Year of the Tiger: Jewellery to Usher in Chinese New Year 2022

January 20, 2022

By Katerina Perez

9 min read

Said to embody confidence, charisma and courage, the Year of the Tiger will begin on February 1 and bring forth a year full of opportunities. For those with the ambition to grab these possibilities with both hands, you’ll need to make sure your wrists and fingers are adorned with jewels! Here is a selection of tiger inspired jewellery creations that commemorate this auspicious year in the Chinese Zodiac.

Like all other animals in the Chinese Zodiac, the Tiger is symbolic of positive and negative attributes in equal measure. People born under the predatory eye of the tiger are said to be brave, competitive, and confident, but also unpredictable, prone to mood swings and indulgences. Perhaps, as you are reading this article, your preferred indulgence is fine jewellery!

Stenzhorn Savages Feline pendant in 18k gold with diamonds and yellow sapphires

Stenzhorn Savages Feline pendant in 18k gold with diamonds and yellow sapphires

Those born in a Tiger year (2010, 1998, 1986, 1974 and 1962, for example) are fast decision-makers, with strong leadership skills and plenty of charisma. For these personality types, I imagine bold, striking, and confident jewellery pieces that don’t shy away from the spotlight and reflect exceptional feats of craftsmanship, stone setting and design. I’m sure you will spot examples of these attributes below. According to my research, lucky colours for those born in the Year of the Tiger are blue, grey and orange, which opens up a nice array of gemmological possibilities.

Ming Song Haute Joaillerie Le Tigre Blanc bracelet with a 10.51ct oval-cut diamond, Burmese rubies, diamonds, onyx and ruby eyes, created by Dennis Song

Ming Song Haute Joaillerie Le Tigre Blanc bracelet with a 10.51ct oval-cut diamond, Burmese rubies, diamonds, onyx and ruby eyes, created by Dennis Song

 Ming Song Haute Joaillerie Le Tigre Doré earrings

Ming Song Haute Joaillerie Le Tigre Doré earrings

 Ming Song Haute Joaillerie Le Tigre Doré bracelet with a 10.34ct emerald-cut diamond, Burmese rubies, brown, orange and yellow diamonds, onyx, ruby eyes and brilliant-cut diamonds, created by Dennis Song

Ming Song Haute Joaillerie Le Tigre Doré bracelet with a 10.34ct emerald-cut diamond, Burmese rubies, brown, orange and yellow diamonds, onyx, ruby eyes and brilliant-cut diamonds, created by Dennis Song

 Ming Song Haute Joaillerie Le Tigre Doré earrings with a 10.11ct and 10.02ct fancy yellow pear-cut diamond, brown, orange and yellow diamonds, onyx, ruby eyes and brilliant-cut diamonds, created by Dennis Song

Ming Song Haute Joaillerie Le Tigre Doré earrings with a 10.11ct and 10.02ct fancy yellow pear-cut diamond, brown, orange and yellow diamonds, onyx, ruby eyes and brilliant-cut diamonds, created by Dennis Song

Chinese New Year falls on February 1, 2022, replacing the Year of the Ox and preceding the Year of the Rabbit in 2023. If you are preparing to celebrate or simply expanding an ever-growing collection of Chinese Zodiac jewels, there are some diverse tiger-inspired jewels to peruse below.

Amanda Marcucci Tiger ring with ruby eyes in 14k yellow gold

Amanda Marcucci Tiger ring with ruby eyes in 14k yellow gold

It is noteworthy that finding these examples was surprisingly challenging. Perhaps there is a fear among fine and high jewellers that the tiger can quickly pounce into gaudy territory if not treated with the utmost artistic respect. Or perhaps it is simply that these cats are such a bold statement not many women (or indeed men) are daring enough to attempt them? Whatever the case, there’s mostly a leaning towards rose and yellow gold for interpretations of the tiger, coupled with orange, yellow and red gemstones, but also green emeralds and tsavorites that place the tiger in the context of its natural habitat. The majority of the pieces I have found to present here are literal – tiger’s heads as high jewellery earrings by Sicis; bejewelled tiger’s head medallions at Stenzhorn; and two tigers fighting over a diamond in an exceptional bracelet by Dennis Song. This is no doubt because the tiger is such an evocative symbol of power, poise and animal instinct… why settle for a tiger stripe when you can wear the whole tiger? Take a look and decide for yourself…

Sicis

Sicis

Jeux Félines necklace with black and champagne diamond threads and a micromosaic tiger pendant

Stenzhorn

Stenzhorn

Savages Feline pendant with 7 carats of diamonds and yellow sapphires in 18k gold

Graff

Graff

GyroGraff Endangered species Tiger watch

Annoushka

Annoushka

Mythology Chinese Tiger red envelope charm in 18k gold

Chamovskikh

Chamovskikh

Totem tiger earrings with diamonds and ceramic in yellow and white gold

Amanda Marcucci

Amanda Marcucci

Tiger ring with ruby eyes in 14k gold and decorated with enamel

Boucheron

Boucheron

Bagha Tiger ring with a green tourmaline in 18k pink gold

Roberto Cavalli

Roberto Cavalli

A model wears tiger print on the SS22 catwalk

Cartier

Cartier

Cartier Panthère Skeleton ring in 18k gold with tsavorite garnets and onyx

Jaquet Droz

Jaquet Droz

Petite Heure Minute Tiger watches

Sicis

Sicis

Jeux Félines earrings in yellow gold with a micromosaic tiger's head, embellished by black diamonds and yellow and orange sapphires

Roberto Coin

Roberto Coin

Animalier Siberian Tigers Limited Edition bracelet in 18K white gold with black and colourless diamonds, pink sapphires and enamel

David Webb

David Webb

Tiger ring with a carved emerald, cabochon rubies, brilliant-cut diamonds and black enamel in 18K gold and platinum

Roberto Cavalli

Roberto Cavalli

A model wears tiger print on the SS22 catwalk

Sicis

Sicis

Jeux Félines ring in yellow gold with a micromosaic tiger, black diamonds and yellow and orange sapphires

Lydia Courteille

Lydia Courteille

Tiger bangle with a gem-set monkey in pink sapphires and diamonds

Fabergé

Fabergé

Heritage Year of the Tiger Surprise locket in yellow gold, diamond and red guilloché enamel

Roberto Coin

Roberto Coin

Animalier Siberian Tigers Limited Edition ring in 18K white gold with colourless and black diamonds, pink sapphires and enamel

Chopard

Chopard

Animal World Tiger necklace

Cartier

Cartier

Panthère de Cartier necklace

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