China is known for its rich history but less so for brands that express it—a point that Dennis Chan aims to rectify. The chairman and creative director of Qeelin, an 11-year-old jewelry house the name of which means mythical creature, is from Hong Kong but has a CEO (Christophe Artaux) in Paris. Motifs in the line include wulu (a fruit with a silhouette that looks like the number 8, an auspicious digit in Asian culture), pandas, dragons, and yu yi (a symbol of protection). Time spent at a technical design school also helps Chan bring mechanical ideas, such as robots and pandas with moving parts, to life. The jewelry is made in Hong Kong, Paris, and in Italy, and Chinese actress Maggie Cheung been spotted wearing styles.
Chairman and creative director Dennis Chan
Starting retail price: $1,270 in 18k gold
Accounts: 25 brand boutiques worldwide including in Paris and five U.S. outlets including Neiman Marcus
Trade fairs: Couture 2016
Retailer buy-in: $100,000
Contact: Qeelin at the Anima Group, NYC; 800-868-5532; qeelin.com
Wulu ring in 18k white gold with onyx and 0.12 ct. t.w. diamonds, $1,270
Bo Bo ear studs in 18k white gold with 0.27 ct. t.w. diamonds, $1,430
Large Yu Yi Lace necklace in 18k rose gold with flowery pattern and 1.92 cts. t.w. diamonds, $23,400
King & Queen large bangle in 18k white gold with 12.54 cts. t.w. diamonds and 0.89 ct. t.w. rubies, $109,800
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