Great Blue Hole Halskette by Jung Ki Min

Great Blue Hole Halskette by Jung Ki Min is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award in Bronze in Schmuckdesign Competition Category.

BronzeSchmuck· 2026

Great Blue Hole Halskette

by Jung Ki Min

A' Design Award in Bronze Winner in Schmuck Category

8,583

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #182523

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Great Blue Hole Halskette

Great Blue Hole ist eine Halskette, die von dem gleichnamigen marinen Doline in Belize inspiriert ist. Der Entwurf überträgt eine großflächige Naturlandschaft in eine tragbare skulpturale Form. Geschichtete Metallelemente werden auf Drähten unterschiedlicher Länge erhöht angeordnet, um Volumen und räumliche Tiefe zu erzeugen. Zum Aufbau der Formen und Oberflächentexturen wurden Sägen, Gießen, Emaillieren, Steinfassen sowie Ziselieren und Repoussé-Technik eingesetzt. Die Halskette misst 130 mm in der Breite, 15 mm in der Tiefe und 75 mm in der Höhe, mit einer Perlenkette von 450 mm. Die Bewegung des Körpers lässt das Licht über die einzelnen Schichten wandern.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award in Bronze

Great Blue Hole Halskette ist Gewinner des A' Design Award in Bronze, einer hochprestigeträchtigen Anerkennung für herausragende Designs, die sich durch Kreativität, Einfallsreichtum und Scharfsinn auszeichnen. Bronze-Gewinner sind reichlich geschickte und auffallend kreative Artefakte, die die große Erfahrung, Fantasie und Findigkeit ihrer Designer belegen. Von Great Blue Hole Halskette wird erwartet, dass es ein hochgeschätztes, bewundertes und geliebtes Objekt ist, das bemerkenswert professionell und innovativ ist. Dieses mit dem A' Design Award in Bronze prämierte Design verkörpert bewährte Verfahren in Kunst, Wissenschaft, Design und Technologie und ist hervorragend in seiner Liebe zum Detail. Great Blue Hole Halskette befriedigt Bedürfnisse auf großartige Weise, berührt Wünsche, bezaubert Gefühle und spricht die Neugier an.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: This piece reinterprets a monumental marine formation as a wearable sculptural structure through layered metal construction and dimensional assembly. Its distinction lies in translating vast geological space into an intimate bodily dimension, where organic irregularity is balanced with controlled craftsmanship to create a tactile landscape experience.
Dimensions & Packaging: Width 130 mm x Depth 15 mm x Height 75 mm
Pearl string length 450 mm
Tags: silver, necklace, jewelry, natural
Production Technology: This work involved selecting materials corresponding to the site's visual and spatial characteristics and conducting extensive texture studies. Test pieces were produced to experiment with varied surface treatments and forms. To achieve the desired atmosphere within a limited scale, appropriate techniques were carefully selected. In addition to piecing and sawing, casting, enameling, stone setting, chasing, and repousse were employed. Components were elevated using wires of varying lengths to create dimensional volume and layered depth.
Design Challenge: The primary challenge was developing a structural system capable of integrating diverse elements into a cohesive form. To achieve the intended atmosphere, careful planning was required for stone placement, setting techniques, and layering. Establishing the correct order of fabrication was critical. Through extensive trial and error, I refined the composition so that each element could coexist harmoniously while retaining its individual presence.
Research: This project represents a research process aimed at translating distinctive natural landscapes and geological formations into the form of jewelry. Through the harmonious arrangement of diverse materials and techniques, I experimented to determine the optimal color relationships, proportions, and structural balance that could effectively convey the site's atmosphere and defining characteristics. The research also explored multiple approaches to articulating organic forms within a controlled metal framework, seeking methods to express natural irregularity with clarity and precision.
Inspiration: Inspired by the Great Blue Hole in Belize, I was drawn to its ultramarine depth and the diverse ecosystems surrounding it. Through visual research and material experimentation, I sought not only to extract its visual characteristics but also to convey the site's atmosphere and sense of mystery. By combining various materials and metalworking techniques, I harmoniously translated a distant, life filled marine environment into an intimate wearable scale.
Project Duration: The project started in August 2018 in New York, USA, and was completed in May 2019.
Operation Flow: Due to its layered colors and condensed elements, the piece offers tactile detail and visual richness to both wearer and viewer. As the body moves, shifting light and depth create subtle variations in perception, inviting closer observation. By bringing a distant landscape into intimate proximity, the work provides a subtle sense of refreshment.
Image Credits: Image #1: Photographer Jung Ki Min, Great Blue Hole, 2019.
Image #2: Photographer Jung Ki Min, Great Blue Hole, 2019.
Image #3: Photographer Jung Ki Min, Great Blue Hole, 2019.
Image #4: Photographer Jung Ki Min, Great Blue Hole, 2019.
Image #5: Photographer Jung Ki Min, Great Blue Hole, 2019.