OPI Hong Kong Collection Swatches, Review & Comparisons – Part 1
 One of the most anticipated collections of the season, OPI Hong Kong takes us to the far east and I don’t want to come back. Following what I consider a pretty boring year for OPI (I just didn’t LOVE Spain & South Beach) they’re already off to a great start with Alice in Wonderland and Hong Kong. I hope the momentum keeps going throughout the year.
Of course I’ve been geeked over the idea of a new OPI green so Jade Is The New Black has been on my mind for months and it did NOT disappoint. I dare say it may take down Rainforest as my all-time fave OPI. That’s a huge statement people! I’ve got the first half of the collection for you today so check out Jade Is The New Black, Suzi Says Feng Shui, Meet Me On The Star Ferry, Bling Dynasty and Pearl of Wisdom after the jump! |
OPI’s formula continues to please me. The cremes just apply so perfectly smooth and my wide nail beds love the brush. Though it’s like I forget how good the polish is because when I put these on I was like, “DAMN, why can’t all brand be this good?” You all know how much I love me some China Glaze but their formula just hasn’t been as great as of late whereas OPI just seems to be getting better. All the polishes shown below applied flawlessly in two coats.
Jade Is The New Black is an understatement. Jade is the new JADE and I’m talking about Chanel Jade. I still love the mint polishes but this is the hotness! Like a lot of gemstones, Jade comes in a range of hues and Jade Is The New Black is on the opposite side of the spectrum from Chanel Jade. Slightly muted yet vibrant with a blue undertone, it’s one stellar color and a total MUST HAVE!
I know the color comparison requests will come piling in but I truly do NOT have a polish that dupes JITB so I thought I’d show it next to a bunch of other mid-tone greens so you can see how it stands out.
Suzi Says Feng Shui is bright cobalt creme. Barry M’s Cobalt looks similar in the bottle but on the nail they couldn’t be more different. This color is lighter and brighter. FYI, Cleveland’s weather has caused me to rely on my indoor lighting equipment so the rest of these shots (with one exception) are in artificial light.
Again, I thought a bottle lineup would be useful as I have no exact dupe in my stash. I pitted SSFS up against, OPI No Room For The Blues, Orly Calypso Breeze, Color Club Gossip Color, Barielle A Bouquet for Ava and Illamasqua Muse. As you can see, it doesn’t have the teal undertones of the shades on the right and it falls somewhere between the two on the left.
When I saw Meet Me On The Star Ferry, I thought, “what is this color doing here?” It seemed out of place and not that exciting. On the nail it wowed! Packed with golden micro-glitter this rosey mauve is extremely eye-catching. I really have nothing to compare it to. I thought perhaps Zoya Flowie (too gold) or Rhea ( too purple/cool) and I pulled my bottle of OPI My Big Break that doesn’t have this type of sparkle. It’s a winner! Oh and I had a few seconds of light so I could show it to you in natural and artificial light.
Bling Dynasty is a burnished old gold with metallic shimmer and micro-glitter. It’s definitely got an aged feel to it like if you dug up some ancient queen that wore real gold nails, this is how they’d look now. Morbid but that’s where my mind went.
Bling Dynasty is deeper than the other golds in my collection. As you can see compared to Duri Golden Nugget, Sally Hansen Salon Tassel, OPI Curry Up Don’t Be Late and Orly Gold Rush, BD is darker and richer.
Pearl of Wisdom is a sheer iridescent white with pink-ish pearlized micro-glitter. This is not a buildable sheer so I’ve shown it with two coats. I’m not a sheer girl, for obvious reasons (hello short nail beds!) so this one is a pass for me.
The OPI Hong Kong Collection officially launches in February though I’ve seen it for sale online already. OPI is available in salons nationwide including chains like JCPenney, ULTA, Trade Secret, Beauty Express and Regis.
Disclosure: A product sample was furnished to me by OPI. For further information view my Disclosure Policy.
Love love love that green and blue color. I also have the Enchanted Forest nail polish from Orly and indeed looks pretty similar
Wow!! I had been thinking the colors look nice displayed together, but wasn’t sure how I would like them individually. These are indeed exciting! The Jade looks more like jade to me than the Chanel version (taking your point about the wide range of colors of jade).
Do you have Essie Mesmerize? That’s my only cobalt, and I am thinking it’s darking than this new cobalt.
These are lovely and interesting, can’t wait for part two!!
Wow, you are right that Jade is an absolute must have!! Star Ferry is gorg too. Can’t wait for the rest of the swatches! Thank you
LOVE the green and blue.. and even the pink one!
