Lynn Ban, Jewelry Designer and ‘Bling Empire’ Star, Dies After Skiing Accident

Lynn Ban, a famous jewelry designer and star of the Netflix series “Bling Empire: New York,” died Monday, just weeks after undergoing emergency surgery for a brain hemorrhage following a skiing accident in December.

Her son Sebastian confirmed her death in an Instagram post on Wednesday, noting that “she wanted to share her journey after her accident and brain surgery, so I thought she would appreciate one last post sharing the news with people who supported her.

About three weeks earlier, Ms. Ban had posted the news of her skiing accident on her Instagram account. In the caption of a photo where she had a partially shaved head and was lying in bed, Ms Ban said she had a life-changing skiing accident in Aspen, Colorado, on Christmas Eve .

The jewelry designer said at the time that she was cleared by a ski patrol, who examined her for a concussion, after skiing to the base of the mountain and that her fall “didn’t seem so bad at that time,” even though she had a bit of a headache. A paramedic suggested he go to the hospital for a CT scan, where a brain hemorrhage was detected. Ms Ban said she was then flown to a trauma hospital, adding: “The last thing I remember is being intubated and waking up after an emergency craniotomy . »

Ms. Ban, originally from Singapore, designed exquisite jewelry that adorned some of the world’s most recognizable artists and celebrities, including Rihanna, Beyoncé, Cardi B, Billie Eilish, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar and Post Malone. According to her website, Ms. Ban has also worked with Rihanna on jewelry for her tours, appearances, music videos and Fenty x Puma collections.

Ms. Ban often sets precious stones like diamonds in oxidized metals to create visual contrast.

In a 2017 article in The New York Times, Ms. Ban talked about her signature armor rings, including a piece she created for Rihanna to wear in photographs for W Magazine. Asked to imagine the pop star as the last woman in a post-apocalyptic world, Ms Ban created a ring of claw armor, a hinged design that extends to the finger and ends in a sharp, claw-like tip. “This continues the theme of my signature armor ring but is even more protective,” she said. “It’s like a weapon.”

Ms Ban added that it was no coincidence that the play was created at a time of political upheaval. “Revolution and social protest have always triggered intense periods of creativity,” Ms. Ban said. “Just look at the 1960s.”

In a statement released Wednesday, Jeff Jenkins, founder and president of Jeff Jenkins Productions, which produced Bling Empire and Bling Empire: New York, called Ms. Ban “a true original.”

“Our entire Bling Empire family, in front of and behind the camera, is shocked and deeply saddened,” he said. “To experience Lynn was to receive a great slice of joy.”

Alain Delaquerière contributed to the research.