Zaha Hadid’s experimental volumes and sweeping curves live on in a contemporary jewellery collection that the architect created with Danish jeweller Georg Jensen prior to her untimely passing.
The sculptural collection of rings, inspired by Hadid’s design for the Wangjing Soho Complex in Beijing, was launched by Georg Jensen this Spring at the Baselworld watch and jewellery fair. That first suite was created in Jensen’s trademark silver, with black rhodium accents. Now the collection takes a more precious turn, this time cast in yellow gold with pavé diamond elements.
The linear pieces work with a ‘striped’ relief that is as bold as it is organic, and are each reminiscent of the fluid lines of Hadid’s buildings and Georg Jensen's organic design sensibility. As the architect had remarked at the launch of the first collection: 'Georg Jensen’s classic pieces appear to be of their time, and yet they are essentially timeless; grounded by a deep understanding of materiality, structure, craftsmanship and ergonomic considerations.'
Ring in 18-carat yellow gold with brilliant cut diamonds
Continuing the Danish house’s tradition of working with external designers to create jewellery ranges, both names were a natural fit. Zaha Hadid is the second architect to collaborate with Georg Jensen: Jean Nouvel designed a collection of flatware in 2004.
It was Georg Jensen creative director David Chu who instigated the collaboration: 'While working in Beijing I witnessed the gradual construction of the Wangjing buildings and started thinking about the idea of Zaha designing a collection.'
Chu admits that the ensuing design process was even more fulfilling than he might have hoped. 'Over the past two years, we were lucky enough to get to know a woman of extraordinary and legendary vision. Zaha inspired all of us – myself included – to think bigger, do better and try harder.'
The Wangjing Soho Complex in Beijing, designed by Zaha Hadid and completed in 2015
Ring in 18-carat yellow gold
Left: ring in 18-carat yellow gold with brilliant cut diamonds, Right: ring in 18-carat yellow gold with brilliant cut diamonds
INFORMATION
For more information, visit the Georg Jensen website
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