Handmade Portable Art

Nicolas Favard Joaillier

Set foot in any of Beijing’s typical jewellery shops and you’ll find an extensive selection of mass market pieces mirroring current fashion trends. But if you’re after something handcrafted and unique, the one-of-a-kind pieces at Nicolas Favard’s Sanlitun studio perfectly fit the bill. At the tender age of 12, Nico knew exactly what he wanted to be, and within five years was well on his way to achieving his goal – to be a jeweller. Having meticulously honed his craft with an apprenticeship in France, training at a diamond company in Vietnam, and extensive jewellery studies at L’Institut de Bijouterie de Saumur, he finally settled in Beijing in 2004 and opened his namesake studio four years later.

Divided with workshop in the rear and glossy black columned showroom in front, the space is spangled with objects from rings and necklaces to accessories and tableware, all featuring Nico’s signature aesthetic – bold and elegant, with an emphasis on architectural form and a wide variety of materials from titanium to jade, platinum to gold. Expect to find geometric bracelets inlaid with pearls and hammered statement rings alongside items like a charming wood and gold rattle and intricate silver business card boxes. Each piece is custom-designed and no two pieces are exactly the same, but for the ultimate in luxury, Nico is happy to work bespoke.