Chinese jewellery designer Violet Guo on her Centauri Lucy brand and what inspires it

Chongqing-born, Sydney-raised jeweller and geologist Violet Guo describes how her love of antiquity inspires her brand, Centauri Lucy.

"It started with my fascination with antiques. I love studying the craftsmanship in antique jewellery and understanding how it was made with limited technology [compared with now]. For me, the beauty lies in the complicated details. With gems, the fact that the creation of a stone requires a particular climatic temperature and natural chemistry created by the Earth over centuries is amazing - such a romantic notion. It is because of this that I studied gemstones, got certified by the International Gemological Institute and became a gemologist."

"I was born in Chongqing, to a family of scholars. My grandfather collected antique Chinese calligraphy and paintings. So perhaps art is in my blood. When I went to Sydney for school as a young child, I felt hungry to know more about Western art history."

"Emerald is one of the most ancient gems to have been found or recorded. When I am designing for myself, I often use them."

"Choosing one era is very difficult! If I must pick, then Renaissance must be top of the list. My Heritage collection shows how baroque, art nouveau and art deco styles have influenced me greatly. Without the Renaissance, would those three styles even exist?"