设计 JNA March/April 2023 | 45 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 nowworking 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 This ‘Stellar’ necklace with a detachable diamond pendant in 18-karat gold is a reimagined version of Vincent van Gogh’s Terrace of a Cafe at Night, one of the painter’s most celebrated works of art. It is also among Van Gogh’s famous Starry Night series. 这款18K金“熠”项链配有可拆式钻石吊坠，概念源自梵高“星夜”系列 名作《星空下的咖啡座》 Lily Leung, founder of Nalas International Co Ltd Nalas International Co Ltd创始人梁俪霖
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