigious honors. The French Minister of Culture Roselyne Bachelot decorated the high jewelry artist with the Insignia of Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres, an order created in France by the Minister of Culture in 1957 and which recognizes significant contributions to the arts and literature.
©Trish Valicenti for The Gourmet Gazette
https://www.cindychao.com/en