PIece of Me
Kevin Kwan’s Art Deco Heirloom
The author, who received the ring from his favorite aunt, described himself as its custodian “for this generation.”
Supported by
Amelia Diamond reported for Piece of Me, a column about personal talismans and heirloom accessories.
Kevin Kwan used to do some of his best napping in jewelry stores.
This was decades before Mr. Kwan, 50, wrote his new novel “Lies and Weddings”; before the three books in his “Crazy Rich Asians” trilogy became best-sellers; before it was announced that Jon M. Chu, the director of the “Crazy Rich Asians” movie, would also direct its Broadway adaptation. It was even before Mr. Kwan’s previous job as a photo editor for Elizabeth Taylor’s 2002 book “My Love Affair With Jewelry.”
“In the strangest way, jewelry has always been a part of my life,” Mr. Kwan said on a recent video call. He recalled being “dragged to jewelry stores around the world” by his mother, grandmother and aunts. He grew up helping these women select precious stones — and occasionally falling asleep under stores’ counters.
In “Lies and Weddings,” characters gossip about a set of mothball-size pearls so large that they are said to either cost millions or be fake. Descriptions of jewels have become such a trademark of Mr. Kwan’s writing, he said, that strangers will often approach him to show off their jewelry.
In this interview, which has been edited and condensed, Mr. Kwan discussed his own jewelry — specifically, an Art-Deco-cut imperial jade ring that he doesn’t wear, but has held close to his heart ever since it was passed down to the author by an aunt who helped him develop his love of writing.
Talk about this ring.
The ring belonged to my grandmother: A lozenge-shaped imperial jade piece, flanked on each side by three small diamonds. What really gives it its Art Deco style is the silver band; it has this detailing that looks like a ribbon that’s been cinched. I think a jeweler would better be able to describe it.
When I opened the box for the first time and saw the ring, I gasped because it’s a huge piece of imperial jade. They say jade has to be worn against your body because it reacts to the oils and the warmth, and that it actually gets greener the longer you wear it. This ring was such a beautiful, intense green.
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