Articles and News
Introducing Mara Hotung Jewels March 06, 2024 (0 comments)
London, U.K.--Mara Hotung is now the namesake of her own brand where she uses her three decades of experience to produce jewels from unconventional materials with a unique perspective.
Fir example, Hotung often uses apatite, kyanite, fire opal and resin, and then accents her jewels with diamonds, sapphires or rubies for her one-off pieces.
The Hong Kong native has lived in the U.K. for 20 years where she has worked for companies that include Van Cleef & Arpels and Sotheby’s. is a jewelry designer, with three decades of experience.
[Mara Hotung]
Hotung is a trained gemologist and jewelry valuer with a degree from the Asian Gemmological Institute and Laboratory, After her studies, she worked at Sotheby's Hong Kong, cataloging eminent jewelry collections and historic gemstones.
A stint at Van Cleef & Arpels followed, where she worked in marketing - promoting high jewelry collections in collaboration with the Paris team.
[From left: gold and diamond Pineapple brooch and earrings set; white gold, opal and diamond Swan brooch; Lapis Lazuli, sapphire and resin cuff, all by Mara Hotung Jewels]
After moving to London, she continued to design jewelry, which she sold through private sales and through auction houses such as Sotheby’s London.
Mara is currently working on three new initiatives in partnership with fellow creatives:
- A Chinese zodiac pendant line with illustrator and niece Sophia Hotung.
- Miniature painted wood panels with Mary Justice Designs and her Balinese artisans who creates sustainable limited-edition furniture as art.
- A jeweled wood collection with a local wood artist using reclaimed wood.
“Jewelry is my way of dreaming and storytelling. Gemstones are Mother Nature’s gift to us. Through each gem, I tell a story of beauty, resilience, courage, romance and adventure. I hope my designs reinterpret those tales with thoughtfulness, excitement and wonderment.”