Iron Jewelry Design · 2025
Morphknock Transformable Jewelry
- A' Design Award 2025 Iron Winner in Jewelry Design
- Awarded April 15, 2025
- CLIENT: Samira Adami jewelry Designer
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 14,714
- Verification code 054F6BB712 · Verify this award
About Morphknock Transformable Jewelry
Morphknock presents a reinterpretation of the classic door knocker in a modular, wearable format. Referencing traditional architectural forms, the piece incorporates arch shaped structure and a central bar for balance. Rotating stones such as malachite, lapis lazuli, and black onyx reflect surface qualities found in aged materials. Designed to shift between a necklace, bracelet, or ring, it includes a reversible leather strap and metal components shaped with geometric precision.
Samira Adami Dadizadeh's Morphknock Transformable Jewelry represents a compelling intersection of haute joaillerie tradition with contemporary modular design philosophy, suggesting engagement with the historical evolution of mechanical jewelry from Renaissance poison rings through Victorian transformation brooches to twentieth-century kinetic jewelry experiments by artists and designers who explored movement, reconfiguration, and interactive wearability. The collection's formal achievements demonstrate sophisticated compositional intelligence visible in the precise geometric vocabulary of hexagonal watch-inspired bezels that echo both horology's technical heritage and the sacred geometry found in traditional jewelry symbolism, while the shield or navette-shaped principal elements establish strong axial symmetry balanced by asymmetrical stone placement that creates visual tension and dynamic equilibrium. Chromatic choices reveal nuanced understanding of color psychology and luxury signifiers, with the cobalt blue leather evoking associations with royal traditions and lapis lazuli's historical prestige, the forest green suggesting both natural vitality and the emerald's aristocratic heritage, and the warm yellow gold providing thermal counterpoint that prevents cool-dominant severity while signaling precious metal authenticity and enduring value. Technical execution evidences exceptional craftsmanship particularly visible in the pavé diamond settings where minute stones are positioned with microscopic precision creating continuous glittering surfaces, the triangular sapphire cuts that maximize color saturation while permitting secure bezel setting, and the engineering of articulation mechanisms that enable transformation between configurations, suggesting jewelry that adapts to multiple wearing occasions and personal expressions. The modular design concept invites consideration of contemporary values around versatility, sustainability through multi-functionality, and personal agency in aesthetic presentation, as wearers become active participants in compositional choices rather than passive recipients of fixed forms, echoing broader cultural movements toward customization, adaptability, and mindful consumption. Thematic resonances explore the relationship between constraint and freedom, permanence and change, geometric order and organic expression, as the jewelry's systematic modularity paradoxically enables infinite personal variation within a coherent design language. The collection's integration of watch-inspired elements suggests meditation on time, transformation, and the marking of significant moments through wearable objects that carry both decorative and memorial functions, while the mechanical sophistication visible in hinges, clasps, and connection points celebrates human ingenuity and the jeweler's ancient role as both artist and engineer. One might observe how these pieces invite contemplation of jewelry's evolving role in contemporary life, where static single-purpose adornment gives way to dynamic systems that honor both the wearer's changing needs and the precious materials' enduring presence, asking viewers to consider how transformation itself becomes a design principle worthy of celebration and how adaptability enhances rather than diminishes luxury's essential character.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- This piece features a versatile mechanism that allows it to transform into a necklace, bracelet, or ring, seamlessly combining historical inspiration with modern adaptability. Rotating double sided gemstones, including malachite, lapis lazuli, and black onyx, capture the rich tones of aged patinas and oxidized iron. A reversible leather strap enables the wearer to match the bracelet's band with their chosen gemstone, while an Art Deco–style design inspired by traditional metalwork enhances its character and elegance.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Overall dimensions of the bracelet are 39 mm height ,22mm widths ,5 mm depths.
- Tags
- Multi-wear jewelry, malachite, lapis lazuli, transformable jewelry, door knocker, leather bracelet
- Production Technology
- This piece is crafted from 18-carat yellow gold,featuring a movable central axis set with malachite and lapis lazuli in a double-sided, raised-cut design, accented by white diamonds along the central curves for brilliance and refinement.Precisely engineered step hinges ensure seamless movement, with the arms, axis, and pin meticulously assembled for structural integrity. After rigorous testing and quality control, the hinges are expertly finalized, ensuring flawless functionality and lasting craftsmanship.
- Design Challenge
- The main challenge of this design was developing and integrating a rotational and folding mechanism that blends the nostalgic form of traditional door knockers with a modern approach. The design needed to be both functionally precise and efficient while maintaining aesthetic cohesion and visual appeal.
