Giving jewelry a new sparkle

Aster Ma's collections are influenced by nature, drawing inspiration from flowers and animals. [Photo provided to China Daily]

"Whatever jewelry that belongs to people, it comes from nature and is always part of nature," says Ma.

Ma, who has nurtured her clientele over the last seven years, says that Chinese customers have evolved tremendously in the past few years as they are now more exposed to international trends.

While some of her 30 clients, many of whom are successful entrepreneurs or their spouses, earlier saw jewelry as a form of investment, many now realize that the most important function of jewelry is to make the wearer look "charming and beautiful," she says.

She recalls trying on diamond rings as a child while the other kids were playing with their toys.

Ma, who has practiced ballet since she was 5 years old, is also interested in music and art.

She went to the United Kingdom to study jewelry design at University of the Arts London and returned to China in 2008.