Category: Jewellery

Last-minute Christmas gift ideas you just can’t go wrong with

 

With the clock ticking away towards Christmas, it’s more than high time to start planning for the perfect present for our loved ones. But what do you gift to the most discerning, elegant of individuals who has everything?

Fret not, for we have for you a selection of the most luxurious gifts that is guaranteed to satisfy even the most astute sensibilities.

Festive Chopard accessories give ladies an extra reason to sparkle

Festive Chopard accessories will make your lady smile

With shopping malls filled to the brim with winter-themed products and billboards awash with seasonal slogans city-wide, Chopard’s luxury offerings truly stands out. From sparkling watches to diamond-accented jewellery, these festive Chopard accessories are sure to make that special lady smile this Christmas.

Charm the watch-loving lady in your life with the Happy Snowflakes timepiece. Part of a limited release of just 25 pieces worldwide, every aspect of this watch perfectly encapsulates the spirit and allure of winter.

Limited-edition Happy Snowflakes watch one of the festive accessories from Chopard

Delicate snowflakes have been painstakingly etched into the beautiful mother-of-pearl dial, intensified by mobile diamonds swirling within it that is reminiscent of gentle snowfall. The diamond-studded bezel and elegant white alligator leather strap finish off this seasonal sparkler’s design.

Top up your wintry look with the matching Happy Snowflakes bangle. The delicate 18-carat white gold bracelet comes with its own mobile diamond and snowflake.

Matching your festive Chopard accessories

Pieces from Chopard’s Happy Hearts collection have also been given the Christmas treatment. Gone are the colourful gems that once graced its elegant sautoir necklaces. In its place you’ll find icy set and mobile diamonds for a snowy finish. The same effect can be found in the collection’s bracelets and newly-launched stackable rings.

Give your loved one an extra reason to sparkle with these festive Chopard accessories, now available at select boutiques including ifc mall, Ocean Terminal and Prince’s Building.

Festive Christmas themed accessories replace colourful gems with icy diamonds

Limited-edition Chopard Happy Snowflakes watch – HK$550,000
Chopard Happy Snowflakes 18-carat white gold bangle – HK$34,300
Rose gold or white gold Chopard sautoir necklace with mobile diamond – HK$116,000
Rose gold or white gold Chopard ring with moving diamond – HK$23,400

Fur Fashion: These fluffy frocks are music to our shears

With winter upon us, it’s the perfect opportunity for fashionistas to accentuate their outfits with a flash of fur! From Bottega Veneta’s mink and kidassia fur coat to a plush alpaca jacket by Marni, here are Gafencu’s top fur fashion picks this season.

Photos: Neville Lee
Fashion Direction & Styling: San Wong

Wish Upon a Star: Bulgari launches festive new campaign and charity drive

There’s only one word to describe the festive new Wishes Factory Campaign from Bulgari: wow. Featuring stunningly creative visuals by Italian architect and designer Federico Babina, the video fully immerses viewers in the holiday spirit while evoking images of Rome under a starry night sky.

At the same time, Bulgari continues to build on its charitable endeavours with a special #SeeMyWish social media campaign. The luxury jewellery brand will donate US$1 to Save the Children every time the campaign video – which you can find at https://www.bulgari.com/en-hk/seemywish – or a wish selfie with the hashtag #SeeMyWish is shared on Facebook or Instagram.

Since 2009, the jewellery house has raised over US$70 million for Save the Children in support of youth education and empowerment, improving the lives of over one million children across the world.

So spread your joy with those less fortunate this holiday season. Log on to your social media and start sharing now!

Larry Jewelry and Lotus Arts de Vivre introduces dazzling Asian-inspired jewellery

Larry Jewelry CEO Mandy Lam and Lotus Arts de Vivre founder Rolf van Beuren jointly hosted an intimate party to unveil a stunning new collection of Asian-inspired jewellery and accessories. We caught up with Lam to learn about the collection, and what’s next for the Hong Kong jewellery company

How did the partnership between Larry Jewelry and Lotus Arts de Vivre come about?

Larry Jewelry has established itself as one of the city’s finest jewellery retailers for over fifty years. This year we implemented a new ‘Silk Road’ strategy where we will bring unique jewellery pieces from every region between China to Egypt.

Thailand was the first target of this Silk Road strategy. We scoured the country for the best jewellery house with unique designs that our clientele haven’t encountered before. Lotus Arts de Vivre and its stunning Asian-inspired creations perfectly fit our bill. 

What is your favourite piece from the Lotus Arts de Vivre collection on display?

I love the Wing Scarab Cluster Earrings with pink tourmaline diamonds. Its amazing green colour was inspired by the scarab beetles prized by ancient Egyptians.  

What other partnerships can we look forward to from Larry Jewelry?

The next instalment of our Silk Road plan focuses on China. We’re working with some extremely skilled jewellers to create a new collection with Chinese-inspired pieces. I don’t want to reveal too much, but I can tell you that pandas are one of our main themes.

What else does Larry Jewelry have planned for the future?

As you know, Larry Jewelry pieces are usually reserved for the city’s elite. Each item is only accessible to the wealthiest segment of society and worn only on special occasions. Next year we are aiming to launch a new line of jewellery that will deliver high quality designs at a more affordable price, items that you can wear everyday. This will allow us to target an even bigger market segment.

Thank you.

The Lotus Arts de Vivre collection will be available at Larry Jewelry until the end of December this year.  

Text: Tenzing Thondup
Photos: Gigi Ip, Larry Jewelry

Make the Most of Christmas with Gafencu’s Exclusive Luxury Gift Selection

With December nearly here, it’s almost time to spread a little festive cheer. This year, why not delight your loved ones with the perfect gift from the Gafencu E-Shop‘s selection of exclusive luxury lifestyle products?

