DESIGN NAME: Ripples
PRIMARY FUNCTION: Jewelry
INSPIRATION: The wind rises and the water ripples
The wind wrinkles the still water surface and blurs the aquatic plants underneath.
This image of a beautiful pond in spring inspired the ripple series. The beauty of nature is abstracted into this piece of jewelry.
UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This set was made with specially cut jadeite unlike no other. These unique inclusions decorate the gem, like flowing plants in a drop of water. A total of 189 princess cut diamonds with slotted inner edges make up the ripples. It mimics the slow expansion of waves from the inside out. The necklace was made in one-piece molding stretchy hollow gold to minimize the weight. Taking ergonomics into account, it was built on five different layers to embrace the body curvatures.
OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION: This is a wearable piece of art that acts as a necklace and earrings.
PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION: The project was designed in March 2021 in Kunming and finished in November 2021 in Kunming.
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PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY: This set is made with 18K gold, jadeites, and diamonds. The central structure is a hollow gold tube that was specially made with some bending ability to minimize the weight of the necklace. The diamonds were slotted at one side to create a really thin inner layer and a regular-sized outer layer. It is made to mimic the ripple
s expansion. For the pair of earrings, each layer of the moon-shaped piece can be wiggled in which to maximize the luster of diamonds.
SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES: Necklace: Width 150 mm x Depth 12 mm x Height 157 mm
Earrings: Width 60 mm x Depth 7 mm X Height 30 mm
TAGS: Jewelry, Necklace, Ying, Ripples, Jadeite, Diamond
RESEARCH ABSTRACT: As the market flood with people who seek the perfect gem, those gems with inclusions often being regarded as flawed products. It is not a common practice to cut jadeite with inclusions into a cabochon cut. As a designer, I set out to bring the natural beauty of the gems into the spotlight. The project started by looking for raw jadeite with inclusions, then cutting the raw material into the proper shapes and sizes. The result is promising as shown in the image.
CHALLENGE: The challenge of this project is to make a seemingly perfect circle to hug the curvature human body. The shape of the circle was carefully tuned to lay naturally on different body types. And each layer of diamond waves won't cause any discomfort to the wearer.
ADDED DATE: 2022-03-11 07:28:05
TEAM MEMBERS (1) :
IMAGE CREDITS: Yingting Yang, 2021.
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