Glass in motion.
By: Saskia van Es
Chances are, when you hear the term ‘kinetic jewellery’, you think of Michael Berger’s work. The goldsmith creates jewellery with parts that swing around each other.
A ring with two boat-shaped pieces a pearl, for example, which are stacked differently with every movement you make.
Without the mechanics showing, that’s the clever thing. To pull that off, Michael Berger uses both handwork and high-tech techniques.
In his most recent work, everything moves too. Only this time, they are bars of coloured glass in a cage of stainless steel. Miniscule ball bearings enable the movement. The glass is not just any glass but dichroic glass. A special coating gives it a different colour when the light changes. Typically something you have to experience for yourself, when you hold Berger’s work in your hand.
MICHAEL BERGER
Kinetic rings.
Carbon coated stainless steel, yellow gold 750, tahitian and south sea pearls, micro ball bearings
MICHAEL BERGER
Kinetic brooch.
Yellow gold 750, stainless steel, dichroic glass, micro ball bearings