Zhaoyi's mouthwatering jade jewellery debuts at Baselworld

By Francesca Fearon

For its debut at Baselworld, Zhaoyi gave an insight into the ancient mysteries of the Orient's passion for jade jewellery with a mouth-watering display of translucent, colourless and green jade, along with exquisite filigree gold-marked jewellery. The Beijing-based jeweller is widely known in China with stores dotted across the country, and in Hong Kong and Macau for its collection of highly prized jade jewellery, but this was its first venture into Europe. A store in Paris is next on Zhaoyi's wish list.

Jade jewellery is synonymous with Chinese culture, treasured for more than three Millennia, and some of Zhaoyi's finest quality examples were brought to Basel, including beautiful colourless jadeite pendants. The best jadeite is categorised as "glassy", "icy" and "glutinous", and these shiny, cabochon pendants were as translucent as melting icicles.

View our gallery of jadeite jewellery here

Mounting the jadeite with precious stones, Zhaoyi's Hong Kong-based design team, led by Grace Lee, is creating a more contemporary aesthetic for jade jewellery and shedding some of its traditional Chinese associations. While the jeweller is pioneering a trend towards the more accessibly priced colourless jade, icy green jade is deemed the most valuable. In the collection, the precious, smooth glossy green jade cabochons are set with diamonds on exquisite bib and pendant necklaces. The glassiest green jade fetches the highest prices.

Zhaoyi also works with lavender and black jade. Black jade is extremely rare and the very best take on a beautiful green tone when lifted to the light. Set in fine filigree gold - another house speciality and a skill that dates back more than 2,000 years - these designs are popular with both Chinese and Western audiences.

Zhaoyi was founded in Beijing in 2003 and, in 2012, was named by the American luxury lifestyle magazine, The Robb Report, as one of China's top 10 emerging luxury jewellery brands. It has since become a leader in high-end jewellery craftsmanship for its expertise in working with jadeite and gold filigree.

Zhaoyi green jadeite pendant with diamonds.
As well as sumptuous black, green and colourless jade, Zhaoyi also specialises in rare lavender jade.
Zhaoyi made its Basel debut this year with some stunning black jadeite jewellery, including this Baroque-style black jadeite pendant and earrings, set in gold.
Mounting the black jadeite with precious stones, Zhaoyi's Hong Kong-based design team, led by Grace Lee, is creating a more contemporary aesthetic for jade jewellery and shedding some of its traditional Chinese associations.
Zhaoyi showcased a collection of exquisitely crafted and elegantly designed colourless jadeite jewels at Baselworld, including this colourless icy jadeite pendant with diamonds.
Zhaoyi is renowned for its use of colourless jade in its jewellery designs, such as this icy jadeite ring with diamonds and coloured gemstones.
Zhaoyi colourless icy jadeite bracelet with coloured gemstones.
Colourless icy jadeite pendant necklace with diamonds.
Zhaoyi Dancing Green Bird necklace set with diamonds and 12 vivid green jade cabochons.
Zhaoyi bib necklace, set with precious, smooth glossy green jade cabochons and diamonds.