‘Tactility Slender Silver Bracelet/Pendants

By Joel Smyth

‘Tactility’ is my new collection of contemporary 925 sterling silver jewellery designed to bring joy to the wearer. Inspired by our need for physical interaction, this jewellery invites the wearer to engage with and discover its possibilities; to move its geometric segments and touch its surfaces. My jewellery responds to the theme ‘RE-New’ by being my new work, newly exhibited, containing several new wearing possibilities.

Each single piece is more than just one item of jewellery; through movement the pieces can transform into new wearing opportunities. Because of this, each time the piece is moved, articulated and worn, its shape can be renewed completely! This is a contemporary geometric design  was influenced by architecture and my studies aboard in Latvia. The piece may be initially worn as a bracelet, yet, by removing a pin from the hinged bracelet, each of the four segments can be rearranged to form one of four hanging pendants as well: two long unfolded pendants, a rectangular folded pendant, or a cross shaped folded pendant; a total of five fascinating and engaging wearing possibilities. These complex hinged designs took many hours of design and development and are made entirely of 925 Sterling Silver. Some of the techniques used were Piercing, Filing, Folding, Swaging, Silver Soldering, Mitering and Riveting. Accuracy and precision were essential for the smooth operation of the hinged segments, to enable the smooth transition between each geometric shape.