Fine Jewellery or Art Jewellery

Jewelry Discussion
1

Hi all In reply to Don at The Charles Belle Studio in SOFL.

Although I’ve missed the beginning of this ‘debate’ I’d like to put
my 2 pennies worth in if I might.

Firstly as I’ve missed the initialy object of the discusiion please
excuse me if I go over old ground.

Some background for you all, I was an Apprentice Jeweller 20 years
ago who then went into Management with the same company, then into
the Royal Air Force and eventualy into Lecturing I.T at College
level!

I have carried on making Commission pieces over the last 20 years for
the pure pleasure of it and ‘keeping my hand in’ with techniques!

So Now I’m in my final year of a BA (hons) Degree in Metalsmithing &
Jewellery Design, and I am appalled at the attitude of the University
Lecturers who continue to insist that learning to Design is
sufficeint to ‘survive’ in ‘the Jewellery World’ and that there is a
difference between Fine Jewellery and Art Jewellery ,as I see it and
to be honest was taught as an Apprentice, The only difference is in
the mind of other people.

For example : I have just submitted designs to the 'Print D’Or’
competion in France; The inspiration for the earrings is the Aurora
Borealis. The earrings consist of a pair of matched White Gold hand
carved and faceted ‘Icicles’ (they aren’t but its the best
description I can think of!), set with a matched pair of purple rose
cut diamonds (1.5 carats in total). Now I say these are Art Jewellery
as I have ignored the conventions of setting Diamonds and using gold
and in doing so have produced what I consider to be a pair of
sculptural pieces of Jewellery.

Whereas the Senior Lecturer of the course says they are ‘Fine
Jewellery’ beacause of the materials used ! so which one of us is
right ? I believe as the designer and creating ‘Artist/Jeweller’ that
I am.

Finaly, the reason I am taking this Degree is so I can go on to Teach
in this field and hopefully encourage more youngsters with new fresh
Ideas to take up the Craft as Jewellers as opposed to just Designers!

Regards Wayne Danewood Dain Studio

2

My two cents-

In the absence of statute, regulation, or universally accepted,
authoritative text defining these two terms, I think that you as the
creator of the piece are entitled to call it whatever you like.
Personally, given that Walmart and JC Penneys sell “fine jewelry,” I
am disinterested in applying that term to anything which I produce
:slight_smile: .

Lee Einer

3 
Whereas the Senior Lecturer of the course says they are 'Fine
Jewellery' beacause of the materials used ! so which one of us is
right ? I believe as the designer and creating 'Artist/Jeweller'
that I am.

Dear Wayne, Heh, if you wanted to, you could call it…“Fine Art
Jewelry.”

Okay, it’s silly, but maybe something like that could cover both
bases (and add a little extra touch). ;9 Your earrings sound really
pretty, by the way. Do you happen to have pictures? And yes, I think
the artist gets to call it whatever the heck he/she wants, though
others may still categorize it privately in their own minds as