Chinese jewelry brand Chow Tai Fook has unveiled its "Chinese Couture" high jewelry collection in Shanghai, using fine jewelry to reinterpret the rich legacy of millennia-old Chinese attire.
Founded in 1929, the brand is known for expressing Eastern aesthetics through a contemporary design language. Following last year's debut of "Timeless Harmony,", its first high jewelry collection inspired by Chinese culture, the new collection turns its focus to the defining elements of traditional dress —silk threads, cords, ribbons, frog buttons, and cloud collars. Presented alongside exceptional gold pieces and rare gemstones, the exhibition explores the intersection of cultural heritage and artistic innovation.
The collection is led by the designs of Nicholas Lieou, the brand's creative director of high jewelry. Born in Hong Kong, China, Lieou studied jewelry design in London and New York, graduating from Central Saint Martins, the Royal College of Art, and the Fashion Institute of Technology. His diverse background offers a design approach that bridges Eastern and Western aesthetics. Guided by a philosophy of "simplicity over complexity," he brings refined contemporary sensibility to high jewelry while remaining rooted in tradition.
Drawing inspiration from the craftsmanship of traditional Chinese clothing, the collection transforms familiar design motifs such as silk cords, ribbons, frog buttons, and cloud collars into sculptural jewelry. Jade, one of the most treasured materials in Chinese culture, is paired with precious gemstones to create pieces that embody distinctive cultural symbolism in a modern context.
