Jewellery and design: a contemporary dialogue

“Form follows function.” The famous quote by architect Louis H. Sullivan has become one of the most influential principles in design. During Milan Design Week, which from April 7 to 13 transforms the city into the global capital of the industry, we celebrate this philosophy applied to the world of jewellery. Numerous creatives draw inspiration from this rule to craft jewellery that is both sophisticated and versatile, designed to seamlessly integrate into everyday life and elegantly meet modern needs.

An exemplary case is Farnese Gioielli's proposal, which with Spine has created a system of removable backs for convertible jewellery. The pavé of interchangeable stones, patented in 72 countries, allows the aesthetic of each piece to be tailored to personal taste. With the Mondo and Habibi collections, Farnese has gone even further, introducing an elastic system that renews the jewellery without compromise, combining goldsmith tradition with innovation. Here, function becomes customization.

In the same spirit of balancing aesthetics and functionality, Nanis presents the Boules collection. The soft, playful shapes reflect the light of vibrant gemstones, creating versatile and customizable jewelry for those wishing to express their individuality. Like Farnese, Nanis reinvents traditional jewelry, but does so through craftsmanship and a touch of modernity that reflects the changing times.

Lastly, Fope offers another example with its minimalist designs and patented Flex’it technology. The jewelry, crafted from simple, flexible modules, integrates an elastic mesh enabled by a system of small 18-carat gold springs. Once again, form serves a function: to naturally accompany the life of the wearer, offering a style that transcends fashion, space, and time.

Antonella Reina, Editor VO+