The creme formulas really do look to be fab so I can’t wait to try ‘em out!
hey – I am loving Pearl of Wisdom – my kind of colour. Michelle – I have long nail beds lol I think this may explain our different tastes in colours! Thanks for the great reviews as always
Oh lord have I been waiting for this.
I seriously can’t overstate how helpful you are and what a great resource this blog has become. Has revolutionised the way I shop (for polish).
Surprised by how gorgeous meet me on the star ferry looks. Yes please.
Thanks for the review!! Can’t wait for these. I know what u mean about CG’s formula lately! Yay for OPI doing fun colors!
Love the gold and am looking forward to seeing the purples!
I love the Jade Is The New Black shade.
I love Jade is the New Black and Bling Dynasty and I can’t wait to pick these up! Surprisingly, I don’t have any golds in my collection yet. I thought the Hong Kong collection was released already but the sales girl had no idea what I was talking about and tried to tell me it is a Hong Kong only release. Oh well, now I know to look out for it in February instead.
Yay! I was waiting for this! I’m in love with ‘Meet Me On The Star Ferry’!
I’m wondering if they’re releasing a set of minis with this collection and which ones will be included. I lucked out with the new essies because all the ones I wanted were in the set of minis and it was only $10 for 4 instead of $8/each. (I’ll never make it to the bottom of a bottle of polish anyway). Typically the OPI mini sets are heavy on the reds of the collections and leave out the really good colors (like this year’s holiday minis). On the other hand… I might like the blue and green enough to want full size bottles.
The only thing about the minis is the hard to handle smaller brushes. I had lots of problems with the AIW ones but maybe it was just me. Now I have to purchase the larger bottles!
Was it mainly the glitters in AIW that gave you trouble or the reds, as well? Just curious, because I can see how the small brush would make it hard to pick up enough of the glitter to get it on the nail (as it is trouble enough with a full size brush), but I keep my nails pretty short and I feel like the new OPI brushes are like mops they’re so huge! I think I might like the small ones…
I came across a Hong Kong mini set yesterday and it had Red My Fortune Cookie, Dim Sum Plum, and Suzi Says Feng Shui (along with a Rapidry Topcoat mini). Very cute package–similar to a Chinese takeout box in shape.
I just saw this and was so bummed! WHY does OPI always put the most generic colors from the collection in the mini set? Guess I’ll be picking up the full size bottles of the green and blue.
That blue looks a little scary to me, maybe because I had a bad experience with China Glaze’s “Shower Together,” and it’s a similar shade. Loving the Jade color, and the sparkly rose- very different from anything else in my collection, but would fit right in
Meet me on the Star Ferry? Mmmm, I think I’d meet that lacquer anywhere, anytime.
Jade is just delicious. I’ve not seen a green like it.
I am from/live in Hong Kong, so I was really excited about this but I’ve got to say I am not crazy about any of the colors? I have been obsessing over getting a bottle of Jade for months now so I was looking forward to seeing the Jade is the new Black but it just doesn’t do it for me
Love your website!! It has helped me with many an agonizing color decision, haha!
A question. ‘meet me on the star ferry’ – how sheer it is after one coat? I was thinking that it would be pretty as a 2nd coat over a dark berry/burgundy polish.
Without seeing Part 2, I’m guessing I’ll pick up Bling and Star Ferry. I really really love the blue and green but I’m trying to curb my purchases to colors I’ll actually be able to pull off
I really like this collection — I want all of these except for Pearl of Wisdom. Well, maybe. I’ve seen it as a top coat on dark colors, and it’s pretty gorgeous.
O.M.G. I *adore* the JITNB!!! The ferry one is interesting, I didn’t expect it to be so pretty lol! And I do like the sheer but it’s a bummer that it isn’t buildable!
With Every Review I get more and more excited about this collection. I can’t wait!
How does Suzi compare to Essie’s Mesmerize?
LOVE the Jade. Time to start stalking my local salons for this one.
Hey ALU, I have a question for you: I noticed that most of the lids on your n/p bottles are not tightened. Is this the way you store them to ensure that you can get them open after they’ve been sitting for a while? Maybe that’s a good idea! Or does it let the air in?
Awesome review – thanks! I think I’m gonna get JITNB and Suzi Says.
PS – I love the shape of your nails.
I totally agree with you about both OPI’s color selection with Spain (disappointing and blah) and the formula. I consistently go back to OPI because of the spread of the creams and the brush (how easily it glides the polish onto my nails). I was impressed with the past few glitter polishes that they put out at the holidays. What fantastic depth and color! I can’t wait for Alice (ordering it now) and hoping to get my hands (or nails as the case may be!) on that Jade!
