The capital glitters

Cindy Chao (second from right) officiates the opening ceremony of her jewelry gallery and boutique in Beijing, with guests (from left) Huang Xiaoming and Sarah Jessica Parker, as well as Hsu Chi (right).

This is Chao's third exhibition in Beijing. A temporary exhibition two years ago was also opened by Parker, who says she was excited to make the return trip.

"I really love this country, and it's inexplicable. It's not as if I grew up knowing a huge amount about it, but I've always had a huge fascination with it, and I always very much wanted to come back.

"What's wonderful about it is I have met, and have come to know a little bit (about) Cindy, and have been so enchanted by her," says Parker, who selected a series of multicolored branch bangles from Chao's Four Seasons collection for the opening to go with her vintage gown, along with feather earrings in yellow diamonds and pink sapphire.

"She is someone with incredible talent and discipline and skill, and she sees jewelry and gemstones in a way that other people don't," Parker says. "I'm so happy for today. I know it's been a lot of work to get here, and I'm very proud of her."

Chao founded the label nine years ago in her Taipei studio and still maintains her home base there. Each piece - she produces no more than 36 of her Black Label creations in a year, in addition to the White Label line - is first sculpted in wax, then sent to Europe for final production.

Among her fans are American actress Katie Holmes, Queen Rania of Jordan and Mexican American actress Salma Hayek, who sported a maple-leaf choker from the Four Seasons collection as a headpiece at this year's Oscars.

The New York Times