Buyao Reimagined

Buyao

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Buyao is a traditional Chinese hair ornament worn by women in ancient times. Characterized by dangling tassels or beads that swayed gently with each step, it takes its name from this graceful movement. Once a symbol of status and rank, the buyao was initially reserved for the Empress Dowager and the Empress before gradually becoming more widely worn during the Tang Dynasty.

The captivating elegance of a woman wearing a buyao is beautifully evoked in Bai Juyi’s celebrated poem, The Song of Everlasting Sorrow: “Her cloud-like hair and flower-like face adorned with a golden buyao.” The poem immortalizes the graceful movement of the ornament as part of the legendary beauty of Yang Guifei.

Inspired by this traditional hair ornament, designer Arista Lee preserves the flowing lines of tassels and dangling beads, reinterpreting them as part of a necklace design. Rooted in classical elegance yet free from convention, the piece transforms an ornament once associated with the imperial court into a contemporary expression of refined beauty.

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Tsavorite

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Tsavorite is a young and striking green gemstone, prized for its vivid, saturated color, good clarity, and brilliance. Since its discovery, it has established itself as a rare green gemstone worthy of comparison with emerald.

Since its discovery in 1967, known sources have included Tanzania, Kenya, Madagascar, and Pakistan. Tsavorite crystals are generally small, making stones above three carats exceptionally rare and highly sought after by collectors.

A green variety of grossular garnet, tsavorite derives its distinctive color primarily from vanadium. Its naturally low inclusion content often results in transparent to translucent crystals with a clean appearance. Unlike many other gemstones, tsavorite is typically neither heat-treated nor fracture-filled, allowing its natural beauty to speak for itself.