A good variety of opaque gemstones—tiger’s eye, jasper, carnelian—are taking center stage in new collections, but I’ve still got big feelings for jade.
Take this imperial jadeite beauty from Asprey London—what color! The oval cabochon center seems to glow from within, and it’s set in a culturally symbolic design that’s as luxurious as it is significant.
Asprey London’s pendant pays homage to the traditional craft in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of talli, which involves the weaving of fabric and metallic ribbons. This practice is mimicked in the pendant’s geometric design, as amethyst and diamonds appear to weave a regal frame around the center stone.
Fine detail flows through every aspect of the pendant, including its elegantly ornate bail, decorated with tiny Arabian Gulf pearls, a green spinel, and a cabochon amethyst—a finishing touch fit for a royal.
This pendant was one of 20 imperial jadeite pieces that Asprey created in collaboration with two organizations based in Sharjah, a city in the UAE: the Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council, which supports women who make Emirati works of art, and the Big Heart Foundation, a humanitarian charity. The jewels were auctioned in May to benefit the Big Heart Foundation, and this pendant sold for £474,000 (approximately $651,000). Asprey had introduced 21 other one-of-a-kind imperial jadeite pieces for a similar auction held in March.
Asprey debuted its imperial jadeite category in 2023, celebrating the serene green stone renowned for its intense vibrancy and symbolic importance in Eastern culture.
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