The ballerina fairies are a nod to the influence of the Ballets Russes on jewelry. The exotic themes and colors of the fantastic costumes and productions performed in Paris and throughout Europe and the Americas from 1909 to 1929 began to be reflected in couture jewelry and changed the course of design. Instead of traditional tutus, Hu attires her fairies in undulating flower petals so technically precise in their execution that the stones and mounting create the impression of a swirl of fabric around an expressive dancer.

Each ballerina fairy required extensive research into both the balletic pose of the dancer and the flower that forms her skirt. Hu wanted to capture authentic ballet movement in the jewels and studied videos of the jumps and turns of Russian ballerina Irina Kolesnikova as well as Korean Olympic gold medalist ice skater Yuna Kim.

Cherry Blossom Ballerina Fairy Brooch/Pendant A 0.52-carat D/VVS2 pear-shaped brilliant-cut diamond, white diamonds, pink and white sapphires; 18-karat white and rose gold This ethereal fairy, clothed in a tutu of cherry blossoms, is posed in an elegant effacé. The cherry blossom (sakura) theme is important in Japanese art, representing the ephemeral beauty of life.
	Peony Ballerina Fairy Brooch/Pendant A 0.52-carat D/VVS1 pear-shaped brilliant-cut diamond; white, yellow, and orange diamonds; pink sapphires; South Sea pearl; spinels; 18-karat white, yellow, and rose gold A fairy captured in transition to passé relevé is attired in a tutu evoking a sumptuous peony blossom that attracts gold-and-diamond bees. Known in China as the “king of flowers,” the peony represents wealth and feminine beauty. There are two variations of this brooch, one with a diamond headpiece and the other with a spinel headpiece.
Hydrangea Ballerina Fairy Brooch/Pendant A 0.58-carat D/VVS2 pear-shaped brilliant-cut diamond; white, yellow, and pink diamonds; pink, purple, and blue sapphires; Paraiba tourmalines; 18-karat white, yellow, and rose gold Hu took special care to naturalistically re-create the shape of the hydrangea petals comprising the skirt of this tutu. Pink sapphire and yellow diamond dragonflies are drawn to the flower skirt of this fairy as she performs a grand jeté.
	Bird of Paradise Ballerina Fairy Brooch/Pendant A 0.54-carat E/VS1 pear-shaped brilliant-cut diamond; white and yellow diamonds; purple, blue, and orange sapphires; Paraiba tourmalines; 18-karat white and yellow gold Inspired by George Balanchine’s choreography for Igor Stravinsky’s Firebird, Hu captures this fairy in sissonne attitude. The undulating petals of the bird of paradise flower wrap the dancer in pavé curves of cool and warm tones.
Bianca Lily Ballerina Fairy Brooch/Pendant A 0.50-carat E/VS1 pear-shaped brilliant-cut diamond, white diamonds; 18-karat white gold The purity of the all-white diamond palette of the Bianca Lily Fairy is in stark contrast to the other color-saturated ballerina fairies in the series. Hu paid particular attention to the arm placement, expressively bending one arm and turning the hand inward, as the ballerina poses in an introspective arabesque.
	Royal Orchid Ballerina Fairy Brooch/Pendant A 0.57-carat D/VVS2 pear-shaped brilliant-cut diamond, Paraiba tourmalines, blue and pink sapphires, diamonds; 18-karat white and rose gold Prized for their rarity and beauty, orchids have been treasured and cultivated for hundreds of years. The broad blue and pink petals of a Phalaenopsis form the tutu of a dancer poised in tendu derrière.
Opium Poppy Ballerina Fairy Brooch/Pendant A 0.55-carat D/VVS1 pear-shaped brilliant-cut diamond, orange and pink sapphires, spinels, diamonds; 18-karat white and yellow gold Hu first created jewels inspired by the poppy at the request of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan, for his wife. The national flower of Bhutan is the Himalayan Blue Poppy. For this dancer, Hu turned to the warm tones of the beautiful but narcotic opium poppy. Its petals swirl around her as she strikes an alluring arabesque.
	Duchess Hibiscus Ballerina Fairy Brooch/Pendant A 0.61-carat D/VVS1 pear-shaped brilliant-cut diamond, a Baroque pearl, diamonds; 18-karat white gold Hu reinterpreted her iconic Duchess Hibiscus ring as an ethereal ballerina. Statuesque in a fifth-position relevé atop a Baroque pearl, the all-white figure is swathed in a romantic, stylized flower tutu punctuated by diamond ribbons, from which diamond briolettes dangle. Subtle details distinguish this brooch, from the diamond ballet slippers to the cheeky reveal of the dancer’s body.
Celestial Lotus Ballerina Fairy Brooch/Pendant A 0.50-carat F/VVS2 pear-shaped brilliant-cut diamond, rubies, pink sapphires, diamonds; titanium and 18-karat white and rose gold Inspired by Hu’s Celestial Lotus Necklace, this fairy is enveloped in a lotus tutu based on the red lotus paintings of Zhang Daqian, the renowned Chinese modern impressionist artist. The expressive pose of the en pointe dancer, her upper body arching gracefully to one side, is heightened by the movement of the pink sapphire– tipped petals.
	Asura Rose Ballerina Fairy Brooch/Pendant A 10.95-carat Paraiba tourmaline, a 0.50-carat E/VS1 round brilliant-cut diamond, diamonds, Paraiba tourmalines, pink sapphires; 18-karat white gold This ballerina fairy is clothed in a white rose tinged with pink and blue. A diamond ribbon threads around her limbs as she executes an expansive arabesque. Asura, a Hindu deity, dances atop a wheel of fire fashioned out of a dazzling Paraiba tourmaline. Traditionally associated with male protagonists, here the wheel of fire is transformed into a powerful expression of femininity.
Iris Ballerina Fairy Brooch/Pendant A 0.52-carat D/VS1 pear-shaped brilliant-cut diamond, colored sapphires, diamonds, Paraiba tourmalines; 18-karat white gold Paraiba tourmalines and vari-colored sapphires tinge the iris tutu on this dancer with blues and greens. A matching headband frames her diamond face, upturned with joy as she performs a cabriole.