Painting with gemstones

Each of Feng's jewelry pieces needs effort and time. Sometimes, a piece takes her one or two years to finish and she has to fly between Shanghai and Paris many times for just one work.

"It's not only about design. From the selection of gems to cutting, I am involved in the whole process of production," says Feng.

"To produce a good piece is like brewing－it takes time."

Because of the pandemic this year, Feng stayed at home in Shanghai, submerging herself in designing jewelry.

David Xu, executive director of Feng's brand, says the designer's personality is as quiet as her creations. She is like an artist of few words and always immersed in her own world, says Xu.

Also due to the pandemic, Feng couldn't fly to Paris to work with craftspeople this year. It's the Chinese craftspeople who helped her to finish her pieces auctioned at Phillips, which, Feng says, has given her the confidence to open a workshop in Shanghai in the future.