Royal Butterfly Brooch, fancy cut diamonds, diamonds, sapphires, rubies, tsavorites, Cindy Chao, 2009, from the collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
Art

Cindy Chao – Taiwanese jewelry designer

Peony brooch, rubies, diamonds, titanium, gold, Cindy Chao, 2018, from the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Peony brooch, rubies, diamonds, titanium, gold, Cindy Chao, 2018, from the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Cindy Chao is a Taiwanese jewelry designer. Cindy was born in 1974 in Taipei into a creative family, which determined her profession and influenced her style. Cindy’s father is a sculptor by profession, and her grandfather Hsieh Tzu-Nan was an architect who designed temples throughout Taiwan. According to Chao, it was her grandfather who inspired her interest in architecture and taught her to think in three dimensions. She learned various sculpting techniques and skills from her father, which eventually formed her own design signature.

Winter Leaves necklace, Cindy Chao, 2016.
Winter Leaves necklace, Cindy Chao, 2016.
The original, exquisite Winter Leaves necklace, impeccably handcrafted, features a constellation of approximately 6,000 intricately cut diamonds.
The original, exquisite Winter Leaves necklace, impeccably handcrafted, features a constellation of approximately 6,000 intricately cut diamonds.

Cindy went to New York to study jewelry making at the Fashion Institute of Technology and the Gemological Institute of America. She founded her brand in 2004 and now has showrooms in Taipei, Hong Kong and Shanghai. Her work is divided into two collections: Black Label and White Label.

Black Label Masterpieces are Cindy Chao’s most prestigious and exclusive creations, gems of art. They are the highest manifestation of her talent as a sculptor and artist. Original, innovative and technically sophisticated jewellery, created in limited quantities, each piece is named, numbered and dated. These masterpieces are presented once a year in invitation-only exhibitions and are highly prized by connoisseurs and collectors.

Ruby Butterfly brooch, Burmese rubies, diamonds, sapphires, Cindy Chao, 2008.
Ruby Butterfly brooch, Burmese rubies, diamonds, sapphires, Cindy Chao, 2008.

Every year since 2008, Cindy Chao’s collection has been updated with one of nature’s most stunningly beautiful and fragile creatures. This ornament is from the Annual Butterfly series. Each butterfly takes over 18 months to complete, with precious stones and thousands of pavé diamonds adorning its delicate wings. In 2010, Cindy Chao became one of the first Taiwanese jewelry artists to have her work purchased for the collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

Dragonfly brooch, presented at Paris Fashion Week 2016, conch pearls, rubies, diamonds, Cindy Chao.
Dragonfly brooch, presented at Paris Fashion Week 2016, conch pearls, rubies, diamonds.
Royal Butterfly Brooch, fancy cut diamonds, diamonds, sapphires, rubies, tsavorites, Cindy Chao, 2009, from the collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
Royal Butterfly Brooch, fancy cut diamonds, diamonds, sapphires, rubies, tsavorites, 2009, from the collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
Crimson Rose butterfly brooch, ruby cabochon, colored diamonds, rough diamonds, Cindy Chao, 2010.
Crimson Rose butterfly brooch, ruby cabochon, colored diamonds, rough diamonds, 2010.
Perfect Butterfly brooch, unusual yellow pear shaped diamond, colored diamonds and sapphires, rhodolites, Cindy Chao, 2011.
Perfect Butterfly brooch, unusual yellow pear shaped diamond, colored diamonds and sapphires, rhodolites, Cindy Chao, 2011.
Ruby Butterfly Brooch, Central Burmese Pigeon's Blood Ruby, Diamonds, Rubies, Cindy Chao, 2015 2016.
Ruby Butterfly Brooch, Central Burmese Pigeon’s Blood Ruby, Diamonds, Rubies, Cindy Chao, 2015 2016.
Brooch Transcendent Butterfly, diamonds, sapphires, Cindy Chao, 2012.
Brooch Transcendent Butterfly, diamonds, sapphires, Cindy Chao, 2012.
The 2014 Butterfly Ballerina Brooch was designed in collaboration with Sarah Jessica Parker.
The 2014 Butterfly Ballerina Brooch was designed in collaboration with Sarah Jessica Parker.
Aurora butterfly brooch, Burmese rubies, diamonds, sapphires, Cindy Chao, 2019.
Aurora butterfly brooch, Burmese rubies, diamonds, sapphires, Cindy Chao, 2019.
Damask Rose brooch, pink sapphires, orange sapphires, diamonds, titanium, gold, Cindy Chao, 2019.
Damask Rose brooch, pink sapphires, orange sapphires, diamonds, titanium, gold, Cindy Chao, 2019.
Brooch Emerald Bow, Colombian emerald, diamonds, alexandrites, green sapphires, titanium, gold, Cindy Chao, 2019.
Brooch Emerald Bow, Colombian emerald, diamonds, alexandrites, green sapphires, titanium, gold, Cindy Chao, 2019.
Four Seasons Collection Solstice Sculptural Bracelet, conch pearls, diamonds, green sapphires, alexandrites, gold, Cindy Chao, 2019.
Four Seasons Collection Solstice Sculptural Bracelet, conch pearls, diamonds, green sapphires, alexandrites.
Four Seasons Collection Sparkling Bracelet, sapphires, diamonds, gold, Cindy Chao, 2020.
Four Seasons Collection Sparkling Bracelet, sapphires, diamonds, 2020.
Brooch “Emerald Bow”, Colombian emerald, diamonds, alexandrites, green sapphires, titanium, gold, Cindy Chao, 2019.
Brooch “Emerald Bow”, Colombian emerald, diamonds, alexandrites, green sapphires, titanium.
Sculptural Lily bracelet, diamonds, sapphires, alexandrites, gold, Cindy Chao, 2019.
Sculptural Lily bracelet, diamonds, sapphires, alexandrites, gold.
Brooch Feather, sapphires, diamonds, titanium, Cindy Chao, 2019.
Brooch Feather, sapphires, diamonds, titanium.
Brooch bow, sapphires, tsavorites, diamonds, titanium, Cindy Chao, 2019.
Brooch bow, sapphires, tsavorites, diamonds, titanium, 2019.
Brooch Daisy, emerald, diamonds, titanium, gold, Cindy Chao, 2019.
Daisy Brooch , emerald, diamonds, titanium, gold, 2019.
Green Feather brooch, Colombian emeralds, diamonds, tsavorites, garnets, alexandrites, titanium, weight 48 g, Cindy Chao, 2020.
Green Feather brooch, Colombian emeralds, diamonds, tsavorites, garnets, alexandrites, titanium, weight 48 g, Cindy Chao, 2020.