- Project Duration
- This project was completed over a period of 3 months, from concept development to finalization. The process included historical research, various stages of ideation, and precise 3D design, along with technical and artistic analysis, ultimately resulting in a unique and functional design. It started in December 2024 and ended in February 2025,Istanbul.
- Operation Flow
- This piece features a metal frame with a movable central axis,designed with a mechanism reminiscent of a traditional door knocker. Its rotating mechanism allows the double-sided gemstones to alternate between colors. In its ring form, the upper sections fold down to form the shank. As a necklace, the arches reposition to allow a chain to pass through the top. The seamless, reversible leather strap is designed to slide effortlessly through two loops, ensuring ease of use and versatile wear as a stylish bracelet.
- Research
- Traditional door knockers, which featured symbolic designs reflecting the homeowner’s culture and social status, often had distinct shapes and sounds for men and women in Islamic culture. This allowed the homeowner to determine the gender of the person at the door without opening it. Made from durable materials such as brass and iron, these knockers used a hinge and handle mechanism. The appeal of these elements inspired the designer to reinterpret them in a modern design.
- Inspiration
- The Morphknock design draws inspiration from historical Persian door knockers, which symbolize hospitality, security, and heritage. In Iranian architecture, many door knockers were symmetrical and influenced by Islamic geometry. By reinterpreting their shape and function, Morphknock transforms this architectural element into a versatile, modular jewelry collection.Featuring lapis lazuli, malachite, black onyx, and diamonds, the collection reflects the textures of ancient architecture, seamlessly blending traditional symbolism with modern engineering to create a dynamic, wearable art piece.
- Image Credits
- 3D Modeling and Rendering by: Delaram Nakhli
Colors of Morphknock Transformable Jewelry
Get Morphknock Transformable Jewelry
Grand Interview about Morphknock Transformable Jewelry
The Morphknock Transformable Jewelry was born from my fascination with the poetic dialogue of Persian architecture—particularly the door knockers that once defined the entrances of historic homes. These objects were more than functional; they embodied communication, gender, rhythm, and harmony. I wanted to reinterpret that tactile symbolism—the soft resonance of metal meeting metal—into a form of personal adornment that speaks to both memory and motion.In translating this inspiration into jewelry, I studied the geometry and proportion of Safavid and Qajar door knockers, focusing on how their balance between ornament and utility could transform into wearable art. I selected 18-karat gold and oxidized silver to echo the aged warmth of historical metalwork, complemented by the mechanical precision of contemporary engineering.The creative process involved merging the emotional weight of heritage with a minimalist, modern aesthetic—retaining the essence of the Persian motif while re-framing it as a dynamic, fluid piece that adapts to the wearer. Each element was designed to capture the rhythm of a “knock”—a metaphor for human connection and the thresholds we cross in life.
Creating a design that could fluidly transform from necklace to bracelet to ring was both a mechanical and aesthetic challenge. My primary goal was to ensure that the transformation felt natural—like unfolding a story—rather than performing a technical task.The main difficulty lay in achieving precise alignment between hinge points without disrupting the visual continuity of the piece. I worked closely with master goldsmiths and mechanical engineers to miniaturize locking systems that were strong yet invisible. The challenge was to conceal functionality within beauty, letting engineering serve emotion rather than dominate it.Material flexibility also required experimentation with tension and memory in the metal; the piece had to maintain structural integrity across its three configurations. After countless prototypes, I achieved a balance where the mechanics became part of the design narrative—each movement echoing the sound and gesture of a door knocker’s swing. The transformation mechanism ultimately symbolizes adaptability and evolution—core human traits reflected in a single, seamless jewel.
Each gemstone in the Morphknock series was chosen not only for its beauty but for its dialogue with history. Malachite, with its green ripples, mirrors the oxidized copper doors of Persian shrines; lapis lazuli recalls the celestial blues of mosque tiles; and black onyx evokes the mysterious shadows within old courtyards. Together they create a chromatic language of memory—tones of time preserved in mineral form.My selection process was deeply intuitive yet symbolic. I wanted each stone to embody a facet of Persian architectural aging—the way surfaces acquire character over centuries. The rotation mechanism allows light to interact with these stones dynamically, much like how daylight travels across ancient facades.By embedding these materials in a contemporary design, I sought to create a dialogue between past and present, reminding the wearer that preservation is not about freezing time but allowing heritage to evolve elegantly into modern expression.
