This article first appeared in the JNA April/March 2023 issue.

The mystic, velvety blue skies and mesmerising yellows characteristic of Vincent van Gogh’s celebrated Starry Night paintings are a sight to behold, not only for collectors and art enthusiasts. Now imagine wearing a ring that is deeply reminiscent of such a masterpiece – a moving work of art that you can carry, and appreciate, anytime, anywhere.

This was the idea behind Nalas and Moochacha – two emerging jewellery brands founded in 2021 and 2022, respectively, by entrepreneur, former art gallery owner and Gemological Institute of America-accredited jewellery professional Lily Leung.

Taking cues from a steady rise in interdisciplinary collaborations where jewellers team up with fashion, health and technology experts, to name a few, to create innovative products, the brands offer jewellery pieces inspired by beloved paintings.

Nalas caters to the high-end jewellery market with its auction-quality pieces while Moochacha’s more affordable and trendier collections are aimed at a younger clientele. Moochacha jewellery pieces fall within the HK$3,000 (around US$380) to HK$50,000 (about US$6,300) price range. Both brands work closely with museums around the world in developing their collections.

The jewellery stands out because it embodies the spirit of and story behind each painting, according to Leung.

Creative and revolutionary

Nalas gained recognition in the jewellery world when it unveiled its Shining Stars earrings in 2021 in collaboration with the Netherlands’ Kröller-Müller Museum. The earrings, accompanied by a non-fungible token (NFT), sold for HK$252,000 (approximately US$32,100) at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in 2021, making it the first NFT jewellery in world auction history, Leung revealed.

Inspired by Van Gogh’s Terrace of a Cafe at Night in 1888, the earrings are in 18-karat white and yellow gold and titanium with white and fancy yellow diamonds.

“We conceptualised and perfected the design during the pandemic,” shared Leung. “It took us a long time. For instance, there is a certain kind of blue that is most akin to Van Gogh’s paintings, and we had to change the colour multiple times to achieve the right shade.”

This placed Nalas on the radar of jewellery connoisseurs and art aficionados. As of 2023, both Nalas and Moochacha have accumulated a strong following in the fine jewellery universe. The brands are currently focused on the Asia market, particularly China where it has a solid footing.

Expansion in Singapore and Japan are underway, according to Leung. “We are opening our flagship store in Guangzhou for Nalas and Moochacha in 2024. We already have a team in Japan, and we are finalising proceedings in Singapore,” the company official noted. “We also just launched our online shop and are now working with top KOLs (key opinion leaders) in China.” She describes Moochacha clients as sophisticated female professionals or students aged 25 to 40 years old in Hong Kong and mainland China while the luxury brand is aimed at collectors.

Masterful collections

Leung is keen to further strengthen both brands’ client base, specifically Moochacha since it caters to a younger generation of buyers who could benefit from greater exposure to art and jewellery design.

Among the brand’s headliners are the Stellar Collection, which echoes vivid blues interspersed with golds and yellows in Van Gogh’s Starry Night paintings. The jewellery pieces in 18-karat yellow and white gold with diamonds also feature indium for an intriguing blue colour.

The Radiance Collection meanwhile includes necklaces and rings in yellow gold and blue titanium with diamonds and yellow sapphires. The colours and design elements illustrate Van Gogh’s often intense emotions while a discreet textured finish pays homage to the swirling blue sky found in most of his paintings.

Another star collection is Simplicity, which comprises necklaces, earrings and rings in 18-karat gold with diamonds, lapis lazuli, onyx and mother-of-pearl. The collection draws inspiration from Piet Mondrian’s Tableau No. 1 (1913), which features structured segments formed by straight lines and curves in grey and ochre tones.

Modern collaborations

Leung is maintaining an upbeat outlook for the fine jewellery industry in 2023 as the market gradually, but surely, regains its footing post-pandemic.

“Jewellery is a very emotional product and buyers will always look for something that makes them happy,” remarked Leung. “We provide a unique product by combining two beautiful things – art and jewellery. It is not just a jewellery piece; it is more meaningful.”

This year, Nalas worked with international contemporary artist Rona Hu to launch the “Ray of Light” art jewellery collection inspired by three of Hu’s paintings, namely Another World, Wish 2 and Self Amusement.

Characterised by bright colours juxtaposed with whimsical portrayals of everyday life, the paintings and, by extension, the jewellery pieces depict hope for a bright future. The pieces are set in 18-karat white or yellow gold and enamel.