How position affects our interpretation of jewelry on the body

Jewelry is meant to be worn.

While there are examples of jewelry that are so well-crafted, made of such exquisite or rare materials, or of such extraordinary cultural importance that they successfully exist as independent objects, the original intent is always that they be worn.

In our final examination of the design element position, we consider that the way we interpret jewelry is affected by its placement on the body. Conversely, our attention to different parts of the body is influenced by jewelry. The interaction of jewelry and the body activates fundamental design concepts, such as scale, movement, and balance, through positioning.

Sometimes, the position of the jewelry, where it is worn on the body, carries a cultural message, such as with wedding rings.

And some jewelry must be worn for us to even see and understand the design.

Sergey Jivetin

Poultry Accumulus, Necklace, 2009, eggshell, carbon fiber, gold, steel

Our interpretation of a piece of jewelry depends on seeing it on the body.

The impact of jewelry is influenced by the relationship between the scale of our clothing, the size of the jewelry, and the location on the body where the jewelry is worn.

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