Bertrand Mak is a Hong Kong–based British artist, designer and entrepreneur of Chinese descent. He is the founder and chief creator of art and luxury brand Sauvereign as well as the proprietor of CrystallineTM, a gold leafing technique he had reinvented in 2012. His designs have been worn by notable people including Lady Violet Manners, Lady Amelia and Eliza Spencer, Zara Tindall, Olivia Colman, Kristin Scott Thomas,https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/fashion/a62220442/dame-kristin-scott-thomas-silver-hair-emmys/ Maria Sharapova,https://www.hellomagazine.com/hfm/fashion-trends/733476/best-dressed-guests-fashion-awards-2024/ Cillian Murphy, Brady Corbet,https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/brady-corbet-brooch-oscars-2025 Mahira Abdel Aziz,https://www.instagram.com/p/DLP4ZYRppi1/?img_index=1&igsh=MmhycGo1cXM5cnhn Michelle Dockery,https://tomandlorenzo.com/2025/09/downton-abbey-star-michelle-dockery-on-the-tonight-show-starring-jimmy-fallon/ Natalia Vodianova,https://www.instagram.com/p/DQRdXBRDPjz/ and Kieran Culkin.https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/15/style/oscars-2026-red-carpet-photos.html
Education and career Bertrand Mak attended Harrow School on an entrance music scholarship and won admission to the University of Cambridge. It was at Harrow where his interest in watches became the seed that grew into his career. After graduation, he worked as a management trainee for Louis Vuitton, subsequently joining Christie's as a watch specialist. In 2017, he founded R. Sanderson in collaboration with British shoemaker Rupert Sanderson, and in 2020, founded Sauvereign as an independent brand with stores in high-end luxury malls including Landmark, Elements, and Bellavita. In his current venture, he collaborates with international studios and figures including Zohiko, Wing Shya, Christopher Makos, Olivia Putman, Kari Voutilainen, and Zeng Fanzhi to create cross-disciplinary objects of wearable art.
Notable projects
Art and Community Bertrand Mak has several notable projects that contribute to culture as well as community: Year Nature of Project Project Title2017Art ExhibitionAndy Warhol: Shadows in Hong Kong2019Art ExhibitionAndy Warhol: Shadows in Taipei2019Charity FundraisingCreating Legends: Campaign to Support the End Child Sexual Abuse Foundation (ECSAF) founded by Josephine SiaoAnnual Report 2019-2020, End Child Sexual Abuse Foundation, 2020. P.32 (https://www.ecsaf.org.hk/images/upload_images/file/ECSAF%20Annual%20Report%202019-2020.pdf)2022Art ExhibitionWing Shya: Colours of 1000 Gems2022Art ExhibitionWarhol Makos: Andy Loves Hong Kong2023Art ExhibitionDualités: Mosaic of Details
Design at the Oscars For the 96th Academy Awards in 2024, Bertrand Mak designed a bespoke brooch for the Oscar Winner of Best Actor, Cillian Murphy. The brooch, named HS14, was a unique piece expressively conceived and created for Murphy and inspired by the actor’s leading role in the cinematic masterpiece Oppenheimer. HS14 is made of solid 18K yellow gold, and was hand-cut, hand-finished, and assembled by Kari Voutilainen in Val-de-Travers, Switzerland.
In 2025, Bertrand Mak also designed a bespoke brooch for the Oscar Nominee of Best Picture, Director, and Original Screenplay, Brady Corbet, for his epic period The Brutalist at the 97th Academy Awards. The brooch, named Endeavour, was a unique piece custom-made in sterling silver for Corbet, inspired by the raw, geometric style of Brutalist architecture and a tribute to spomenik.
For a third year running, Bertrand Mak designed and created another bespoke brooch for the 98th Academy Awards, worn by the Oscars Winner of Best Supporting Actor, Kieran Culkin. Named Untitled 21, the brooch is a one-of-a-kind, 2-piece 18K yellow gold creation made again by Kari Voutilainen in Val-de-Travers. The abstract design is a brushstroke from the work of an unidentified contemporary Asian artist, composed of two distinct gestures realised by hand engraving and engine turning.
