CHINESE NEW YEAR GIFT GUIDE - JANUARY 2023 NEWS

Chinese New Year: The Most Popular Luxury Watch & Jewellery Pieces to Gift

The Lunar New Year, colloquially referred to as Chinese New Year, is almost upon us, heralding new beginnings and fresh starts. The Lunar New Year in modern times is widely celebrated across the globe, and is the time for ushering in health, happiness, and prosperity – it is also the time for inviting these things into your loved ones’ lives through symbolic gifts. 2023 is the year of the rabbit, which is thought to be the luckiest sign in the Chinese zodiac, and which symbolises both elegance and beauty, making now the ideal time to gift your loved ones precious watches and jewellery. 

(Photo by Humphrey Muleba on Unsplash)

Red is thought to bring good fortune, luck, and vitality and is the colour that is traditionally worn during the new year period, so lean into ruby statement pieces and red enamel. Typically Chinese New Year gifts consist of red pockets (a monetary gift placed in a red envelope, often decorated with elegant Chinese calligraphy), but these luxurious pieces make for an exceptional alternative.

Something Gold

An important element of the modern Lunar New Year is that of gifting something gold, so if you’re considering what to gift for Chinese New Year, gold jewellery is a staple. In modern China, and indeed in the rest of the modern world, gold is considered to be a sign of luck and fortune. Traditionally this honour was given to jade, which was thought to symbolise goodness, preciousness and beauty, and also embodied a number of Confucian virtues. Its wearers even believed that the stone provided them nourishment. This tranquil green mineral is so embedded in Chinese culture that there are thousands of Chinese idioms and sayings that incorporate jade, such as “can’t tell jade from stone” and “as clear as ice and as pure as jade”. 

(Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash)

With the official end of Confucianism in 1905, and a greater acceptance of globalisation, Chinese New Year jewellery began to shift away from classic jade pieces to that of gold. It is interesting to note how thoroughly gold has been embraced by China considering their rich history with jade, but seeing as gold sales (especially that of gold jewellery) skyrocket during the Lunar New Year, its current cultural significance is undeniable. Gold has now firmly taken up the mantle of being the symbol of abundance and prosperity.

Invite good luck and wealth into your loved ones’ lives this Chinese New Year with one of these stunning luxury gold jewellery pieces.

The Roberto Coin “Princess Flower” bracelet features a blooming 18ct gold flower and a charming ruby accent. Its floral design and brilliant sheen makes this the perfect piece to mark the beginning of the Spring Festival. 

During Chinese New Year, knots act as good luck charms and are used to ward off evil spirits. The FOPE “Essentials” 18ct yellow gold hoop earrings’ signature braided design mimics that of the traditional endless knot whilst remaining both highly fashionable and wearable. 

When searching for gold jewellery for women, look no further than the Roberto Coin Love in Verona collection. This iconic “Love in Verona” 18ct yellow gold diamond ring, inspired by the epic love story of Romeo and Juliet, featuring twenty brilliant cut diamonds and a single ruby, would make the perfect Chinese New Year gift for the treasured women in your life.

Give the gift of time this Chinese New Year with this iconic 39mm Tudor Black Bay S&G watch, featuring a yellow gold bezel to bestow good fortune upon the wearer.

Something Red

In Chinese culture, red is not only considered to be a lucky and auspicious colour, it is also the primary colour of celebration. During the Lunar New Year it is of even greater significance thanks to how deeply rooted in legend and folklore the colour is. 

(Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash)

The legend goes that on the last day of the lunar year a fearsome monster named Nian would rise up and torment the people of China, until one year they discovered that Nian was terrified of the colour red. From then on people would write charms on red paper and paste them all over their homes, even wearing the colour to further drive him off. 

The tradition has evolved since then, with the colour now being worn in order to bring luck and ward off evil in general. Bring prosperity and vitality into the lives of your loved ones’ with a statement red watch or jewellery piece this Lunar New Year. 

The New Italian Art “Flower” 18ct white gold ruby and diamond dress ring perfectly marries creativity with classic beauty whilst its twenty-two rubies make for a vibrant vermillion accent. This dazzling ring would make the perfect accessory to any Lunar New Year’s outfit.

If you’re looking for a more subtle jewellery piece to gift a friend or family member, the Roberto Demeglio “Dado” cuff bracelet is a sophisticated alternative. The Dado cuff features an elegant row of brilliant cut rubies set upon an 18ct rose gold and black ceramic band.

The Roberto Demeglio “Cashmere” stretch ring in 18ct rose gold, ruby and diamonds is both effortless to wear and elegant to behold. Roberto Demeglio’s handcrafted Italian pieces are a great example of the functional high quality jewellery that any of the women in your life would be thrilled to receive this Chinese New Year.

Behold an exquisite red statement piece, La Grande Classique de Longines in all red. With 0.369cts of white diamonds alongside a red dial and strap, this is the perfect gift to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

There are a number of Chinese New Year gift ideas to choose from, but with the innate sentimental value and cultural significance of the gesture, gifting gold or red watches and jewellery is always a favourable option.

Celebrate Chinese New Year in bejewelled style with J Farren-Price. Browse the broader gift guide below, or enquire with our team today to discover more of our wondrous collection.