Meaningful Heart Jewelry Sieraden by Britta schwalm

Meaningful Heart Jewelry Sieraden by Britta schwalm is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2017 A' Design Award in IJzer in Sieradenontwerp Competition Category.

IJzerSieraden· 2017

Meaningful Heart Jewelry Sieraden

by Britta schwalm

Client: Britta Schwalm

A' Design Award in IJzer Winner in Sieraden Category

24,924
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #51261

Nu solliciteren Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Meaningful Heart Jewelry Sieraden

Er zijn veel sieraden met herinneringen aan familie of evenementen. Ze zijn sindsdien ouderwets geworden, maar te onschatbaar en geliefd om verkocht te worden. Ze worden vaak weggestopt in de juwelendoos. Zinvolle hartjuwelen zijn meestal een hanger die aan een ketting kan worden gedragen, soms als bedel, een broche of een sleutelhanger. Het is een nieuw sieraad in een nieuwe vorm, maar het bestendigt nog steeds alle individuele emoties en herinneringen. Het is zonder mankeren gemaakt van het geliefde oude goud dat aan Brittas Schmiede werd toevertrouwd. Het is een concept dat je hart smelt.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award in IJzer

Meaningful Heart Jewelry Sieraden is winnaar van de A' Design Award in IJzer, een prestigieuze erkenning die wordt toegekend aan goede ontwerpen die voldoen aan de professionele en industriële eisen die worden verwacht van goed ontworpen creaties. Winnaars in IJzer tonen grote vaardigheid, hoge specialisatie, deskundig inzicht en het creatieve vermogen van hun makers. Meaningful Heart Jewelry Sieraden wordt verwacht een hooggewaardeerde, bewonderde en gekoesterde creatie te zijn die praktisch en innovatief is. Dit ontwerp dat de A' Design Award in IJzer heeft gewonnen, integreert de beste praktijken uit de sector en heeft bekwame technische kenmerken die verbonden zijn met knowhow en talent. Meaningful Heart Jewelry Sieraden wordt gerespecteerd om zijn grondigheid en is ontworpen om verbeteringen van de levenskwaliteit te bieden die helpen de wereld een betere plek te maken.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: Meaningful Heart jewelry is usually a pendant to be worn either on a necklace, sometimes as a charm, a brooch or key holder. It is melted from old pieces of jewellery. Pieces with strong memories attached, but not wearable because of shape or constitution. The result of the melting process is a heart shaped pendant, solid gold, with a smooth or rough surface, depending on the customers wishes. It is still full of emotions and memories and it is without fail the e.g. wedding ring of grandma.
Dimensions & Packaging: Depending on the amount of material a melted heart measures approx. 5 mm to 5 cm in diameter.
It is above-mentioned to have a rough melted surface.
Tags: Meaningful, Heart, jewelry, gold, preloved, sustainable, recycling, up cycling, reused, pendant, key ring, charm,
Production Technology: The gold has to be analyzed, to make sure it is gold. Thereafter it will be arranged in a heart shaped form on my melting place. I put the fire on it and heat it up all-over till it starts melting. With a little stick the fluid gold can be arranged. Then I cool it down in some water. Then I polish the surface to a smooth or rough finish. If there is a piece of jewellery which should stay untouched, I construct a wire or panel, to get a heart shape, with the precious untouched piece e.g. inside.
Design Challenge: The challenge in this project is to recognise the ideas of a person, not used to think about the shape of a jewellery and reach this ideas so that the customer feel Yes, that's it. The second challenge is to create a design which is close resembles a love heart, while avoiding to bee cheesy or appearing too chunky.
Research: The pieces consist of preloved gold or silver and of diamonds or precious stones which were part of the jewelry melted for this project. The material of the pendant is 100 percent recycled gold or silver. The environmental savings: No new material has to be mined. All of it is already there and usually at least 20 years old. There is a saving of poisonous chemicals, which are usually required in recycling gold. These chemicals are not needed in my process, as the gold is only re-shaped.
Inspiration: First step into this direction was an event called Goldrausch - gold fever. Visitors were invited to bring their old silver or gold items and melt a nugget by themselves. Once a client came and sought advice about what to make out of her preloved gold. She didn't want to sell it, as it had belonged to her grandma, but she could not wear it. I remembered gold fever and asked her to make it to a heart shaped melted nugget. The result was a beautiful little golden heart, which my client loved.
Project Duration: First gold fever-event took place in early 2010. After yet another gold fever in November 2014, the idea appeared to take off and I implement the Heart of preloved gold option on my website and in my goldsmith's shop. In February 2016 I was invited to give a demonstration of my Meaningful Heart jewelry live in the TV show Hallo Hessen. In March 2016 I registered the website Herz-aus-Altgol.de
Operation Flow: There exist a lot of jewelleries carrying memories. They have become old-fashioned since, but are too special to be sold and are tucked away in the jewellery box. As a Heart of preloved gold the jewelleries can be worn. In a new look, but the material still carrying the memories. It is much more cost efficient than buying something new. The only money to be paid is for my work. And, my benefit: I love this special glance in the eyes when the customers pick up their completed jewelry.