And there’s even more reason to celebrate. From elegant jewellery and limited-edition accessories to the most debonair of timepieces, every item in the Gafencu online collection is available at a special Christmas promotional price.

Log on to the Gafencu E-Shop today and discover just what our carefully-curated selection of exclusive luxury goods has in store for you and for those you cherish.

King of the Rings: ‘Pigeon blood’ rubies rule the roost

From a ‘pigeon blood’ ruby to an incandescent blue paraiba tourmaline, Sotheby’s recent auction items were quite the royal affair. Among the lots sold at the recent Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite Autumn Sale in Hong Kong, two opulent rings stood out.

The first is the Maniraja (“King of Jewels”) ruby – mounted and designed by acclaimed jeweller Bhagat. Unearthed from the legendary mines of Burma, the Maniraja weighs 13.26 carats and went for HK$81.7 million. Size aside, its most breathtaking feature is its vivid colour – the main factor that connoisseurs consider when assessing value. The deeper the hue, the more coveted the ruby. The Maniraja’s flawless cut intensifies its deep crimson, earning it the prestigious tag of ‘pigeon’s blood’. According to Burmese tradition, the finest rubies are the colour of a freshly killed pigeon’s first drops of blood. This rather ghastly metaphor has since been standardised by Swiss gemstone-certifying agencies.

While the paraiba tourmaline and diamond ring is less costly than its crimson counterpart, it’s still valued at HK$10 million. Since the stone was discovered in the 1980s, its mines in Brazil’s Paraiba state have been exhausted. For every 10,000 diamonds mined, there’s only one paraiba, making it truly one-of-a-kind.

Old is Gold: Five amazingly long-lived institutions you can still visit today

Everyone knows about the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Wall of China, but do you know where the world’s oldest hotel is located? Fancy grabbing a bite at the world’s oldest restaurant? Where can you find the oldest teahouse in the world? We’ve got all the answers.

Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan

Nestled in the lush forests of Japan’s Yamanashi prefecture, the Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan resort was founded in 705AD. Despite the rabid modernisation outside, this 1,312-year-old resort continues to be a tranquil oasis for world-weary guests with picturesque hot springs and fantastic natural scenery.

St. Peter Stiftskulinarium

Salzburg isn’t just the birthplace of Mozart, it’s also home to the oldest restaurant in the world. The first mention of St Peter Stiftskulinarium was recorded in 803 by a vassal of Emperor Charlemagne. But don’t expect any cracks or wrinkles here. Despite being over 12 centuries old, St Peter Stiftskulinarium remains one of Salzburg’s most sought after fine dining venues.

Torrini Firenze

Sitting in the shadows of Florence’s famed Duomo monument is a small jewellery shop named Torrini Firenze. Don’t let the unassuming façade fool you, at 648 years old, this is the oldest goldsmith in the world. Run by the same family since its foundation in 1369, all pieces remain handmade to this day.

Tsuen Tea

Tea culture is an integral part of Japanese heritage, so it comes as no surprise that it hosts the world’s oldest teahouse. Tsuen Tea was built in 1160 near Kyoto’s Uji Bridge. Now run by the 24th generation of Tsuens, this 857-year-old teahouse has served luminaries such as legendary shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu and daimyo Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

University of al-Qarawiyyin

Forget about Oxford and Cambridge, the world’s oldest university actually resides in Fez, Morocco! Founded in 859 by Fatima al-Fihri, the University of al-Qarawiyyin is not only the longest continually-operating educational institution, it was the first to award degrees to its pupils. Now over 1,150 years old, it is remains part of Morocco’s state university system to this day.

Text: Tenzing Thondup

Silver Lining: Gafencu’s tips to shine brighter this fall

Every fashionista knows that selecting the right accessories can lift your outfit to new heights, but now Gafencu shows you how to shine even brighter no matter which look you choose.  

Get groovy with Saint Laurent‘s heart-shaped shades and sky-high sparkling platform wedges from Christian Louboutin. Channel a bit of ‘70s-style disco fever with Giuseppe Zanotti Design’s Luce boots and Jimmy Choo’s Cloud evening clutch. Or go futuristic with Swarovski’s Hologram crystal necklace and the geometrically dazzling Sr1 moccasins by Sergio Rossi.

Need more inspiration? Check out our video above!

Chopard is a click closer now, thanks to Net-A-Porter

Eyeing the Happy Diamonds collection from Chopard? It’s even easier to get hold of your favourite piece of jewellery now, with Chopard launching on global luxury online retailer, Net-A-Porter, earlier this month.

Talking about the partnership, Chopard’s co-president Caroline Scheufele says, “Chopard is proud to work alongside such an influential retailer and looks forward to what will no doubt be a great success!”

Featuring an array of lighthearted jewellery in 18-carat rose and white gold, including Chopard’s iconic Happy Hearts range, the collection on Net-A-Porter boasts some of Chopard’s most easily recognisable pieces worldwide.

In the watch section, Net-A-Porter also features one of Chopard’s bestsellers, the Happy Sport watch. Combining steel and moving diamonds in an elegant design, this watch has already won the hearts of Chopard loyalists across the globe.

Net-A-Porter’s Global Buying Director Elizabeth Von Der Goltz is obviously delighted at this collaboration. She said, “Net-A-Porter is thrilled to be launching a truly exquisite collection from an iconic house. Chopard’s signature Happy Diamonds is the playful and innovative core of its jewellery and watches collection. We expect the brand to become an instant hit with our customers globally.”