Anna Hu Sets Global Record For The Highest Auction Sales Price For A Chinese Contemporary Jewelry Artist

HONG KONG, May 31, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Anna Hu breaks the world sales record for a Chinese contemporary jewelry artist at today's Magnificent Jewels auction at Christie's in Hong Kong. Following intense bidding, the final Realized Price, as published by Christie's, was $2,592,663 (HK $20,030,000).

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130531/NY23812 )

The "Orpheus" ring is a lyrical invocation of the ancient myth of Orpheus and Eurydice in precious gems. The heart of the ring features a magnificent jadeite cabochon in an intense emerald green of brilliant translucency. The jadeite solitaire weighs an impressive 45.39 cts and is set in an embrace of pave white diamonds. A drop of briolette emerald, shaped like a note, adds musicality to the design and marks it a unique creation by Anna Hu, a classically trained cellist. Intricate details in exotic yellow and pink diamonds mounted in 18k gold of white, pink, and yellow harken back to Anna Hu's roots in French haute joaillerie and classical Chinese art (Tang sancai). The total weight of diamonds is 4.51 cts.

The myth of Orpheus and Eurydice tells the story of a love that transcended time and space. Orpheus was the ancient Greek poet, singer, and lyre player par excellence whose love for his wife, Eurydice, was so great that he willingly descended into the Underworld in an attempt to bring her back. Orpheus's chthonic journey was immortalized in Virgil's canonical Georgics and Orpheus was said to have possessed the lyrical prowess to charm all things in the world, including stones.

Through Anna's creative vision and unparalleled craftsmanship, an extraordinary jadeite, a classic symbol of imperial China, becomes the heart of a tale about enduring love through music.

About Anna Hu Haute Joaillerie

Anna Hu founded her namesake brand, Anna Hu Haute Joaillerie, at the age of 30 and opened her first flagship boutique in New York's Plaza Hotel on Fifth Avenue, the epicenter of the world's finest brands. She is the only Asian American jewelry designer to work exclusively with French-trained artisans in their New York and Paris workshops. Highly educated in America with degrees from Colombia University, the Gemological Institute of America, Parsons School of Design, and NY's Fashion Institute of Technology, Anna is as much a scholar as she is an artist and her designs reflect that rarity and sophistication. Her work combines eastern and western influences, often inspired by classical music, fine art and nature.

Anna presented her first global exhibition at the Louvre's Les Arts Decoratifs in Paris in July 2012 at the age of 35 and celebrated the launch of her first book, "Symphony of Jewels, op. 1," published by The Vendome Press and Thames & Hudson last September. It's a limited edition monograph printed in Verona, Italy, featuring 100 pieces from Anna's illustrious body of work.

Anna was given ELLE's "International Jewellery Designer of the Year" Award in 2012. She has been recognized for technical innovation in design and was previously honored with the China Institute's "Artistic Vision" award in 2011.  Her jewelry has been worn by style-influencers the likes of Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow, Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Drew Barrymore, Hilary Swank, Oprah Winfrey, the acclaimed contemporary artist Cindy Sherman, and Jetsun Pema, the Queen of Bhutan. She and her jewels have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, W, ELLE, The New York Times, InStyle, Robb Report, Vanity Fair, and leading Chinese magazines including Harper's Bazaar, VOGUE, ELLE, L'officiel, InStyle and Marie Claire.

SOURCE Anna Hu Haute Joaillerie