Monet Garden is a unique piece of jewelry that captures the essence of Monet's dreamy purple and green landscape. Lam's inspiration came from her deep admiration for the Impressionist artist and her desire to recreate his masterpiece using gemstones.
The centerpiece of Monet Garden is its translucent rose-cut tanzanite and tourmaline, which allow the wearer's skin tone to become part of the color palette. The necklace's slim and flexible structure contours the chest, mimicking the undulating landscape of Monet's garden. The result is a wearable tapestry that brings the beauty of nature to life.
The craftsmanship behind Monet Garden is truly remarkable. The stones, including amethyst, green sapphire, and jadeite, are set in prongs and arranged in four plates for the front part of the necklace. This design not only showcases the gemstones' brilliance but also ensures flexibility and comfort for the wearer.
Monet Garden's technical specifications are equally impressive. The necklace drops 21 inches at its longest point and is mounted in 18kt white gold. With a total weight of 95.1g, it features a stunning array of gemstones, including amethyst, tanzanite, tourmaline, and tsavorite garnet.
Creating Monet Garden was not without its challenges. Lam spent 18 months collecting gemstones in different tones of purple and green to achieve the desired color palette. Additionally, finding a way to set over 700 gemstones with varying depths required innovative thinking. By dividing the front part of the necklace into four plates, Lam minimized movable joints and reduced the overall weight, resulting in a flexible and comfortable piece of jewelry.
Monet Garden is best worn as an accessory for a low-cut evening gown. Its flexible setting follows the natural curvature of the neck and bosom, enhancing the wearer's elegance and beauty.
Completed in mid-2014, Monet Garden is a testament to Lam's dedication to her craft and her ability to transform inspiration into wearable art. This exquisite bib necklace is a true masterpiece that combines art, nature, and design, making it a must-have for any jewelry enthusiast.
Monet Garden was awarded the Bronze A' Design Award in 2015, recognizing its outstanding creativity and ingenious design. This prestigious award celebrates designs that incorporate best practices in art, science, design, and technology, contributing to improvements in quality of life.
Project Designers: Lam Hong Ki, Connie
Image Credits: Main Image and Images #1,2,3 &4: Connie Lam, 2015
Project Team Members: Connie Lam
Project Name: Monet Garden
Project Client: Lam Hong Ki, Connie