Designer Karen Suen needs to engage with the gemstones with which she works prior to creating a piece so that she can truly absorb their characteristics and understand their potential. She is also always mindful of the woman who will wear her jewelry, whom she describes as “Tasteful, fun-loving, independent and modern.” This artist’s work is made to be worn, not locked away in one’s safe, and she intends for each of her designs to be as unique as the individual who wears it.

This award-winning, Hong Kong-based designer was once a dancer in the City Contemporary Dance Company, and her sensibility of expressiveness and sensitivity to her environment are evident throughout her collection. Sighting color and light as the two most important elements of her work, she adeptly orchestrates a sensual balance between complement and contrast, often manipulating palettes and hues into unexpected combinations.

Karen’s aesthetic is both classic and inventive, and she gives careful consideration to all aspects of creating each bespoke piece. From the selection of the gemstone, to establishing the best technique to employ for fabrication, to the choice of the most exceptional artisans, Karen exhibits an impeccable attention to detail. She creates masterpieces, and yet her jewelry maintains an element of accessibility, allowing the wearer’s unique individuality to enhance the beauty of the piece.

While she works with a wide variety of gemstones, Karen enjoys the challenge inherent in working with Conch Pearls, whose unique patterns and shapes lend them both beauty and complexity. In 2019, Karen won a COUTURE Design Award for Best in Pearl for an exquisite pear of tassel, Conch Pearl earrings featuring diamond briolettes, which is a signature ornamental detail of this artist’s work.