Geometry in Islamic art has always represented the divine order of the universe—an architecture of infinity expressed through repetition and proportion. In Morphknock, I used geometric principles not merely as decoration but as a spiritual framework guiding composition and balance.The piece is structured around intersecting circles and golden-ratio divisions, ensuring that each transformation preserves symmetry and equilibrium. This precision was not purely mathematical; it symbolized the unity between body, soul, and object.Designing within this geometric discipline gave the piece a meditative quality—every curve and intersection reflecting spiritual harmony. The act of transformation, when the jewelry changes form, becomes a metaphor for renewal and self-discovery.Through Morphknock, I wished to remind viewers that in both design and life, perfection is found not in rigidity but in fluid, sacred balance—the same balance that underlies the timeless patterns of Islamic architecture.
The idea of incorporating a reversible leather strap came from my fascination with duality and human adaptability. In Persian art and poetry, contrasts—light and shadow, softness and strength—create harmony. I wanted to capture that same dialogue in the Morphknock series.Leather, as a material, carries a tactile warmth that contrasts beautifully with the metallic coolness of gold and silver. By making it reversible, I allowed the wearer to shift between tones and moods, emphasizing the jewelry’s ability to mirror emotional transitions.This adaptable feature enhances the transformative essence of Morphknock—it becomes not just a piece that changes shape but one that responds to identity, mood, and time. In a sense, the reversible strap serves as a metaphor for resilience: the capacity to face change gracefully while maintaining inner strength and beauty.
Achieving seamless transformation required months of trial, error, and precision engineering. I collaborated with mechanical artisans to develop step hinges that offered both stability and fluid motion.We began with large-scale prototypes, experimenting with different hinge angles and metal densities to find the perfect ratio between flexibility and strength. Each iteration was refined until the movement felt almost organic—silent, smooth, and unbroken.Testing involved simulating real wear: repetitive folding, tension analysis, and temperature variation to ensure long-term durability. I wanted every transition to feel like a quiet performance—engineering in service of elegance.In the end, the refined hinge system became the invisible heart of Morphknock, merging technical mastery with poetic motion—proof that precision and artistry can coexist in perfect balance.
Winning the A’ Design Award was both humbling and empowering. It reaffirmed my belief that cultural heritage can be a source of innovation rather than nostalgia.The recognition encouraged me to explore deeper connections between tradition and technology—to use heritage not as a frame that confines creativity, but as a foundation that expands it. It has motivated me to experiment fearlessly, knowing that authenticity and modernity are not opposites but partners.The award also strengthened my commitment to documenting and reinterpreting Persian aesthetics for a global audience. Morphknock’s success reminded me that storytelling through design transcends borders—it speaks a universal language of beauty, memory, and transformation.
In Persian culture, the door knocker symbolizes an invitation—an openness to connection, dialogue, and trust. I wanted the Morphknock to carry that same spirit, transforming it into a personal emblem of welcome and strength.For the modern wearer, this jewelry is not just adornment—it’s a reminder of the boundaries we open and close in our daily lives. The act of transformation mirrors the act of “knocking”: reaching out, inviting others in, and discovering what lies beyond.By wearing Morphknock, the individual becomes both guardian and storyteller—someone who honors the past’s symbolism of protection and hospitality while embodying the independence and adaptability of the present. It transforms cultural meaning into an intimate, wearable philosophy.
Balancing Persian heritage with Art Deco modernism was a delicate act of synthesis. Both styles share an appreciation for symmetry, geometry, and rhythmic repetition—but they express it differently.I allowed Persian motifs to provide the spiritual and narrative foundation, while Art Deco offered a structural and stylistic discipline. The result was a dialogue between emotion and order, ornament and restraint.For example, the linearity and stepped forms of Art Deco guided the modular transformation, while Persian details added warmth, soul, and storytelling. Together they created a fusion of East and West, reflecting how identity today is multifaceted—rooted in heritage yet reaching toward the future.This harmony between two worlds defines Morphknock’s visual language: timeless, cross-cultural, and emotionally resonant.
I envision Morphknock as the beginning of a broader movement toward meaningful design—where innovation grows from cultural consciousness. My goal is to inspire other designers to treat heritage not as a static memory but as a living source of evolution.Future collections will continue to explore transformability as a metaphor for identity, integrating cultural motifs with cutting-edge craftsmanship. I hope Morphknock contributes to a dialogue where jewelry becomes a form of cultural storytelling—bridging generations, geographies, and philosophies.In the broader context, I want it to stand as a testament that preserving culture doesn’t mean repeating it—it means transforming it with respect and imagination. Morphknock’s journey is, in essence, a call to celebrate the past by letting it dance within the present.