Make a fashion statement and stand out from the crowd this Lunar New Year with modern jade jewellery from Choo Yilin.
Make a fashion statement and stand out from the crowd this Lunar New Year with modern jade jewellery from Choo Yilin.
When Chinese New Year arrives, most women reach for their trusty gold or diamond jewellery. And why not? The pieces are beautiful, luxurious and traditional. But there’s another material that’s all those things and won’t be sported by everyone at your family gathering: jade.
Quality counts
The best jade is that which has not been treated or enhanced, known as Type A jade. This is the only type used by local brand Choo Yilin, which sources the material from Burma, and combines it with hand-picked semi-precious gemstones and intricate metalwork. The brand was founded in 2009 by Choo Yilin and has a flagship store at Mandarin Gallery.
Three exquisite collections
Choo Yilin presents three collections comprising of bangles, earrings, necklaces and rings (prices start from $398). They are anchored by Type A jadeite and precious metals like rhodium, rose gold and yellow gold, to help you stand out from the crowd.
The Bamboo range is characterised by sleek lines and minimalist designs, while the cherryblossoms- inspired Sakura collection features intricate floral designs. And for the heritage-proud, there’s the Peranakan Flower range, which boasts the vibrant, intricate motifs often seen on Nonya kebayas – think flowers, butterflies and birds rendered in semi-precious stones such as garnet, pink amethyst and sky-blue topaz.
HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR JADE PIECE
1. Follow your heart. The ultimate deciding factor is whether you love the piece and if it speaks to you emotionally.
2. Look for translucency. This is considered the most important factor in assessing the quality of a piece of jade.
3. Expect imperfections. Jade almost always has flaws such as uneven colour and veining (lines) – they’re part of what make each piece unique and special.
