During our meeting Bao Bao Wan wore fabulous fine jewellery earrings from her own collection launched in 2007, along with playful bra necklace! It’s clear to see from the outset that she is a confident designer who can bring humour to her work. Well I had a question: To ‘gem’ or not to ‘gem’ when it comes to engagement rings in China? After all, the American trend for big diamonds on engagement rings is quickly spreading to China, Russia and Brazil. Countries where simple wedding bands are a common occurence. Bao Bao Wan says yes to rock! But personally prefers an engagement ring without. I was surprised to learn that her favourite stone is Alexandrite, a gem that magically changes colors from red to green. It’s linked to the Russian Tsar, Tsar Alexander II.

Bao Bao Wan herself is a true Asian beauty, talented and charming. Bao Bao was soon off to prepare for her flight to Beijing to celebrate Chinese New Year with her family. I tried on her jewellery collection in the Harrods Fine Jewellery Room.

Harrods thinks outside the box! Something that I love! Bao Bao Wan has a huge following of one million fans on Weibo (China’s version of Twitter) as well as internationally. Although a native of China, she has lived and studied all over the world. Her exclusive to Harrods Fine Jewellery collection features traditional, auspicious Chinese symbols and fanciful motifs inspired by her childhood in the Forbidden City. The jewels are designed in her beautiful atelier in Beijing. Found in a traditional courtyard once home to a prince no less! Pieces are adorned with clear and coloured diamonds as well as South Sea or Tahitian Pearls, Rubies and Emeralds.

One piece of advice from I would be to always look at the back of a jewellery piece. The workmanship as well as materials should be as perfectly crafted as the front. One of my favourites from the collection is this fine jewellery brooch (pictured below). It fit’s in perfectly with my obsession with the versatile and well crafted brooch! These pieces of jewellery are some of the most forgotten pieces around. Beautiful and can be worn in so many different ways, such a beauty from the Bao Bao Wan collection must be worn every day!

Harrods are also stocking Bao Bao Wan’s ‘And The Little Ones’. These contemporary and fun every day pendants are a reflection of her personality and life experiences. Each tells a story, the pagoda is based on the building in her family’s garden at Zhongnanhai (China’s presidential palace). This was a place where she hid when she was sad and lonely; her first camera; a panda; an inkbrush; a winking owl; or the bicycle she rode across Tiananmen Square. She aims to capture moments of happiness because everyday jewellery should be an intimate expression of yourself. The pieces in this collection are simple, the techniques used are anything but! Bao Bao Wan had to overcome many technical problems when bringing these jewels into being.

 Bao Bao Wans collection at Harrods is a must see for all fine jewellery lovers!

I am extremely happy to announce that my new jewelry book – GEMOLOGUE: Street Jewellery Styles & Styling Tips – is now on Amazon. I’m so excited. It’s the first book of its kind solely dedicated to jewellery. 

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GEMOLOGUE jewelry blog by Liza Urla is a celebration of fine, fashion and vintage jewellery featuring talented jewellery designers, trendy urban street style, exclusive interviews and rare jewellery reviews. This jewellery blog’s goal is to encourage and educate about jewellery online in a fresh and original fashion to inspire women and men across the globe in a fashion and travelling context.

Jewellery blogger, writer Liza Urla, the founder of GEMOLOGUE, is a London-based and NYC-educated gemologist, who has travelled to and lived in many countries. She is now one of the most influential digital jewellery tastemakers. Her jewellery influence has been acknowledged by Financial Times, The New York Times, Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.

*Photographed by Anna Zandman and Sissi Loh. Styling and Art Direction by Liza Urla. All photos belong to GEM Kreatives for GEMOLOGUE.

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