Hong Kong is a very special place, and it's where our jewellery story begun. In 2021, my husband and I and our two small kids - 5 month old baby Clayton and 2 year old Grayson moved from London to Hong Kong for my husband's job.
Whilst it was a difficult time to move with full blown Covid restrictions - flight cancelations, wash out period of 3 weeks outside of the UK before being allowed to come into Hong Kong, 3 weeks hotel quarantine and no hotel availability, it was also the most special time for us as a family embarking on a new adventure.
Finally on the plane to Hong Kong with my husband and my boys after many cancellations and diversions
Crazy Rich Asians Emerald Ring
Once in Hong Kong, we were blown away by the beauty of the island, the neon signs, the incredible scenery outside of the city and of course the people. As a jewellery lover, I saw a Hong Kong Jewellery Show advertised and decided to drag my husband there.
Having loved emeralds for years, especially since the Crazy Rich Asians movie, my sole focus of that visit was emeralds. At the show I saw the most incredible neon green coloured Colombian emerald which I couldn't forget as I walked around the show, nothing quite matched its beauty. Fast forward a few hours, my husband finally agreed to buy the emerald for me - as a welcome to Hong Kong gift (plus he owed me two push presents!).
That first emerald I could not forget or live without!
That day I got home and enrolled into the GIA Graduate Gemologist program and decided I was going to fulfil my dream of become a jewellery designer - a far shout from my previous investment banking, commodity trading and hedge fund London career. If not now, when?
Final Hurdle - Making Jewellery
Now in possession of this beautiful stone I was obsessing about the idea of how and where to set this into a ring. A month later, there was another jewellery show.
At first I wanted to wait to start my jewellery company until I completed my GIA course, but the morning of the show, I decided I was starting my business that very day. The name was easy - my wonderful grandmother Valentina who inspired my love of fine jewellery since I was a little girl.
On holiday with my grandmother Valentina as a child
In the same breath, I created my Instagram account that morning on way to the show and then I walked the halls that week collecting business cards, making industry contacts and looking for a local workshop.
At the show I got talking to a wonderful gemstone dealer - Rishi, who was curious and genuinely excited about a brand new Hong Kong expat with no jewellery history or experience starting a business. It was Rishi who kindly shared details of a workshop contact with me and taught me a few industry 101s during our gem meetings post the show.
First Emerald Ring
A month later, my first piece of jewellery was ready - the Colombian emerald and yellow diamond ring. Today, it is still our most popular emerald ring design! Why yellow diamonds you ask? I felt it made the ring more romantic with a slight antique feel, the light yellow and the bright green really do work well together.
Love at first sight
Building Trust
Slowly, my friends started to notice my emerald ring and asking me to make them emerald rings. Other friends began asking for bespoke diamond jewellery - eternity rings, tennis bracelets and more. In February 2022 I officially registered our brand - Valentina Fine Jewellery.
It has taken time to forge strong worldwide relationships with trusted diamond and gemstone suppliers and learning to understand metal and stone limitations has been a wonderful process I enjoyed greatly. My passion is always felt by my clients and the happiness my jewellery brings to them is what drives me daily to create more jewellery.
In The Press
Fast forward to today, we have been featured in Tatler Asia as an absolute surprise with our Snake Diamond Ring - a huge thank you to Amrita Katara, Tatler's Jewellery & Watch Editor for this wonderful feature and the write up on Tatler website on top 5 jewellery designers in Hong Kong to add some sparkle to Christmas.
Speechless surprise and a dream come true!
We have also won multiple local Hong Kong Jewellery awards - Honeycombers Hong Kong's Gold Best Jewellery Brand Award 2024, Silver in 2023 and Expat Living Silver 2024 Best Home Grown Hong Kong Jewellery Brand.
We have recently also collaborated with Katerina Perez, which if you love jewellery and follow her Instagram is an absolute dream come true for any jewellery designer. When Katerina reached out to me in September 2024, it inspired me even more! I am absolutely honoured to have been selected to collaborate with Katerina.
Another dream come true!
Jewellery Design Evolution
Our fine jewellery collection started with emeralds and emerald rings, and these are still at the heart of Valentina Fine Jewellery. We expanded into bespoke engagement rings, especially featuring colour gemstones like rubies and sapphires and Argyle pink diamonds.
I love adding colour to engagement rings to make them personal and special
More recently, we have moved into more unique fine jewellery - fun whimsical pendants that evoke memories and bring joy, like our doughnut pendant featuring 18k gold and platinum and no heat natural pastel colour sapphires.
Yummy fun doughnut made with the best no heat natural Sapphires in 18k gold and platinum
I longed to create something to honour and celebrate Hong Kong, a place I love and what could be more symbolic and fun than the Lucky Cat made into a pendant? Yes, of course, originally a Japanese symbol, but today the cat is much loved and well associated with Hong Kong. The beckoning cat is meant to bring prosperity and luck to the owner.
Fun fine jewellery brings joy to the wearer and from personal experience just makes your day better!
Valentina Fine Jewellery may be relatively new, however my passion for jewellery, one on one bespoke service and unique jewellery designs is what brings our clients back time after time.
