This article first appeared in the JNA March/April 2025 issue.

For Ho Siuchong, jewellery is more than just an adornment; it is a vibrant expression of life itself. Drawing inspiration from nature’s beauty and his family life, Ho embeds his jewellery pieces with personal stories, making each design livelier, more sophisticated and richer in emotion.

His artistic journey began in childhood where early exposure to craftsmanship ignited in him a lifelong passion to create. “I took carpentry classes during primary and secondary school and I used to make various handicrafts. Years later, I am still very hands on and I excel in sensory perception,” he recalled.

After completing a jewellery design course in 1999, Ho started working at Cheng & Cheung Co (HK) Ltd, a top Hong Kong jewellery manufacturer. In 2020, he founded Chong Ho Art Jewelry, marking a career milestone. In the same year, he participated in the Fine Art Asia fair where his masterpieces gained praise from private collectors.

Ho’s journey comprised four distinct stages. In the “Breakthrough” phase, he was focused on pushing the boundaries of jewellery design. As his career progressed, he entered the “Creation” stage, dedicating himself to developing a signature style and aesthetic. This was followed by “Communion,” where his designs began to harmonise with nature.

In the current “Art” stage, Ho is integrating life experiences, emotions and philosophies into his designs.

Exquisite enamel

Ho meticulously handcrafts jewellery pieces using a variety of materials as he strives for excellence and unparalleled artistry. Specialising in enamel jewellery, he takes pride in masterpieces like “Dragonfly • Fish,” a pair of gem-studded brooches.

The blue and red brooches represent the male and female psyches, respectively. Ho’s childhood memories inspired the blue brooch while love for his wife influenced the red brooch.

The blue brooch, in particular, features dragonfly and fish motifs along with intricate fireflies and a starry sky, which are reminiscent of chasing dragonflies on balmy summer evenings.

Blue plique-à-jour enamel and crystal carvings with a watery texture is visible on the dragonfly wings, creating a celestial illusion when illuminated. Additionally, the innovative Forest pavé setting enhances the gems’ brilliance while the fish tail features a distinctive carved blue topaz resembling a firefly. Unlike traditional pavé settings, which present a smooth setting of stones on the metal’s surface, the Forest pavé technique creates a layered effect, like capturing a bird’s eye-view of a forest.

Dragonfly • Fish is a testament to Ho's dedication and craftsmanship. “The seamless combination of gradient plique-à-jour enamel colours with crystal engravings, and diamonds and gemstones, makes it difficult to control the temperature. The process is prone to repeated cracking. It takes several attempts to achieve the perfect finished product,” Ho said.

Mechanical structures added to the wings and spine, meanwhile, allowed movement.

Ho said colour-rich enamel also complements what is lacking in metals and gemstones and gives the piece a more balanced colour and texture. He added, “High-temperature enamel is durable and the colours will not fade.”

Emotional resonance

Ho believes that “art jewellery” should evoke emotion while telling a story. His jewellery pieces are thus infused with love, personal experiences and philosophical concepts.

The Life.Swan ring, for instance, represents notions that make life ideal for Ho: Protection, freedom and love – each respectively symbolised by an angel’s wing, Ho’s rendition of the Winged Victory of Samothrace, and a pair of swans featured in the ring.

“Everyone’s experience is different but love and affection are common denominators. A unique work resonates with people and provides emotional value,” Ho noted.

Last year, Ho created ”The Penetration” bangle in homage to his 25-year career. It drew inspiration from stained-glass windows in European churches, which he saw during a trip to Europe in 1999.

This ebony bangle with plique-à-jour enamel and carved crystals has butterflies of all sizes gracefully emerging from Art Deco windows. Each butterfly symbolises people who pursue excellence – accumulating experiences and honing their skills while striving to transcend boundaries.

With a career spanning over two decades, Ho remains as passionate about creating as ever, eager to progress to the next chapter of his journey. “I am now in my 40s, and I aspire to keep creating until I reach 80,” he shared.