This star-shaped brooch known in Malay and Baba Malay as kerosang bintang, has a central old European cut diamond of a yellow hue weighing 31.20 carats. Around the large diamond, a detachable border of 16 smaller diamonds forms a halo, emphasising its size. Another 24 diamonds are set in foliage consisting of three-pointed leaves, lending the brooch its star-shaped appearance. Star-shaped brooches such as these were popularly used by Peranakans from Penang during the early to mid-20th century. Women wore kerosang to fasten their kebayas or baju panjang while men wore brooches on their hats or jacket lapels.The Choongs are a Peranakan family from Penang. This jewel was passed down three generations from Mrs Choong Eng Hye (née Lily Ho Guat Im 1910 – 1993), to her daughter-in-law, Mrs Choong Ewe Leong (née Doreen Tan Kien Leng, 1939 – 2014), who in turn gave the brooch to her eldest son, Sam Choong (born 1966). The Choong family of Penang were prominent traders in oil, rice and rubber and their historic familial and business networks spanned Xiamen, Phuket, Kedah, and Penang.
