YEN JEWELLERY
Jewellery is one of the few things that can hold memory, emotion and meaning all at once. It marks love, celebrates life and carries stories across generations. My relationship with jewellery began long before I chose it as a profession.
MY STORY
Born in Vietnam, my early life was shaped by movement and change. During my family's journey across the South China Sea, jewellery became far more than adornment. Small pieces of gold carried security and hope, holding both practical and emotional value through uncertain times.
That understanding has stayed with me. To me, jewellery is never simply decorative. It represents resilience, connection and the moments that shape our lives.
Growing up between Vietnam, Hong Kong, rural Wales and London, I found expression through making. When words felt distant, creating became a language of its own. Jewellery became the medium through which I could explore identity, memory and form.
Studying at The Sir John Cass School of Art in London gave me the technical foundation to develop my ideas, but it was through years of independent practice that my creative voice evolved. Movement, structural complexity and the relationship between jewellery and the body have remained central to my work.
From this emerged my signature Molecule Design Structure, a design language inspired by the hidden architecture of molecular forms, where strength and fluidity exist in balance. It continues to shape every collection and bespoke commission created by YEN Jewellery today.
I design jewellery that feels alive.
Movement is at the heart of my work, each piece is designed to respond to the body, becoming part of the wearer. Guided by both physical and visual movement, I continually explore balance: between structure and fluidity, stillness and motion, presence and lightness.
Inspired by molecular forms, my work reflects an underlying order with freedom to evolve, frameworks that hold, yet never feel static.
Over the past three decades, I have developed collections and bespoke commissions shaped by this design philosophy. As founder and creative director of YEN Jewellery, I lead the creative direction of every collection and bespoke commission, working closely with craftspeople to realise each piece with the originality, movement and sculptural expression that have become the hallmark of YEN Jewellery.
My work has been presented nationally, at Sotheby’s, The Goldsmiths’ Company, the Crafts Council, Liberty London, Selfridges, and Harvey Nichols.
Collections are available to view by appointment at Cockpit Studios, Bloomsbury, where each piece can be experienced as it is intended, through movement, light, and touch. Bespoke commissions offer a thoughtful, collaborative process, creating pieces that reflect individual stories and connections.
SUSTAINABILITY
As a jeweller, it is a privilege to work with precious metals and gemstones. I recognise the responsibility that comes with using these finite natural resources and strive to make thoughtful choices about how they are sourced and used.
I work with trusted suppliers who share my values and am committed to continually reviewing my practices, reducing my environmental impact where possible, and making more responsible choices as my business evolves.
OUR SOURCING
RECYCLED PRECIOUS METALS
We use 100% recycled gold and, wherever possible, recycled silver. Our trusted suppliers provide transparency about the origin of our precious metals, ensuring they are responsibly sourced and not linked to conflict-affected regions. By choosing recycled metals, we minimise the use of newly mined materials, helping to reduce environmental impact and protect both people and the planet.
JEWELS & STONES
We work with trusted suppliers who are committed to sourcing diamonds, gemstones and precious materials responsibly and ethically, with transparency throughout the supply chain.
DIAMONDS
Our certified natural diamonds are sourced from suppliers who adhere to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. For clients seeking additional traceability, we can source Canadian diamonds, recognised for their rigorous environmental standards and responsible mining practices. We also offer certified lab-grown diamonds, which are chemically, physically and optically identical to natural diamonds, providing an alternative choice for clients.
REPURPOSED PRECIOUS METALS & JEWELS
Repurposing pre-owned precious metals and gemstones, including our clients' heirloom jewellery, allows us to create unique contemporary pieces while giving existing materials a new life. This approach reduces the need for newly mined resources while celebrating the history and sentiment of existing materials. As with many vintage and antique pieces, the original provenance of repurposed materials may not always be known.
OUR SUPPLIERS
Working with suppliers who share our values is fundamental to the way we work. It is a privilege to collaborate with the jewellers, gemstone dealers and master traders of Hatton Garden, many of whom I have worked with for nearly 30 years. These family-run businesses have, for generations, sourced some of the world's finest diamonds, coloured gemstones and precious metals.
These trusted relationships provide me and my team of independent makers with quality materials, allowing us to create jewellery with confidence, integrity and craftsmanship at its heart.
“Yen’s work is feminine yet striking and the collection is a wonderful example of how Yen’s molecule theme continues to be the inspiration behind her new designs. Yen has successfully managed to maintain her signature while taking it to another level."
Joanna Hardy, Jewellery Specialist for the BBC Antique Road Show & Sotheby's