Butterfly Dreams, Oriental Splendor
ZHIFU Embarks on a New Journey of Oriental Aesthetics
Hundreds of jewelry enthusiasts, fashion elites, and media professionals from around the world witnessed the launch of the Zhifu brand.
On October 27, 2024, the highly anticipated fine jewelry brand ZHIFU held its "Butterfly Dreams" brand launch and fine jewelry showcase at the Waldorf Astoria Xiamen. Witnessed by hundreds of global jewelry enthusiasts, fashion elites, and media representatives, ZHIFU transformed the treasures of Chinese culture into an international, symbolic, and neutral jewelry language. This marks a significant step forward for Chinese original jewelry brands towards becoming international luxury icons.
Established in 1871, ZHIFU is backed by five generations of profound craftsmanship and cultural inheritance. Drawing inspiration from the deep-rooted concept of family in Chinese culture, the unique characteristics of Minnan culture, and the artisanal spirit of China, ZHIFU embodies 150 years of exquisite craftsmanship. The brand confidently integrates the essence of "ZHIFU," honoring classic Oriental aesthetics while capturing global fashion trends and fine jewelry standards.
Rooted in Tradition, Honoring Cultural Heritage
Classics originate from culture, yet transcend language and borders, conveying universal and enduring values. The name "ZHIFU" originates from the Eastern philosophy of harmony between humanity and nature. While the meaning of "fu" (fortune or blessings) may evolve over time, the "zhi" (planting) embodies an enduring pursuit of intrinsic values.
In a rapidly globalizing and technologically advancing world, the resurgence of Chinese confidence extends beyond economic power to include the rediscovery of philosophies like mutual benefit and harmonious coexistence. ZHIFU fine jewelry emerges from this tide of cultural confidence and spiritual resonance, embodying these ideals.
Founded in 1871, Zhifu Gold Shop has grown alongside the prosperity of Gulangyu Island.
ZHIFU was founded in 1871 by Shen Xuan-zeng with a goldsmith shop in Xiamen’s Gulangyu Island, renowned for its exquisite gold craftsmanship and a blend of Chinese and Western aesthetics. It quickly became a favorite among the elite of the era. Through the efforts of successive generations—Shen Sheng-shu, Shen Quan-mo, and Chen Bi-rong—ZHIFU incorporated the unique Minnan culture, influences from overseas Chinese communities, and Western fashion trends. By integrating natural gemstones into its designs, the brand showcased a harmonious fusion of vibrant elegance and timeless Chinese aesthetics.
Visionary Leadership of Shen Li-da: The Fifth Generation
As the fifth-generation inheritor, Shen Li-da is renowned for her innovative craftsmanship and distinctive "Jewelry Aesthetics" philosophy. At this launch event, ZHIFU unveiled fine jewelry designs that blend global fashion trends with contemporary cultural confidence and artisanal heritage. These pieces pay homage to Chinese cultural treasures while offering a fresh perspective on Oriental jewelry.
Coming from a family with deep roots in the jewelry industry, Shen Li-da is also a discerning collector. She has traveled extensively to museums and antique markets worldwide, amassing an impressive collection of antique jewelry, gold and silver artifacts, and textiles. Her keen observations revealed that many world-class luxury items had their origins in the East, particularly in China. These masterpieces once epitomized the essence of Chinese craftsmanship and cultural heritage.
Driven by an almost innate sense of mission, Shen Li-da strives to distill and create new expressions of Chinese cultural identity. She seeks to translate this deep-rooted cultural resonance into aesthetic symbols that empower modern lifestyles—simple yet profound, classic yet enduring.
The brand name aligns with its logo, and the logo reflects the brand's ethos.
ZHIFU’s unique logo draws inspiration from two beloved Chinese motifs: the gourd and the butterfly. The gourd, symbolizing "fortune and prosperity" (福禄), and the butterfly, signifying "layered blessings" (福叠), are ingeniously combined to create a sleek yet meaningful emblem. This design embodies the brand’s values, exuding warmth and confidence. Every detail of the logo has undergone hundreds of refinements to achieve a harmonious balance of dynamism and tranquility.
Beyond its visual appeal, the logo seamlessly integrates into jewelry designs, echoing its cultural significance and aesthetic form. This innovative approach encapsulates ZHIFU’s mission: transforming traditional culture into timeless symbols and elevating Oriental aesthetics into global trends.
After six years of exploration and refinement, ZHIFU has achieved a stunning transformation. Its works exemplify the delicate interplay between the tangible and the abstract, navigating effortlessly between simplicity and complexity. Backed by unparalleled craftsmanship, ZHIFU redefines the power and allure of Chinese original jewelry on the world stage.
