DESIGN NAME: Crosscut Cabouchon
PRIMARY FUNCTION: Jewellery
INSPIRATION: This collection comes from a mind that is endlessly fascinated by structures. Futuristic architecture has played a significant role in the inspiration. Corian from interior offcuts, aluminium from laptop cases, precious metals from estate jewellery and ethically sourced gems, connected together with both traditional carving skills and innovative setting techniques, have formed the DNA of this series.
UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Within the carefully designed and boldly coloured settings, Lingjun matches the opal with new vocabularies of materials, Corian and anodized aluminium meet gold and silver from ethical and sustainable source to offer a stark contrast with the characteristics of the stone. The unusual material palette and innovative setting techniques allow Sun opportunities to play with scale and proportion.
OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION: The contrast of the jewellery collection comes from its unusual material combination, however, with the thoughtful design and techniques, pieces have achieved harmony: colourful, light-weighted, in an ethical and sustainable manner. Crosscut Cabouchon invites its wearers to see classic gemstones in a different light.
PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION: The project started in October 2018 in London and finished in June 2019 in London, and was exhibited in International Jewellery London 2019, was awarded with Best Bright Young Gem in September 2019.
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PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY: Corian from interior offcuts, was individually carved by hand to serve the design. Aluminium recycled from laptop cases, was anodized individually to achieve the effect. Gold and silver recycled from estate jewellery, were fabricated with traditional goldsmith skills. Ethically mined opals from Australia, were customized accordingly. At a later stage, utilizing Corian's property under controlled heat had given the possibility of setting gems in Corian directly without additional adhesive support.
SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES: Brooch No.1: 38mm x 38mm x 8mm;
Ring No.1: 25mm x 24mm x 10mm;
Brooch No.2: 35mm x 35mm x 8mm;
Ring No.2: 25mm x 22mm x 10mm;
Earrings No.1: 54mm x 23mm x 6mm.
TAGS: Upcycle, Sustainable, Ethical, Art Jewellery, Contemporary Jewellery, Futuristic
RESEARCH ABSTRACT: Design analysis of futuristic architecture had been carried through both digital and physical means. Months of experiments with academic support has provided stable production, particularly in aluminium anodizing and innovative setting techniques with Corian. First-hand interviews and second-hand researches have provided understanding of both ethical opal mining practice in Australia and cutting techniques in depth.
CHALLENGE: Transferring uncommon material combination with an understandable design language into wearable jewellery is the first challenge.
Upcycling Corian offcuts and aluminium requires considerable amount of design adjustment and prototype experiment.
At its later stage, setting gems into Corian directly without adhesive or other support is an innovation for this collection which was supported significantly with both theoretical and practical researches.
ADDED DATE: 2020-09-24 13:16:23
TEAM MEMBERS (2) : Designer: Lingjun Sun and Maker: Lingjun Sun
IMAGE CREDITS: Image #1,2,5: Photographer Lewis Rhodes, Rachel McCarthy
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