Last year my dad took a trip to our hometown Shanghai, when he came back, he not only brought back updates on our relatives, stories about his old friends, but also this necklace, one of my grandma’s necklaces. I’m not sure whether my grandma decided which grandchild should have what and gave this to my dad, or perhaps he picked this especially for me.

I instantly fell in love with this beautiful necklace when my dad handed it to me. How could I not? The gorgeously cut pale blue gemstone, the delicate pendant setting and the inscripted clasp. It’s old gold and made in a time and place where craftsmanship was deeply valued. To think my grandma picked this for herself 20, 30 or more years ago is incredible, even more incredible if she was given this by a loved one, just like she now gave this to me.

To top it off, my mum even has a story about this very necklace. When my mum and dad first got married, they were young and skint with little possessions. Attending one of my uncle’s wedding, my mum had no necklace to wear. This was a time in Shanghai when you either owned real gold jewellery or none at all. My grandma saw my mum’s bare neck and loaned this very necklace to her for the night, so in a funny round about way, this necklace came back to her. To me.

Happy Chinese new year everyone. May the year of dragon bring you plenty of good fortune and maybe an heirloom necklace or two!