The bachelor’s thesis, Development of the Jewellery Collection Imprints of the Sea, explores the relationship between the natural environment, materiality, and contemporary jewellery design. The research is based on a personal connection to the sea and on the concept of amber inclusions as a metaphor for the preservation of time and material traces.
The theoretical part examines the field of contemporary jewellery, the use of alternative materials in contemporary design, and the role of UV gel as a design material. It also discusses the relationship between natural and synthetic materials, as well as the issue of microplastic pollution, which represents one of the conceptual starting points of the research.
The experimental part presents the development of the Sea Imprints jewellery collection. The collection combines UV gel, aluminium, and natural materials, including sand, sea glass, and shells collected along the coast of Savudrija. Though the processes of research, sketching, prototype development, and the finalisation of the jewellery pieces, the possibilities of combining natural and synthetic materials in contemporary jewellery were explored.
The results demonstrate that the use of UV gel enables the preservation and enchantment of natural elements within a new material context while offering diverse aesthetic and conceptual possibilities for contemporary jewellery design. At the same time, the research highlights the limitations of such materials in terms of sustainability and long-term durability. The collection represents a synthesis of personal experience, material exploration, and critical reflection on the relationship between humans, nature, and contemporary materials.
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