Sarah Wong on FORNA, Intimacy, and Jewellery Designed to Connect

PUBLISHED January 13th, 2026 05:27 am | UPDATED January 20th, 2026 08:28 am

Taboo. Desired. Longed for. Clichéd. Misunderstood. These are just some of the many faces of intimacy.

Traditionally kept behind closed doors, intimacy remains a subject loaded with cultural weight, particularly in many Asian societies. In today’s hyper-digital world, where connection is swiped and streamed, the physical experience of closeness has never felt more synthetic. Desire has been packaged as convenient, frictionless, and instantly accessible but often at the cost of real emotional presence.

In response to this cultural shift, Sarah Yvonne Wong and her co-founder Nicole founded FORNA: an intimacy jewellery brand that brings the physical, the playful, and the intentional back into focus.

Their launch collection is a sensuality-led line of dual-purpose jewellery designed to be worn in both public and private spaces. Picture delicate chains and sleek cuffs that transform into objects of partner play. It’s not just about power play, but more about closeness, curiosity, and reimagining connection.

We sit down with Sarah, a Shanghai-based strategist who has spent years shaping the stories of other brands, to explore the quiet movement she hopes to build by challenging the conventions of the self-pleasure industry.

A Brand Born Over Wine and What-Ifs

Like many ideas between friends, FORNA began over wine and unfiltered conversations. Sarah and Nicole, both strategists by profession, were discussing the emotional loneliness of modern connection. “Anyone would be lying if they said they didn’t want to feel desired, whether by a long-time partner, a new crush, or even a passing fantasy,” Sarah reflects. Yet what they saw in the sexual wellness space felt either too clinical or designed to be hidden away, often cheap, overly explicit, and rarely built for shared experiences.

To counter this, they started to imagine something different: elegant, functional jewellery designed for partner intimacy. Not to be tucked away in a drawer, but to live on the body. This idea of duality became their foundation: FOR DAY and FOR PLAY. Jewellery that invites the wearer and those who notice into a different kind of dialogue.

Softening the Entry Point to Desire

Sarah is candid about how FORNA fits into the wider sexual wellness space, which she notes is often either overly clinical or provocatively explicit. “If your partner gifts you a sex toy out of the blue, it can feel like a jump,” she laughs. “But gifting a bracelet, something elegant, wearable, but also quietly suggestive, opens the door more gently.”

Making Intimacy Visible and Wearable

Working in Shanghai, Sarah has witnessed how younger generations are reshaping relationship norms. “You have couples cohabiting in separate rooms, openly negotiating what closeness looks like. People are hungry for connection but want to approach it on their terms.”

FORNA’s designs, like the signature double-sided clasp and Cuban chain, are subtle enough to wear to work, but layered with meaning. “Most people don’t notice anything unusual,” she says. “But for those who know, it’s a quiet signal.”

“If Cartier’s LOVE bracelet symbolised commitment, FORNA is an invitation to keep the spark alive,” she adds.

Crafted for Intimacy, Designed for Duality

The idea of duality runs deep through FORNA. Inspired by tools like carabiners and historic designs like the gimmel ring, each piece transforms: chokers become leashes, bracelets become cuffs. The materials are carefully selected too, 14k gold plating over stainless steel to ensure they feel substantial even when delicate.

Sarah describes the production process as part art, part engineering. “We began prototyping in the most hands-on way possible with clay models and eventually enlisting a friend who teaches mathematics to help us calculate the mechanics with precision,” she shares. The result is jewellery that isn’t just functional, but imbued with intention.

Sexual Wellness, Without the Shock Value

In an industry often defined by shock tactics or sterile functionality, FORNA is carving space for something slower and more intentional. “We’re not trying to shock anyone. We want to invite curiosity,” Sarah says.

Rather than sell sex, the brand sells anticipation and the emotional architecture that makes intimacy meaningful. “It’s about building rituals, not routines,” she adds. “Pleasure doesn’t have to hide in the shadows.”

What’s Next for FORNA?

FORNA is currently stocked online at www.forna.store, and is also available at Fotografiska Shanghai, a respected arts institution that aligns with the brand’s elevated sensibilities. The brand is also exploring partnerships with brands that invite curiosity into pleasure and sexual wellness. 

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Looking to own or gift a piece of intimate jewellery this Valentine’s Day? They are available at forna.store and follow them at @forna.world.