Earlier this month, Zeemou Zeng, an emerging London-based designer sold on 1stdibs, Farfetch, and a handful of international retailers, unveiled a new collection at the China International Consumer Products Expo in the Hainan province city of Haikou. The inaugural event focused on the fashion, fine jewelry, food, and automobile industries. Among the exhibitors was Fuli Gemstones, which owns the largest known peridot deposit located in Dunhua, Jilin, China; Zeng’s new jewels were highlighted in its showcase of loose gemstones from the Yiqisong Nanshan mine in the Changbai Mountains.
Titled The Art of Travel, Zeng’s collection features vibrant emerald-cut Fuli peridot in playful luggage- and handbag-inspired concepts (complete with “purse feet” hardware). There are also perfume bottle shapes with diamond-accented caps—as exotic scents can transport us to faraway lands when airplanes can’t.
Why peridot for this escapist little daydream?
“Peridot is known as the ‘gem of the sun’ with healing powers [that] can ward off fear, insecurity, and anxiety,” says Zeng. “Meanwhile, peridot is one of my most favorite gemstones. I love its incredible lime-green hue, and green symbolizes hope and rebirth. So I think peridot is the perfect gemstone for the collection, as The Art of Travel collection is meant to motivate us to pursue our dreams, to inspire freedom and evoke happiness.”
And conjure thoughts of escaping to your favorite destination, reconnecting with distant friends and colleagues, and seizing adventure without hesitation—or fear.
The recipient of a number of awards and recognitions in the United Kingdom, Zeng specializes in contemporary fine jewelry and modern luxury crystal. He studied interior design and architecture in China, a pursuit that awakened his curiosity of crystal, ceramics, porcelain, and precious metals and ultimately led to his interest in fine jewelry. This newfound passion brought Zeng to the United Kingdom, where he completed a Master of Arts in jewelry design at the University of the Arts London’s Camberwell College of Arts. Later, he was selected for the Royal College of Arts’ “innovation incubator,” where he further developed his vision for a jewelry collection and label, which he launched in 2017.
As the international jewelry world slowly begins to reopen and reconvene, Zeng tells JCK, travel is number one on his to-do list. He will hopefully be making the trip to JCK Las Vegas in August. “It’s one of the must-visit shows remaining on the top of my list, although the current pandemic might make travel difficult,” he says.
And looking ahead, the designer is longing for “the Gobi Desert in northern China, a vast arid region known for its dunes, mountains, and rare animals. The natural splendor and unpopulated beauty are why I would adore to travel here when allowed,” he says.
“Otherwise, I would like to have a short holiday in one of the sunniest destinations—Portugal—and enjoy the natural landscapes, and spectacular beaches to reenergize after lockdown in the U.K.
“For me, the most magical places on earth are places with sea or desert. Pure but powerful. Whenever I’m close to either I feel I’m free—it brings me joy and invokes my imagination,” he says.
Needless to say, we’re ready when you are!
Top: Designer Zeemou Zeng in his studio, playing with Fuli gemstones (photo courtesy of Fuli Gemstones)
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