As our teams move between New York, London, and Hong Kong, we’ve noticed a distinct shift recently: the world’s most stylish circles are trading their screens for ivory-hued tiles. Mahjong is back, and it’s now global.
More than a game, mahjong is both a ritual and a sensory experience. The rhythmic clack of the tiles serves as a fanfare, heralding the strategy, artisanship, and cultural history of the game. Its resurgence comes naturally in an era of digital fatigue, as we find ourselves drawn to physical objects of weight, intention, and exquisite craft — qualities inseparable from the jeweler’s art.
Here, we explore the shared DNA between this gem of a game and some exceptional pieces in our upcoming jewels auction. Plus, join us on Saturday, 28 March in Hong Kong for a special event — wear your favorite jewelry for an afternoon of mahjong games, enjoy delicious Cantonese delicacies and sparkling tea, and discover the remarkable pieces in The Hong Kong Jewels Auction. Attire: Mahjong Bling.
A Perfected Craft
Lot 589: Cartier, Art Deco Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire and Diamond Bracelet, 1931. The Hong Kong Jewels Auction.
Historically, mahjong tiles were carved by hand from bone and bamboo. These artisan tile-makers shared much with both gem cutters and bench jewelers, as each work precious materials until only the essential remains. In both cases, this delicate, high-stakes balance is a window into a world of intrigue.
We see this same precision in Lot 589, an extraordinary Cartier bracelet. Here, a line of old European-cut and baguette diamonds spans the links like a tightrope, secured by a vibrant clasp of ruby, sapphire, and emerald. Similarly, the JAR ear clips (Lot 575) put the jeweler’s mastery on full display — their vivid palette and sinuous form feel as effortless and beautiful as nature itself.
Lot 575: JAR, Pair of Aluminum Ear Clips, 'Pansy'. The Hong Kong Jewels Auction.
Enter the Three Dragons
Lot 569: Pair of Ruby and Diamond Earrings. The Hong Kong Jewels Auction.
Mahjong tiles are divided into two main categories: Suits (the numbered tiles) and Honors. The Dragon tiles are the game’s most powerful and symbolic Honors. Just as the Three Dragons anchor a winning mahjong hand, these colors — the deep green of prosperity, the vivid red of success, and the pure white of the essential — anchor coveted lots in our auction.
The Red Dragon is associated with the historical concept of passing the imperial examination, symbolizing the moment a scholar or artisan reaches the peak of their profession. This pair of ruby and diamond earrings (Lot 569) symbolizes an occasion of high-stakes personal triumph perfectly, with its unheated Burmese rubies weighing a combined 4.03 carats in total. To hold a Red Dragon tile is to hold a symbol of power; to wear the earrings that mirror them is to embody it.
Lot 559: Emerald and Diamond Ring. The Hong Kong Jewels Auction.
The Green Dragon symbolizes prosperity and growth, a convergence of the earth‘s flourishing and our own. To adorn ourselves with such resounding symbolism, we could do no better than Lot 559. This remarkable ring is set with a step-cut emerald weighing 9.22 carats, accompanied by Gübelin and SSEF reports confirming its Colombian origin and lack of clarity enhancement. It‘s simply nature “striking it rich.”
Lot 528: Diamond Bracelet. The Hong Kong Jewels Auction.
Turning our sights to the purity and truth of the White Dragon, we encounter Lot 528 — a stunning French diamond bracelet. Of scroll design, a bracelet this perfectly executed is a masterclass in the clarity the White Dragon symbolizes in Chinese philosophy, and the brilliant-cut and baguette diamonds embrace the wrist with a lucid wisdom.
The Stone of Heaven and the Game of Sparrows
Jade was one of the earliest materials used for mahjong tiles, and both jade and mahjong carry a trinity of culturally powerful meanings in Asia — luck, protection, and prosperity.
Lot 587: Pair of Jadeite and Diamond Earrings. The Hong Kong Jewels Auction.
Long before it was used for gaming, jade was carved into ritual objects and burial attire, as it was believed to grant immortality and connect the earthly realm to the divine. When mahjong transitioned from a folk game to a pastime of the imperial elite and wealthy merchant classes, crafting tiles from jade was a way to elevate the game to a sacred status.
That sacred status is reflected beautifully in Lot 587. These earrings have the power to elevate even a simple outfit to a higher plane, set with four miraculous pear-shaped jadeite cabochons of bright emerald green colour and high translucency. The brilliant-cut diamond surrounds, and the oval-cut diamond surmounts, ground the earrings with a sense of purity — they are the divine spirit hanging powerfully from the ears.
Lot 544: Jadeite and Diamond Brooch. The Hong Kong Jewels Auction.
Due to jade’s significance in Asian culture, both jade jewelry and fine mahjong sets are often viewed as heirlooms. Both objects serve as vessels for family history, carrying the stories of the ancestors who held them.
Lot 544 is well-suited to this tradition. Timeless and versatile, this magnificent brooch doesn’t go out of fashion; new generations just find new ways to style it. Set with a bright green oval jadeite cabochon with very good translucency and no resin, and embraced by marquise-shaped and brilliant-cut diamond pierced surrounds, it’s an heirloom waiting to carry your story.
The Soundscape
The clicking of mahjong tiles inspires jewelry that moves, chimes, or layers — stacked bangles, charm bracelets, and articulated pieces. These ideas are reflected beautifully in Lot 507 — a breathtaking Bulgari bangle.
Lot 507: Bulgari, Porcelain and Gem Set Bangle, 'Chandra'. The Hong Kong Jewels Auction.
This Bulgari 'Chandra' bangle mirrors the sensory allure of mahjong through its smooth white porcelain surfaces that evoke the cool, milky feel of a high-quality tile in the palm. The colourful heart-shaped cabochons of tourmalines, amethyst, citrine, and peridot also engage the senses, like a gentle rolled chord on a harp.
Stacking it with Lot 566 — a gold and diamond bracelet from the house of Van Cleef & Arpels — creates a soundscape of pure luxury that echoes the same crisp, musical clack of mahjong tiles being shuffled or played.
Make these pieces yours, and join us for a game.
Lot 566: Van Cleef & Arpels, Gold and Diamond Bracelet. The Hong Kong Jewels Auction.
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