Unique Craftsmanship: Forging a Fine Jewelry Brand
As the fifth-generation inheritor of ZHIFU Jewelry, Shen Li-da has dedicated her career to exploring and experimenting, seamlessly blending her innate sensitivity to jewelry and artistic talent with her deep love for Chinese classical culture. Over her 30-year career, Shen has created stunning jewelry masterpieces that have captured the attention and respect of the industry.
In 2012, Shen’s piece Blessings Upon Blessings made a remarkable debut at Sotheby’s, selling for over 5.5 times its estimated price. This moment marked her realization of the immense power of Chinese culture and artisanal craftsmanship. Following this, her works such as Longevity of Pines and Cranes, Happiness on Plum Blossoms, and Butterfly Dance Among Flowers received accolades, including multiple silver awards at the "Tiangong Jingzhi International Jewelry Design Competition."
In 2019, Shen published her book Jewelry Aesthetics, a structured analysis of the principles behind jewelry beauty. The book offered unique insights into the aesthetic experience of jewelry and provided new directions for the industry’s upgrade and transformation.
As a bearer of China’s intangible cultural heritage in gold and silver craftsmanship, Shen skillfully integrates traditional cultural elements and heritage techniques into contemporary jewelry designs. She continuously reflects on how to present traditional culture and Oriental aesthetics in a refined and simplified way, breaking the barriers of ethnicity and time to resonate with modern audiences.
In 2017, Shen established the ZHIFU Aesthetic Research and Development Center, providing her and her team a broader platform for creation and innovation. Leading a team with an average of over 20 years of professional experience, Shen combined traditional heritage techniques with modern jewelry-setting methods. Driven by the goal of expressing Chinese culture on a global stage, the team innovated techniques like the 12-Faceted Brilliance Setting and Permanent Pearl Setting, earning multiple national patents and over 100 intellectual property registrations.
The brilliance of Zhifu's "UP" high jewelry is enhanced by the "12-Facet Radiant Inlay Technique."
True innovation requires a higher level of wisdom than complexity, and Shen has repeatedly experienced the challenges of simplifying intricate processes. For example, the 12-Faceted Brilliance Setting patent alone took over a year to develop, involving interdisciplinary knowledge spanning mechanics, gemology, color science, and material science. With hundreds of comparative experiments and the creation of bespoke tools, ZHIFU has developed hundreds of specialized tools and invested significantly in cutting-edge equipment.
Zhifu's high jewelry embodies opulence while retaining the timeless elegance of Chinese aesthetics.
This dedication to innovation has borne fruit. ZHIFU’s haute couture jewelry, created through six years of meticulous research, strictly adheres to global fashion trends and international luxury standards. Each piece reflects a unique cultural experience, growing cultural confidence, and the utmost pursuit of craftsmanship, demonstrating China's bold attempt to step onto the world stage of fine jewelry.
The essence of haute couture jewelry lies in its refined craftsmanship, artistic value, and unique design philosophy. While China has a history of producing exquisite jewelry, much of it was confined to royal courts, with frequent upheavals leading to interruptions in the continuity of craftsmanship. Modern Chinese jewelry design is still a young industry, only about 40 years old. This presents both challenges and opportunities for pioneers like ZHIFU.
The Lianjia HOME fine jewelry collection is crafted with patented techniques: the "Radiant Ripple Inlay" and "Prismatic Glow Setting.
"For instance, the Brilliant Harmony Setting and Prismatic Radiance Setting techniques are exclusive to ZHIFU and add mesmerizing brilliance to otherwise minimalistic designs.
The exclusive "Radiant Ripple Inlay" and "Prismatic Glow Setting" techniques make the pieces even more dazzling and vibrant.
"For instance, the Brilliant Harmony Setting and Prismatic Radiance Setting techniques are exclusive to ZHIFU and add mesmerizing brilliance to otherwise minimalistic designs.
Picture description：The exclusive "Radiant Ripple Inlay" and "Prismatic Glow Setting" techniques make the pieces even more dazzling and vibrant.
The Brilliant Harmony Setting, inspired by Shen's quest for diamond perfection, minimizes metal interference with gemstones. Drawing inspiration from traditional flat carving techniques in goldwork, she eliminated excess gold prongs and polished the gold bases between diamonds to create a seamless mirror effect, perfectly merging traditional craftsmanship with modern techniques.
A single haute couture necklace from ZHIFU often involves over 30 intricate processes, taking 10 months and more than 2,400 hours to complete. The level of precision required means only a handful of artisans in China can undertake such work, which forms the foundation of ZHIFU’s confidence in competing on the international fine jewelry stage.
As Chinese youth increasingly embrace their cultural heritage, there is a growing demand for jewelry that resonates with their spirit and fosters cultural confidence. The emergence of high-quality Chinese jewelry brands is not only an inevitable trend of the times but also a necessity for consumers and a pursuit for visionary brands.
