Silver Jewelry Design · 2025
Marine Gastropods Ring
- A' Design Award 2025 Silver Winner in Jewelry Design
- Awarded April 15, 2025
- CLIENT: Mieke Govaerts
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 66,748
- Verification code 9B07A75E90 · Verify this award
About Marine Gastropods Ring
Marine Gastropods is a ring inspired by the spiral forms of marine snails. The form was studied from a dissected shell, which was recorded with a three-dimensional scanner. The ring is made of six parts cast in 18k gold using the lost-wax technique. A central tourmaline is cut to increase reflection, following a study of refraction and optical properties. Diamonds are set into the surface, and the assembled piece is rhodium plated. The design joins natural form with jewelry craft and treats the parts as one whole.
The Marine Gastropods Ring by Tiziano Andorno represents a remarkable synthesis of organic observation and precious metalworking virtuosity, positioning itself within the distinguished lineage of nature-inspired jewelry design that traces from nineteenth-century naturalism through Art Nouveau's biomorphic innovations to contemporary parametric explorations of form. The work demonstrates exceptional technical achievement in its realization of a continuously spiraling ribbon structure that maintains structural integrity while supporting elaborate diamond pavé along its entire curving edge, a feat requiring precise engineering calculations and masterful stone-setting expertise. The designer appears to have drawn deep inspiration from marine gastropod shells, translating the mathematical perfection of natural logarithmic spirals into wearable precious metal sculpture, while the perforated body surface suggests the porous architectures of coral reefs and sea sponges, creating visual porosity that reduces material weight while amplifying textural interest. At the spiral's terminus, a pear-shaped rubellite tourmaline of remarkable chromatic intensity serves as both visual destination and symbolic heart, its warm magenta-crimson hues establishing complementary tension against the cool silver-white metal ground. The decision to employ extensive negative space through carefully placed circular apertures reflects sophisticated understanding of light behavior within jewelry forms, allowing illumination to penetrate and animate the structure from multiple angles while creating shadows that emphasize volumetric complexity. One might observe how this work negotiates between organic irregularity and geometric precision, the perforations appearing randomly distributed yet following underlying organizational logic that maintains visual rhythm without mechanical repetition. The ring invites contemplation of humanity's enduring fascination with marine forms, the deep time encoded in shell spirals representing millions of years of evolutionary refinement, translated here into an object of personal adornment that carries oceanic memory. How might wearing such a piece connect its owner to the vast mysteries of the sea and the mathematical harmonies underlying natural form?
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- When speaking of nature as a primary source of creative inspiration, it is through understanding nature itself that we discover the technical solutions for transforming natural elements into industrial functions, all while respecting the essence of nature and making it accessible to all.
The use of diverse, yet carefully selected, natural materials creates the concept of a 'circular' piece of jewelry, where no single part can exist independently from the others. - Dimensions & Packaging
- The dimensions are: the height is mm 34,40 to mm 26,30. The top part diameter is mm 34,20 to mm 27,60 and the bottom part diameter is mm 19,20 to mm 17,80.
- Tags
- Ring Gold Seashell Tourmaline Marine Gastropods Art Design Unique Piece
- Production Technology
- | dissected a marine gastropod to create a sculpture.
After observing and scanning the unused part with a 3D scanner, I began designing the object, which is made up of six parts cast in 18k gold using the lost-wax technique. The central stone is a tourmaline, precisely cut to maximize its reflection, following a study on refraction and optical properties. After the first cleaning, the piece was assembled, set with diamonds, cleaned again, and finally rhodium-plated. - Design Challenge
- Creative and naturalistic research on shells collected from the seabed and coral reefs. An analysis of the variety of shapes and colors and their transformation over time. Once, in some cultures, shells were used as currency, a practice now almost disappeared, relegated to decorative details on common objects. This work serves as a reminder of climate change, which alters colors and whitens corals and shells, erasing a part of island culture.
- Project Duration
- February 2023 - April 2023 in Milano
- Operation Flow
- This distinctive piece is noteworthy for its significant design. The ring draws inspiration from the geometry and forms found in marine nature, with a particular focus on Marine Gastropods. This creation not only possesses a profound meaning but also exhibits an extraordinary and intricate design that underscores its artistic complexity.
- Research
- Inspired by the intricate beauty of marine gastropods, I explored their spiral forms to create a unique piece. Using 3D scanning and the lost-wax technique, I crafted this object in 18k gold, set with diamonds and a central tourmaline, and finished with rhodium plating. It began as a concept, an emotion-driven idea that evolved through intense personal study and creative realization.
- Inspiration
- Inspired by the beauty and form of marine gastropods, I undertook a deep study to analyze their spiral structure. The architectural perfection I discovered was astonishing. The grace of these creatures guided my creativity, allowing me to translate their natural perfection into a unique design. This ring represents a fusion of nature and art, a tribute to the wonder of the marine world.
- Image Credits
- Domenico Festa
Colors of Marine Gastropods Ring
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