by HOU Ruining

Chow Tai Fook has begun selling gold accessories for consumer electronics in China, as volatile bullion prices and cautious spending push jewelers to test new product formats.

The company has introduced gold add-ons for Huawei's FreeClip 2 earclip earbuds, with prices ranging from under 1,000 yuan to nearly 5,000 yuan (about US$143–720). Each item typically contains less than two grams of gold.

Huawei's FreeClip 2 earbuds retail at about 1,300 yuan, meaning some accessories cost as much as — or more than — the device itself. The pricing underscores that the appeal lies in branding and design rather than utility, a pattern also seen in gold smartphone cases, where metal content accounts for only a small share of retail prices.

Such crossovers are not new in China, but their latest resurgence comes as global gold prices swing sharply, feeding jewelry price volatility and keeping precious metals in the consumer spotlight.

For Chow Tai Fook, the collaboration is a small-scale experiment rather than a core growth driver. The jeweler has reported broadly stable operating performance, supported by a gradual recovery in consumer traffic, while testing new product formats aimed at younger, tech-oriented customers.