ZHIFU has positioned itself as a pioneer, practitioner, and driver in this transformative journey, showcasing the beauty of Oriental aesthetics and setting new benchmarks for Chinese fine jewelry on the global stage.
At the launch event for ZHIFU Jewelry, Shen Li-da passionately articulated her vision:
"The great revival of a nation is not merely about economic growth or enhanced national strength—it’s about the inheritance and development of its rich cultural traditions. Jewelry is one of the important mediums of this heritage. It carries our culture and aesthetics, bringing peace and harmony to our hearts. I aspire to build a brand that embodies Chinese originality, reflects our cultural essence, and competes alongside the world’s top luxury brands."
Blending East and West: A New Fashion in Oriental Aesthetics
Relying on ZHIFU’s unique brand philosophy and unparalleled craftsmanship, the event showcased several haute couture jewelry pieces and introduced five new series. The audience responded with great enthusiasm, captivated by the designs that perfectly merged traditional culture with modern aesthetics.
Zhifu ZHIFU high jewelry represents the culmination of 150 years of craftsmanship and aesthetic style.
A highlight of the event was the debut of the *ZHIFU* series. Shen emphasized its core design—a harmonious combination of a gourd and a butterfly. The gourd, a symbol of luck in Chinese culture, paired with the butterfly, a universally recognized emblem of transformation and beauty, forms a dynamic aesthetic blending stillness and movement. This design, which mirrors ZHIFU’s logo, captures the brand’s ethos: elegant, emotional, and imbued with Oriental charm.
In addition, Shen introduced other series rooted in Chinese culture yet boasting universal appeal:
“LUCK” Series: Simplified jewelry inspired by the 《I Ching》(Book of Changes), transforming ancient wisdom into modern minimalist symbols.
UP” Series: Inspired by the tenacity of the bougainvillea, a symbol of resilience in Southern China.
“HOME” Series: Featuring motifs like swallows, it conveys the warmth and energy of sunlight.
“LOVING” Series: Rooted in jade culture, this collection embodies the philosophy of harmony between humanity and nature.
Each series stands out for its cultural symbolism, international appeal, and gender-neutral designs, making the pieces versatile for both individual wear and stacking with luxury brand jewelry.
ZHIFU high jewelry infuses the soul of Oriental aesthetics into its designs.
The *ZHIFU* haute couture collection is a testament to the brand’s 150-year legacy of craftsmanship and aesthetic mastery. Combining traditional cultural motifs with modern design, the collection employs techniques like seamless pave diamond settings and intricate spatial design to create elegant, silky contours. The interlocking butterfly wings symbolize the enduring transmission of happiness and prosperity.
For instance, Shen’s pursuit of perfection in creating an *18K rose gold* tone suited for Asian skin involved consulting material science experts worldwide. Over 100 trials and the use of dozens of kilograms of gold eventually led to ZHIFU’s signature warm and luminous rose gold—both hypoallergenic and highly durable.
The "Happiness Palette" features therapeutic and calming effects.
ZHIFU’s exclusive *Happiness Palette* reflects Shen’s dedication to creating emotionally soothing jewelry. She scoured the globe for gemstones with subtle tonal differences, such as emeralds, aquamarines, and pink sapphires, meticulously pairing them to achieve a harmonious, uplifting visual experience.
The result Jewelry that resonates emotionally, instilling calm and joy. This approach extends to even the smallest details, like the curvature of clasps, which ensures a seamless, balanced appearance from every angle.
The Vision of a Pioneer
ZHIFU is breaking boundaries—merging traditional culture with modern jewelry, blending Eastern and Western craftsmanship, and challenging the limits of jewelry aesthetics. By championing the timeless value of haute couture, the brand calls for a deeper spiritual resonance and cultural confidence among its wearers.
Shen Li-da’s ambition for ZHIFU is clear:
"We aim to redefine the global perception of Chinese jewelry. Rooted in our rich cultural heritage, ZHIFU showcases the essence of Oriental aesthetics and timeless craftsmanship. It is a powerful cultural export that offers global jewelry enthusiasts a unique experience."
As the jewelry industry evolves, ZHIFU stands as a trailblazer, inspiring more brands to delve into Chinese culture and craftsmanship. Together, they are crafting a future where Chinese jewelry not only competes with but shines on the global stage.
About Shen Li-da
Born into a family with five generations of jewelry craftsmanship, Shen Li-da is an internationally certified gemologist (FGA) and former jewelry expert for CCTV1’s *Treasure Hunt* program. She was named a Pioneer in Jewelry Industry Reform during China’s 40th-anniversary celebrations of economic reform. Shen also serves as a guest lecturer at Tsinghua University, Sun Yat-sen University, and Xiamen University.
Her published works include *The Aesthetics of Jadeite*, *Understanding Amber*, and *Jewelry Aesthetics*, among others, reflecting her profound insights into jewelry design, history, and cultural significance.
