Bronze Jewelry Design · 2022
4 C Jewellery Collection
- A' Design Award 2022 Bronze Winner in Jewelry Design
- Awarded April 15, 2022
- CLIENT: Hanna K Design & Jewellery
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 15,335
- Verification code 4186D94A1D · Verify this award
About 4 C Jewellery Collection
4C is a jewellery collection of necklaces and earrings made of recycled sterling silver. The pieces show diamond outlines instead of real stones, offering an ethical and ecological alternative to genuine diamonds. The shapes are created with 3D modelling, wax printing and lost wax casting, and are then assembled and finished by hand. Four cuts are included: brilliant, princess, marquise and pear. Polished, matte patina and gilded finishes add contrast and highlight the three-dimensional form of each piece.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- 4C jewellery collection provides a new way to wear diamonds and acts as an ecological and ethical alternative to genuine diamonds and their sparkle and status.
The diamonds in the collection are made with 3D-technology to resemble the outlines of different gem cuttings created with precise mathematics and technique, and show the beauty which is usually left unseen.
There are four different cuts; brilliant, princess, marquise and pear, and a limited edition heart cut.
The different finishes; mirror polish and matte patina or gilding, provide contrast to highlight three-dimensionality of the collection. - Dimensions & Packaging
- Length of the necklace chain 800 mm. Sterling silver chain is 2.3 mm thick anchor chain. Optional omega chain length 450 mm and thickness 1.8 mm.
For example brilliant large "diamond" Width 35 mm x Depth 20 mm x Height 35, small "diamond" Width 10.5 mm x Depth 6 mm x Height 10.5 mm.
The 4C jewellery collection comes in the classic Hanna K Design & Jewellery box with a logo. Materials: carton, suede. Colours: black, rose gold. - Tags
- diamond, diamond jewellery, statement jewellery, silver, jewellery, necklace, gemstone, ethical, controversy, gala jewellery
- Production Technology
- Design was created with 3D-modeling, high resolution wax printing, and lost wax casting in recycled sterling silver, made by advanced professionals. It's assembly; soldering, filing and sanding, and finishing; polishing, matte finishing, gilding and patina, is made by hand with traditional goldsmith work.
The 3D-technique was chosen to support the idea behind the jewellery collection; precise gem and diamond cutting practise. - Design Challenge
- The design challenge was to create jewellery which is beautiful and delicate by itself but at the same time would play as a conversation starter about ethical and ecological aspects. The design provides light and shadow in its finishing to support this point.
The realization challenge for me was to step out from my comfort zone and instead of creating jewellery collection by hand I was to choose computer aided 3D technology, which offers the perfect tools for this project. Accurate enough 3D wax printing technology had entered in the industry just in time. - Project Duration
- The project started in the beginning of 2017 with the first necklace and earring set. The whole collection, four different necklaces and a dozen different earrings, was finished in September 2020 in Kuopio, Finland.
- Operation Flow
- 4C necklace is a long, solid chain with a small and large diamond pendant. Small diamond connects the chain which works without a lock. The necklace is put on easily just by hanging it around one's neck.
Individual pendants in omega chain have a silver carabiner lock in the chain.
Different versions can be used separately or layered for a more prestigious gala styled look. - Research
- Project began as wire jewellery tests made first in metals and paper. Accurate 3D wax printing entered in the industry to create precise models and print as wax to cast them in silver.
Details in gem cutting is the hidden gem in the industry. At the same time ethical perspective of gems is the talking point in our field. The 4C collection points an ethical view for this and shows the beauty of the diamond cuts by four most familiar cuts. 4C is a statement piece for the user and the designer. - Inspiration
- The name of the 4C collection comes from the components that affect the value of the diamond: cut, carat, colour and clarity.
Stripping a prestigious and valuable diamond into a wire pattern puts it in a new light. The removal of the sparkle gives space to the shape and the jewellery becomes a very graphic object, the inner and outer surface of which can be viewed at the same time.
