To celebrate Chinese New Year – heralding the Year of the Ox – Fabergé has created the latest in a series of Heritage Red Guilloché Enamel Egg Lockets, designed for the gifting season. The new Ox edition completes the set of 12 Chinese Zodiac animal surprises.
The Chinese New Year Heritage Surprise Lockets each feature red guilloché enamel for luck and posterity, and 15 round brilliant-cut diamonds set in 18k yellow gold. The signature egg-shaped locket opens with a gentle touch to reveal a Fabergé surprise, with the latest edition being a delicate 18k yellow gold Ox with dazzling diamond eyes.
The Ox is the second Zodiac animal, and in Chinese culture is valued because of its role in agriculture. Oxen are believed to be hardworking and honest people, never looking for praise or desiring to be the centre of attention. They are believed to gain recognition through their hard work.
It has been over 100 years since Fabergé’s first creations for the Chinese New Year. Master craftsman Francois Birbaum was commissioned by the royal court of Siam to make a series of objets and trinkets for the Year of the Pig in 1911. In 2016, Fabergé revived this tradition for the Year of the Monkey, following suit with the introduction of new animals over the coming years.
The new Heritage Yellow Gold and Red Guilloché Enamel ‘Year of the Ox’ Surprise Locket retails at £9,600/$10,500 and is available to purchase at Fabergé.com and at selected Fabergé stockists.