By Ase Anderson in London
The attention to detail in Hemmerle's new nature inspired jewellery collection is nothing short of astounding.
The Munich-based jeweller has translated woodland flora from around the world into 16 one-of-a-kind jewels, some of which were more than three years in the making. Acorns, chestnuts and rosehips are all realistically recreated along with more exotic fruits such as pomegranate and arbutus.
A chestnut brooch made of diamonds, obsidian, bronze, silver and gold is almost freaky in its realism, from the textured diamond-encrusted shell to the obsidian nuts that gently move if the brooch is shaken.
The innovative use of materials is exemplified in the physalis brooch, on which a rare, sun-orange melo pearl shines inside a delicate lantern-like encasing rendered in gold. In all, the collection consists of 12 brooches, two pairs of earrings, one necklace and a ring.
The launch of the collection is accompanied by the publication of a new poetry book, aptly titled 'Nature's Jewels', which pairs each creation with an inspiring poem. Christian Hemmerle says that finding the poetry to go with the jewels was "an exhilarating experience".
A sonnet penned by German poet Rainer Maria Rilke complements a fig brooch crafted from purple sapphires and demantoid garnets. Contemporary British poet Alice Oswald's celebrated poem Walking past a Rose this June also appears in the book, paired with a rose hip brooch.
"We wanted to produce a book that included poetry because our own philosophy resonates with it," adds Christian. "Originality, beauty, boldness, creativity, and technical understanding all go into making a Hemmerle jewel also."
Published by MACK, the book, which features poems in eight different languages sourced by writer Greta Bellamacina, will be produced in a limited edition of 1,000.
