Graffiti is more than just vandalism, it embodies one of the original forms of self-expression and documentation (cave painting, you know), which has left its mark on a city like Berlin in particular. At the heart of this extremely fascinating art form is classic acrylic paint from spray cans. It shines in all the colors of the rainbow and beyond. In addition, its layered texture forms the basis of each of our pieces of jewelry. But getting there is a real challenge, because at first we naively started out with some epoxy resin and molds. We quickly realized that this was not enough and that our vision required a different level of craftsmanship. We had to learn how to handle the material because there is often a lot of stuff between the layers of paint, such as dirt, sand, old posters and often bitumen or wall paint, that has sneaked in over the years. The moisture and dryness of the layers of paint have a strong influence on our processing: Too dry and the paint crumbles in our hands. Too wet and you can hardly sand it. Speaking of sanding, if it gets too hot here, the paint will melt away – but eventually we got the hang of it.
But that's not all. To complete the pieces of jewelry, individually made settings for rings, pendants, cuffs and much more are made from 925 silver or gold. Before that, however, we had to search intensively for the goldsmith of our dreams who could meet our outstanding demands and design ideas. But the result is worth every effort for us. For other pieces that use less precious metal, we use hypoallergenic stainless steel. In general, all the materials we use are skin-friendly and nickel-free, so that no one will have any skin problems.
Another important step is sealing the jewelry with high-quality epoxy resin. Finding the right plastic was a real mission, because the market is now huge and not every casting resin is suitable for every project. The differences are immense. After many experiments, mixtures and failures, we have now found a great resin that is considered non-toxic casting resin and is absolutely resilient and shiny. Our favorite will only be launched at the end of 2023 and not only offers an anti-yellowing effect through UV protection, but is also skin-friendly, perfect for jewelry and, especially important to us: "Made in Germany". As a finisher, we use an ultra-resistant varnish that is the trade secret behind the longevity and style of our pieces.
The road to perfection was a wild ride, but as the saying goes: All good things come to those who wait. It took more than a year for us to reach our current high standard. But we are still a long way from our goal! With every experience and every new piece, we are bursting with ideas and pushing the boundaries of our creativity, not least in personal exchanges with our customers while chatting at one of Berlin's markets. Graffiti jewelry is not just a question of appearance, but also our tribute to the capital's street art and the people who wear it.
Berlin, 12.02.2024
Text by Angelika Grüttner
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