Baron Necklace Kāhiko Noʻeau by Cindy Zhang

Baron Necklace Kāhiko Noʻeau by Cindy Zhang is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Keleawe in Hoʻolālā Lei a me Kahiko Competition Category.

KeleaweLei Kahiko· 2026

Baron Necklace Kāhiko Noʻeau

by Cindy Zhang

Client: Cindy Lu Jewelry

A' Design Award Keleawe Winner in Lei Kahiko Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #180466

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Baron Necklace Kāhiko Noʻeau

He mea hoʻoulu kēia hoʻolālā mai ka moʻolelo The Baron in the Trees, e wehewehe ana i ka manawa i koho ai ka Baron i ke kūʻokoʻa ma mua o ka hoʻokō like ʻana. Hōʻike nā laina metala kahe i ka makani nāna e lawe aku iā ia, i unuhi ʻia i mau ʻano wiwo ʻole a maʻamau ʻole. Hoʻoikaika nā kūʻēʻē kala ikaika i ka moʻolelo. Hōʻike ka ʻōmaʻomaʻo i ka ʻiʻini no ke ao kaupalena ʻole, akā hōʻailona ka garnet mandarin i ka Baron ponoʻī a me ke aloha mau no ke kanaka. Hoʻohanohano kēia mea i ka neʻe, ke kūʻokoʻa, a me ka ikaika o ke koho ʻana i ke ala ponoʻī o kekahi.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Keleawe

Ua lanakila ka hoʻolālā Baron Necklace Kāhiko Noʻeau i ka A' Design Award Keleawe, he ʻike hoʻohanohano nui loa i hāʻawi ʻia i nā hoʻolālā kūʻokoʻa i ʻike ʻia ma o ka hana noʻeau, ka akamai a me ka makakoho. He mau hana mākaukau a hana noʻeau kupaianaha nā lanakila Keleawe e hōʻoia ana i ka ʻike nui, ka noʻonoʻo a me ka maʻalea o kā lākou poʻe hoʻolālā. Manaʻo ʻia ʻo ka hoʻolālā Baron Necklace Kāhiko Noʻeau he mea i mahalo nui ʻia, hoʻohiwahiwa ʻia a aloha ʻia, he ʻoihana a hou loa. ʻO kēia hoʻolālā i lanakila i ka A' Design Award Keleawe e hoʻohui ana i nā hana maikaʻi loa o ka hana noʻeau, ka ʻepekema, ka hoʻolālā a me ka ʻenehana, a maikaʻi no kona nānā ʻana i nā kikoʻī. Hoʻokō maikaʻi ka hoʻolālā Baron Necklace Kāhiko Noʻeau i nā pono, hoʻopā i ka makemake, hoʻohiwahiwa i nā manaʻo a huki i ka makemake e ʻike.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: This idea is expressed through bold, unconventional metal lines and vivid color contrasts. Green conveys a desire for an unconstrained world, while mandarin garnet represents a lasting devotion to humanity. A pave of diamonds in varying sizes and a distinctive under bezel design bring together traditional wire sculpting and CAD modeling, resulting in a piece that is both visually compelling and comfortable to wear.
Dimensions & Packaging: Pendant
42.8 mm (width) × 80 mm (height) × 19.8 mm (depth)
Necklace length
50cm to 60cm adjustable
Tags: Art Jewelry necklace, vivid colors, 3D pave setting technique, 18k gold, Rhodium plating, adjustable
Production Technology: The necklace was developed through hand sketches, followed by copper and iron prototypes to refine the orientation of the lines. It was then modeled in Rhino and ZBrush and produced using casting techniques. Rhodium plating was applied to achieve the desired gold color. Split color diamonds are set along both sides of each line, ensuring the necklace shines from every angle in 360 degrees.
Design Challenge: The hardest part of the creative research challenge was researching and ideating the most authentic way to represent the essence of the book through design. From a craftsmen perspective determining the optimal orientation of the 3D model in Rhino so the diamonds are properly set and visible from 360 degrees was equally challenging. I went through countless discussions with the factory to balance feasibility and aesthetics.
Research: Using the Double Diamond research method to achieve the best jewelry wearing experience this necklace explores The Baron in the Trees through discovery definition development and delivery. Literary research and visual experimentation guided iterative design and material testing. Traditional craftsmanship combined with innovative techniques transforms artistic creativity into a wearable form that expresses intellectual freedom.
Inspiration: The design is inspired by The Baron in the Trees by Italo Calvino, whose depiction of independent thinking and a profound love for life deeply resonated with the designer. To express this pursuit of freedom, the necklace features distorted, complex lines that evoke the Baron’s final moment of release in the wildly blowing wind. Warm orange of natural gemstones contrast with cool green rhodium, conveying the novel’s emotional depth and commitment to intellectual freedom.
Project Duration: The project started in August 2025 in Pittsburgh and finished in January 2026 in Hongkong
Operation Flow: The length of the necklace is adjustable to suit different outfits.
Patents: Copyrights belong to Cindy Lu LLC, 2026