DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
: An Emperor's Love Ring was inspired by the beauty of one of nature's masterpieces, the perfection and symmetry of the hydrangea.
DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
: Hortensia is a flower that evokes a powerful sensuality; an emotion I wanted to capture in my design. My vision was to create a unique collection of treasured and innovative gemstone pieces celebrating the glorious Hortensia blossoms in brilliant color, fashioned of the highest quality.
DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?
: I plan to present my work from ''The Illuminated Garden'' collection at the relevant exhibitions that could potentially open connections for the future.
DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?
: The study and research started in May 2018. We finalised the ring at the end of November 2018.
DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?
: All of my designs are based on my own inspiration and include something from the flora world. It's my main inspiration. This is just who I am, and nature is my kind of perfection that I like to transform with contemporary silhouettes in my jewellery pieces. Flowers and undergrowth work ultra feminine for me and this is my way of art.
DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?
: I work exclusively under my own brand name; NINA VIDMAR Bloom de Gemme. I have no plans of selling my production rights.
DI: What made you design this particular type of work?
: The ring is by far my most beloved jewellery piece. I can express my creativeness the most with rings and because of this I always start to conceptualize every collection with rings. If I had to wear only one piece of jewellery it would be the ring.
DI: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?
: No other designs or designers, just natures design of flawless Hydrangea flowers.
DI: Who is the target customer for his design?
: When designing I am always envisioning this woman who would wear this particular piece of my jewellery. The character changes like the occasion suitable for the piece. What never changes is the idea of empowering her. Every jewellery piece is an affirmation of her femininity, delicate yet alluring, poised but with purpose.
DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?
: It's the details I would say. It's big and bold. It works so empowering by wearing and beautiful at the same time. Not for the fainthearted. It can capture your attention for a while and hold you for itself. It is how the details are made with high precision and delicacy — also the use of high-quality sapphire gemstones, rubies and diamonds, which reflects with high lustre.
DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?
: Name of An Emperor's Love Ring presents the great emperor's admiration of the girl that the ring was meant for. The story behind the emperor's love for the girl he was not allowed to marry. It's a beautiful story of forbidden love.
DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?
: That is quite simple. In my design tools for this project were pencils, sketchbook, watercolour pencils, acrylic paint and brushes. That is what I use when designing. Then there is production side which includes waxing, moulding, polishing, gemstone setting, and other jewellery making tools and techniques.
DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?
: One of the most interesting aspects is the diamond flower that can be seen through the soft pink tourmaline. I was also paying high attention to maintain the effect of ''live flowers'', the dimension.
DI: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?
: Yes, of course. I give special attention to how the pieces are made, the method and materials. This is highly important to me. Each piece is carefully considered, every detail predetermined to perfection. What begins as an idea, always finishes as a statement piece in the hands of skilled sculptors and master jewellers.
DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?
: The art of lost-wax casting is an ancient method of fine jewellery fabrication which dates back thousands of years. Also called cire-perdue, little has changed of the intricate technique, with our master artisans following the same painstaking procedure as their ancestors. Original sculpture of the custom piece of jewellery is sculpted using a soft wax material. Once the sculpture is perfected, the wax is melted, and a metal mould is produced, replicating the delicate jewellery design exactly. 18K gold is poured into the mould, and then the meticulous process of finishing, polishing and perfecting the gold is completed before assembling. The entire detailed process is a true labour of love and the dedication of an accomplished artisan.
DI: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?
: Research started in the garden while admiring the beauty of the colorful Hortensia bushes when not yet all little flowers are open in full blossom. Studying this masterpiece of nature and its' effortless perfection begged an intense focus on the expressive lines.
DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?
: The challenge was to fasten the small gemstone flowers onto the ring successfully and at the same time create strength and durability. We wanted the ring to look fragile like wearing real Hortensia flowers. To mimic the lightness and live motion of the petals, the structure had to endure the pressure of wear and therefore needed to be strong and resilient.
DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?
: I learned for A Award Design competition only a few days before submitting the first Hortensia Bouquet Ring. This was also only a few days before the Late Entry deadline. So there was little to think about and I decided also to submit the Emperor's Love Ring.
DI: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?
: What I am still learning is to have patience and to take all the time that some project may need. To understand that every intricate design takes it's time to be designed, constructed and latest produced. There is absolutely no other way, no shortcuts.