Ethical and ecological aspects of the diamond industry are the talking point right now. 4C collection are jewellery with diamonds without diamonds. This is my statement piece. - Image Credits
- Image #1 : Photographer Teemu Töyrylä, Studio Töyrylä, 4C collection, 2020
Images #2-5: Photographer Hanna Korhonen, Hanna K Design & Jewellery Oy, 2020
Images #4-5: Hanna K Design & Jewellery Oy, 2020 - Patents
- Copyrights belong to Hanna K Design & Jewellery Oy, Hanna Korhonen, 2020
Colors of 4 C Jewellery Collection
Grand Interview about 4 C Jewellery Collection
The collection serves as a direct counter-approach to traditional diamonds, their dazzling, almost blinding sparkle, and the social status they represent. By stripping away the sparkle, the piece is reduced to a "wireframe model," setting the diamond shape in a completely new light. This shift gives room to the pure graphic form, making the piece an open geometric object where the inside and outside can be viewed simultaneously. It reflects a trend where luxury is defined by intellectual geometry and concept rather than material cost, bridging the gap between high luxury and bold, abstract unisex design.
The idea brewed in my mind after I was working on a wireframe-based, geometric custom jewellery piece for a client. Normally, a diamond's facets and mathematically precise cuts are only visible at extremely close range under a magnifying glass, and they are especially hard to see all around once a stone is set. I wanted to reveal the mathematical design and beauty of gemstone cuts on a large, accessible scale so that anyone can look "inside the diamond" to see the absolute precision of its lines.
The collection carries a strong ethical message: these are "diamond" pieces you can wear if you have concerns regarding the sustainability or ethics of real gemstones. The luxury appeal is maintained not by the sparkle of a mined stone, but through sophisticated craftsmanship, 3D precision, and striking material finishes (like gold plating and acid whitening on 925 sterling silver). Sustainability is also centered in my way of work as all the precious metals are almost completely recycled. As a metaphor with 4C collection, stripping away the blinding sparkle reveals a beautiful, delicate inner core, symbolizing that beneath anyone's outer shell lies beauty.
I have a deep artistic fondness for contrasts, such as smooth versus rough, or light versus shadow. Technically, the wireframe outlines of the silver allow for beautiful texturing: the exterior wire surfaces are highly polished, while the interior surfaces are left rough and patinated (darkened). For the lighter variations, gold plating or acid whitening is used on the inside. This deliberate contrast drastically enhances the three-dimensional depth of the pieces through the interplay of light and shadow. Light and shadow play not only in the materials, but philosophical aspects as well.
The primary challenge was achieving the absolute sharpness, flawless precision, and perfect mathematical angles of traditional gemstone facets in a lightweight, wearable format. Overcoming this required relying heavily on advanced technology, which ensured the flawless execution of the cuts. The resulting design achieved my ultimate goal: creating large, jaw-droppingly striking jewellery pieces that still remain remarkably light and comfortable to wear.
While I rarely use 3D technology in my usual custom work, it was absolutely preferred for this collection. The perfect sharpness of the edges and the mathematical faultlessness could best be achieved through new technology. However, the final artistry relies entirely on traditional hand-finishing: applying the dark patination, acid whitening, meticulous outer polishing, and gold plating. This blend allowed me to achieve flawless geometry while retaining the poetic, soulful touch of hand-wrought jewellery.
The collection expanded from a singular brilliant-cut concept into a highly versatile, multi-faceted collection. It grew to encompass an array of distinct gemstone cuts, including princess, pear (drop), and marquise cuts and limited edition heart cut. The lineup evolved to feature short delicate chains with detachable "diamonds" (which can double as standalone art objects), long necklaces featuring an integrated small accent diamond surprise, and a massive variety of stud and hook earrings that repeat the geometric theme even in their hooks and studs.
The collection shows that a piece of jewellery can be a powerful "statement" or "power jewellery". By embedding a conscious choice into the design, as in standing as a beautiful alternative for those who question the ethics of real gemstones, it proves that future trends do not have to rely on old fashion status symbols. Design can be abstract, graphic, and open to interpretation, acting as an intellectual conversation starter rather than just passive decoration. Jewellery should fundamentally be a channel for showcasing the wearer's personality and values.
It has proven to the market that the classic "4 Cs" of a diamond (Cut, Carat, Colour, Clarity) can be completely reinterpreted without using an actual gemstone. By capturing the mathematical lines in precious metals, the collection makes the hidden art of lapidary (gem cutting) accessible to the naked eye. It shifts consumer perspectives from valuing the scarcity of a mineral to valuing the form and engineering of the cut itself, widening the market to include both men and women through an abstract, unisex appeal.
This project reinforces that the future of ethical jewellery design lies in highlighting deep meaning, sustainability, and high-tech execution hand in hand with traditional gold smithing, over raw material extraction. Jewellery is a form of poetry: moments, massive stories, and values compressed into a beautiful, compact form. We can create incredibly impactful jewellery that honors the environment while celebrating the magnificent "inner core" of the person wearing it.