You are soooo right the previous two collections (minus Holiday Wishes Collection) were a complete BORE. I’m gonna buy this ENTIRE collection! I want it all!
There are so many colors from this collection that I want. I can’t wait for Hot & Spicy. I have seen so many different swatches that I really don’t know what that color is! Thanks so much!!
I am very excited about JITNB and SSFS! Also looking forward to part 2 so I can see Dim Sum Plum! I find your blog so helpful in narrowing down my choices each time a new collection comes out. Your skin color and nail length/shape are very similar to mine, and I’ve found that your photos are more color accurate than on most other blogs.
Love Jade. Then FS and Bling and surprised by how much I liked Star Ferry. BUT your pix are some of the best out there so I know that if I get this (it’s about £10 here in the UK!) it won’t look half as good as it looks on this page. Creams tend to come out IRL pretty much as onscreen but other formulae not so much.
I have polishes that reveal far more depths and complexity on a blog than I have ever managed to see IRL (Misa Toxic Seduction – I love it but I can’t find any sparkle there and CG Flying Dragon had no lovely blue specks in it when I wore it – grrrr).
PS I also love your immaculate nails and perfect skin.
How does Suzi Says Feng Shui fare against China Glaze’s Shower Together?
I like very much JITNB and Suzi Says Feng Shui even if I don’t think I could wear them for work.
I’m not a “sheer” girl, I say “assolutamente no” to Pearl of whisdom!
Hope you will show us the rest of the collection soon!
OMG – I love, love LOVE all of these colors (well, not so hot on the pearl color)- but I MUST have all of the rest! Must! I am so excited I can’t stand it!
And may I add that I am ridiculously envious of your beautiful cuticles. No matter how much I try to take care of mine they are still absolutely hideous all throughout the winter.
WOW, Meet Me on the Star Ferry was a surprise for me too!! It is gorgeous on your nails. Like you, I wasn’t too impressed by it in the bottle, but it looks awesome!
Thanks for all the great swatches and comparisons
I *love* that blue! That is one shade I do not have in my current collection (I usually opt for navy or dark royal blues).
That green looks a lot like my CND Green Scene — but it could just be the lighting. Regardless, LOVE GREEN!
wow! your nails pulled off the sheer so well, i do so many swatches for my blog that my nails are beyond yellow…how do you keep them so white!?
How does Jade is the New Black compare to Misa’s Dirty Sexy Money? I love Meet Me on the Star Ferry too! Thanks so much for posting – love your photos.
i know this is very ot but i was wondering if you review the essie art of spring colors could you compare them to china glaze’s up and away? they look very similar and i wouldnt want to get a dupe. thank you so much!
uh oh, i like all of these colors…
I used to do nails and you still can’t beat opi and seche’ vite. Love the new colors.
Jade Is The New Black is by far the stand out among the polishes you have swatched. I can not even explain how great it is. This seems like a really great collection by OPI.
i think i’m in love with the green and the blue ones!! It’s gorgeous!
she’s already swatched the up & away collection. they look nothing alike.
These are really pretty colors and I may have to try opi again.
Thanks for your helpful colour comparisons. It’s nice to have a visual to see if I already have something similar or not.
I think I’ll be getting Jade Is the New Black and Meet Me on the Star Ferry. And after seeing your swatches, I’m actually considering getting the gold one, too, even though I never usually go for gold!
Love the jade. So sophisticated and cool.
I work at a beauty supply store and we got these new colours in on Friday (sadly they have to be tucked away til the 3rd) and I’m already in love!
I’m really looking forward to Star Ferry and A Good Man-darin is Hard to Find.
If I had to compare Star Ferry to any other colours, I’d say it probably most closely resembles Zoya Anastasia, it’s just lighter.
I just purchased Jade Is The New Black today at the mall! I really didn’t think the collection was out yet but I decided to drop by Regis anyway. And to my amazement, there was the Hong Kong collection sitting on the side!!
Thank you for all of the beautiful swatches.
I wonder why Meet Me On The Star Ferry intrigues me. I guess I’ll have to try it our.
disappointed…. only the jade is worth looking at.
being that im from hk, hk is worth better colours
[...] Lovin’ OPI’s Hong Kong Collection – All Lacquered Up [...]
That is soo cool, I love it, I really like the green and the pink colors OPI has made available. All of their colors look great, but sometimes, the prices are a bit high. I’ve been using the 2 in 1 nail art pens I found from sassy nails recently, I like the ease of use of the pen tips.
Suzi Says Feng Shui is so pretty! I like the jade one too
Hey! I gave you a shout out and nominated you for best nail blog! http://lacquerholic.com/2010/02/01/its-an-honor-to-be-nominated/