Amélie Viaene

Jewellery maker

©Christopher Jeney

A sculptural approach

Amélie’s work combines stylistic innovation and traditional savoir-faire
She uses wax carving, which requires a lot of precision
Her goal is to make jewellery with little or no welding

In the same way that each link on a necklace comes together to form a delicate chain, Amélie Viaene proceeded step-by-step to develop her impressive savoir-faire: early studies in applied arts, an evening course in gemology, and a year of intense work at Paris’s Haute Ecole de Joaillerie. “It was a revelation: that I loved it, that I had the manual skills to do this work, and that I could master the form,” she says. Amélie emphasises the handmade element of her work and the important labour of the gouache drawing and wax sculpting. “Most people don’t know how jewellery is created and enjoy learning how it works; understanding the intricacy and precision of the process.”

Interview

©Christopher Jeney

©Christopher Jeney

Can you describe your different collections?: First is the permanent collection of models that are always available. Then I do half-customised orders, meaning an adaptation of an existing model. And finally, there are true custom-made pieces, the result of my own creative work in discussion with the client’s desires.
Do you remember one of your first successes?: Yes, a ring I made called Mon Coeur. We were required to make a ring for class, and I had a minor revelation in the way that I could master and transform the shape. I understood the potential of the wax carving method, and what I could do with it.
What inspires you?: Everything! I’m a real sponge: architecture, emotions, humans. So many things. I love science fiction, the future, pure lines and minimalism. What’s important for me is that all my designs have a certain harmony, that they remain recognisably mine.
Is there a philosophy behind your work?: I feel very strongly that the gemstone should work in service to the jewellery design – I’m not interested in using diamonds just to use diamonds. What I want is for each gem to be meaningful, and that it is meaningfully integrated into the piece of jewellery.

Amélie Viaene is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2005