Selected Interviews and articles Published Date Publication Author ArticleJune 12, 2014Business of FashionDivia HarilelaRupert Sanderson on Launching a Niche Brand in ChinaJune 27, 2014South China Morning PostDivia HarilelaBertrand Mak puts fine craftsmanship first in eponymous luxury brandAugust, 2019PrestigePrestige 40 Under 40: Bertrand Mak, EntrepreneurJanuary 27, 2020ELLEJune Chow設計師專訪：R.Sanderson 創辦人Bertrand MakJune 26, 2020Hashtag LegendAlyanna PayosR. Sanderson rebrands as Sauvereign ahead of new campaignSeptember 25, 2020POPBEEAshley Pang被指「不懂得賺錢」？奢侈品牌 SAUVEREIGN 創辦人：不惜工本也要追求完美October 6, 2020Financial TimesKate YoudeMy Favourite Pieces: Bertrand Mak — 'Vintage is about scholarship and rarity, not money'May 7, 2021The StandardCrystal WuGolden reverieMay 27, 2021Tatler AsiaRosana LaiBertrand Mak's Favourite Sauvereign Styles Involve Little Twin Stars and 24K Gold LeafsMay 30, 2021Vogue Hong KongSimon Au香港品牌能走向奢華格調？ Sauvereign 創辦人Bertrand Mak 分享獨有見解August, 2021PrestigePrestige 40 Under 40: Bertrand Mak, Founder of SauvereignAugust 11, 2021Ming Pao沈晴迷上鐘表工藝 創奢侈品牌 麥柏靈：客人不是潮流奴隸November 18, 2021South China Morning PostLeona LiuYes, local Hong Kong fashion brands can be luxurious: Bertrand Mak on founding Sauvereign after designing for British shoe label Rupert SandersonFebruary 24, 2022Invest Hong Kong"The bespoke experience in retail", Bertrand Mak shares his thoughts about "Tiny dot" - Hong Kong (video)April 8, 2022Harper's BazaarKahlen Chen走進稀有性的殿堂！繼金箔傳奇之後，那些SAUVEREIGN真正值得收藏的設計May 24, 2023Women's Wear Daily (WWD)Miles SochaStudio Putman Ventures From Interiors to AccessoriesJune 2, 2023Robb ReportP. RamakrishnanSauvereign and Studio Putman Celebrate Their Collaboration with "Dualités: Mosaic of Details" Exhibition in Hong KongJune 6, 2023Schön! MagazineJ. Bibi Coopersauvereign by studio putmanAugust 1, 2023Hashtag LegendHill Choi LeeSauvereign By Studio Putman brings collab collection to Hong KongSeptember 4, 2023Retail in AsiaManica TiglaoThrough Sauvereign, Bertrand Mak wants to put a Hong Kong-born art and luxury house on the global stageOctober 26, 2023When I was Young I Listen to the Radio 「口水多過浪花」with Do Do Cheng我係你老師：古董錶收藏家~ BERTRAND MAK~ (radio)March 10, 2024The Hollywood ReporterLaurie BrookinsCillian Murphy Wears ‘Oppenheimer’-Inspired Brooch to the Oscars (Exclusive)March 11, 2024British GQAdam CheungCillian Murphy's Oscars brooch was never meant to be at the OscarsMarch 11, 2024The MirrorTatiana KrisztinaOscars' Winner Cillian Murphy's brooch had special meaning behind itMarch 11, 2024EsquireConnie Chan《奧本海默》影帝Cillian Murphy配戴港產胸針「HS14」登上奧斯卡寶座｜品牌SAUVEREIGN大有來頭March 12, 2024The Beat AsiaAlisa ChauCillian Murphy Wears Hong Kong-brand SAUVERIGN Accepting Best Actor AwardMarch 12, 2024The StandardSophie HuiMurphy's golden link to Hong KongMarch 13, 2024Vogue Hong KongJunjie WangSauvereign’s Bertrand Mak On Designing Cillian Murphy’s Oscars BroochMarch 13, 2024New York TimesGuy TrebayThe Bro-Brooch Sweeps Award SeasonMarch 2024Gentlemen's JournalZak MaouiThe story behind Cillian Murphy's Oscars broochMarch 2024Grazia SingaporeZara ZhuangCILLIAN MURPHY’S OSCARS JEWELLERY IS A SUBTLE NOD TO ‘OPPENHEIMER’March 5, 2025British GQAdam CheungHow to make a big Hollywood broochApril 11, 2025VMan South East AsiaDayne AdunaMEET THE HONG KONG DESIGNER BEHIND HOLLYWOOD’S MOST STRIKING ACCESSORIESMay 9, 2025The TimesAnna MurphyChina’s fashion revolution: the rise of luxury clothing in the eastJune 19, 2025Tatler AsiaAmrita KataraWhere did the guilloché engraving technique come from and how did it become haute horlogerie’s most coveted craft?December 22, 2025ForbesLaia Farran GravesHow Men’s Jewelry Is Redefining Style In 2026March 16, 2026British GQAdam CheungThe inside track on Kieran Culkin's very artsy Oscars broochAugust 26, 2026The New York TimesTina Isaac-GoizéA Hong Kong Entrepreneur Creates 'Art to Wear'August 27, 2026Women's Wear Daily (WWD)Tianwei ZhangSauvereign Taps Zeng Fanzhi for Art-inspired Collectibles and Experiences
References
External links
Official Website founded by Bertrand Mak Financial Times - Kate Youde The New York Times - Tina Isaac-Goizé