Baron Necklace Iṣẹ́ Ọ̀ṣọ́: Ọ̀ṣọ́ Iṣẹ́ Ọnà by Cindy Zhang

Baron Necklace Iṣẹ́ Ọ̀ṣọ́: Ọ̀ṣọ́ Iṣẹ́ Ọnà by Cindy Zhang is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award in Àpẹẹrẹ Ohun Ọ̀ṣọ́ Ara Competition Category.

IdẹOhun Ọ̀ṣọ́ Ara· 2026

Baron Necklace Iṣẹ́ Ọ̀ṣọ́: Ọ̀ṣọ́ Iṣẹ́ Ọnà

by Cindy Zhang

Client: Cindy Lu Jewelry

Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award Winner in Ohun Ọ̀ṣọ́ Ara Category

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Colors

The Design

About Baron Necklace Iṣẹ́ Ọ̀ṣọ́: Ọ̀ṣọ́ Iṣẹ́ Ọnà

Àpẹẹrẹ yìí fa àwòkọ́ṣe rẹ̀ láti inú ìwé The Baron in the Trees, tí ó ń túmọ̀ àsìkò tí Baron ṣàyàn òmìnira ju àbàṣepọ̀. Àwọn ìlà irin tí ó ń ṣàn dúró fún atẹ́gùn tí ó gbé e lọ, tí a túmọ̀ sí àwọn àwòrán tí ó gbójú tí kò sì fi ara mọ́ àṣà. Àwọn ìyàtọ̀ àwọ̀ tí ó lágbára ń fún ìtàn náà lókun. Àwọ̀ ewéko ń jí ìfẹ́kúfẹ̀ẹ́ fún ayé tí kò ní ìdíwọ́, nígbà tí mandarin garnet ń dúró fún Baron fúnra rẹ̀ àti ìfẹ́ tí ó pẹ́ títí fún ẹ̀dá ènìyàn. Ẹ̀yà náà ń ṣàjọ̀dún ìṣíṣẹ̀, òmìnira, àti agbára láti yan ọ̀nà ti ara ẹni.

The Recognition

About the Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award

Baron Necklace Iṣẹ́ Ọ̀ṣọ́: Ọ̀ṣọ́ Iṣẹ́ Ọnà jẹ́ olùborí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award, ìdánimọ̀ olókìkí gan-an tí a fún àwọn àwòṣe tó tayọ tí wọ́n yàtọ̀ nípasẹ̀ ìṣẹ̀dá, àrékérekè àti ọgbọ́n inú. Àwọn olùborí Idẹ jẹ́ àwọn ohun èlò tó ní ìjáfáfá gan-an tí wọ́n sì ní ìṣẹ̀dá tó yani lẹ́nu tí wọ́n ń ṣe ẹ̀rí ìrírí gbígbòòrò, ìrònú àti ọgbọ́n àwọn olùṣàwòṣe wọn. A retí pé Baron Necklace Iṣẹ́ Ọ̀ṣọ́: Ọ̀ṣọ́ Iṣẹ́ Ọnà yóò jẹ́ ohun tí a kà sí gidigidi, tí a gbóríyìn fún tí a sì nífẹ̀ẹ́, tó jẹ́ ti ọ̀jáfáfá lọ́nà tó ṣe pàtàkì tó sì ní ìmúṣẹ̀dá tuntun. Àwòṣe tó borí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award yìí ń kó àwọn ọ̀nà tó dára jùlọ nínú iṣẹ́ ọnà, sáyẹ́ǹsì, àwòṣe àti ìmọ̀-ẹ̀rọ jọ, ó sì tayọ nítorí àfiyèsí rẹ̀ sí àwọn àlàyé kékeré. Baron Necklace Iṣẹ́ Ọ̀ṣọ́: Ọ̀ṣọ́ Iṣẹ́ Ọnà ń tẹ́ àwọn ohun tí a nílò lọ́rùn lọ́nà àgbàyanu, ó ń fọwọ́ kan àwọn ìfẹ́ inú, ó ń gbà ọkàn ó sì ń fa ìfẹ́ láti mọ̀ mọ́ra.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: This idea is expressed through bold, unconventional metal lines and vivid color contrasts. Green conveys a desire for an unconstrained world, while mandarin garnet represents a lasting devotion to humanity. A pave of diamonds in varying sizes and a distinctive under bezel design bring together traditional wire sculpting and CAD modeling, resulting in a piece that is both visually compelling and comfortable to wear.
Dimensions & Packaging: Pendant
42.8 mm (width) × 80 mm (height) × 19.8 mm (depth)
Necklace length
50cm to 60cm adjustable
Tags: Art Jewelry necklace, vivid colors, 3D pave setting technique, 18k gold, Rhodium plating, adjustable
Production Technology: The necklace was developed through hand sketches, followed by copper and iron prototypes to refine the orientation of the lines. It was then modeled in Rhino and ZBrush and produced using casting techniques. Rhodium plating was applied to achieve the desired gold color. Split color diamonds are set along both sides of each line, ensuring the necklace shines from every angle in 360 degrees.
Design Challenge: The hardest part of the creative research challenge was researching and ideating the most authentic way to represent the essence of the book through design. From a craftsmen perspective determining the optimal orientation of the 3D model in Rhino so the diamonds are properly set and visible from 360 degrees was equally challenging. I went through countless discussions with the factory to balance feasibility and aesthetics.
Research: Using the Double Diamond research method to achieve the best jewelry wearing experience this necklace explores The Baron in the Trees through discovery definition development and delivery. Literary research and visual experimentation guided iterative design and material testing. Traditional craftsmanship combined with innovative techniques transforms artistic creativity into a wearable form that expresses intellectual freedom.
Inspiration: The design is inspired by The Baron in the Trees by Italo Calvino, whose depiction of independent thinking and a profound love for life deeply resonated with the designer. To express this pursuit of freedom, the necklace features distorted, complex lines that evoke the Baron’s final moment of release in the wildly blowing wind. Warm orange of natural gemstones contrast with cool green rhodium, conveying the novel’s emotional depth and commitment to intellectual freedom.
Project Duration: The project started in August 2025 in Pittsburgh and finished in January 2026 in Hongkong
Operation Flow: The length of the necklace is adjustable to suit different outfits.
Patents: Copyrights belong to Cindy Lu LLC, 2026