Interview about Notre Dame Earrings, winner of the A' Jewelry Design Award 2025
The Notre Dame Earrings are part of the Bird's Eye Series, inspired by the symmetry of historical structures viewed from above. Made from 925 sterling silver, these earrings honor the Notre Dame Cathedral, capturing its intricate details in a refined yet bold design. The precise cutwork reflects the cathedral's Gothic patterns, merging history with expert craftsmanship. Measuring 33mm x 45mm, they make a statement while remaining lightweight and comfortable. Created using traditional jewelry-making techniques, the design embodies a balance of artistry and precision.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsThe Notre Dame Earrings began as a moment of quiet observation. While studying aerial photographs of the cathedral, I was struck by how different its soul appeared from above — almost like a living geometry. From that perspective, Notre Dame felt less like a building and more like a breathing organism of history, symmetry, and faith.I started by sketching the silhouette based on the cathedral’s roof structure and flying buttresses. Then I abstracted those forms into filigree rhythms. Through many prototypes and hand-cut trials, the architectural essence slowly transformed into a wearable object. It was a journey from monument to intimacy — from stone to silver.
The biggest challenge was balancing delicacy with strength. Gothic architecture is full of fine lines, sharp intersections, and layered depths — all beautiful, but difficult to reproduce in silver without weakening the structure.Each line had to be calculated not only aesthetically but structurally. Too thin, and it would break. Too thick, and it would lose its poetic lightness. I worked through multiple iterations, adjusting negative spaces and junction points until the piece could breathe visually while remaining durable for everyday wear.
The Notre Dame Earrings embody my belief that heritage should not remain behind glass — it should live on the body.By reinterpreting a historic structure through minimal, contemporary lines, I aimed to translate memory into movement. The piece carries centuries of history, yet speaks in a modern visual language. This dialogue between past and present is central to my design philosophy: honoring tradition while allowing it to evolve.
The dimensions were shaped through extensive testing on real wearers. I wanted the earrings to feel bold, architectural, and visible — yet never heavy or overwhelming.33mm x 45mm became the ideal balance: large enough to express the cathedral’s grandeur, small enough to remain comfortable. I constantly asked myself: Can this piece be worn for hours? Can it become part of daily life? If the answer was no, I refined it further.
Hand-cut ajour creates a physical connection between the maker, the object, and its story.Each opening is carved slowly, consciously, with attention. This rhythm mirrors the way cathedrals were built — stone by stone, hand by hand. When someone wears the earrings, they are wearing not just a form, but accumulated human effort and devotion. That tactile history becomes part of the experience.
I see the Notre Dame Earrings as an invitation: to treat landmarks not as static icons, but as living sources of inspiration.In future architectural jewelry, I hope designers will focus less on literal replication and more on emotional translation — capturing atmosphere, rhythm, and spirit. Jewelry can become a portable archive of cultural memory.
Gothic architecture is deeply mathematical, yet profoundly emotional. I was inspired by this duality.While designing, I used symmetry and proportional balance informed by the golden ratio, especially in spacing and structural flow. But mathematics was never restrictive — it was a framework that allowed freedom. Within that structure, intuition guided the final form.
My main advice is: start with genuine curiosity, not trends.When you deeply understand the story behind your inspiration, your work gains timelessness. Study history, observe details, ask questions, and allow yourself time to refine. Resonance across cultures and eras comes from sincerity, patience, and craftsmanship.
This piece transforms architecture into a personal narrative.When someone wears the Notre Dame Earrings, they carry a fragment of cultural memory with them. It creates emotional attachment — and emotional attachment is the foundation of preservation. Jewelry can quietly remind us that heritage is not distant; it is part of our daily lives.
Receiving the Bronze A’ Design Award gave me confidence to trust my interdisciplinary instincts.It confirmed that blending architecture, history, and jewelry is not a niche — it is a meaningful design language. Since then, I approach new projects with greater courage, depth, and responsibility. Each piece now feels like a chapter in a larger narrative rather than a standalone object.
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