• The inspiration behind this piece stems from my fascination with the delicate balance between fragility and strength, as well as the dual nature of transformation and growth. Drawing from the ethereal beauty of winged creatures, I sought to create a piece that embodies the essence of freedom, grace, and elegance.

    The design features a modern torque-style necklace, seamlessly blending the timeless appeal of winged motifs with contemporary aesthetics. The baby wings, meticulously crafted in silver, lay flush against the wearer's back, following the natural curvature of the body. This intimate connection between the wearer and the piece symbolizes the transformative power of embracing one's inner strength and the ability to rise above adversity.

 

Stage 1 : DESIGN


The process begins with a detailed 3D rendering of the wings necklace in a computer-aided design (CAD) program. Leana Sterlina meticulously crafts the design, ensuring that the delicate baby wings and torque necklace are visually balanced and aesthetically pleasing.

 

Stage 2 : 3DPRINT


Once the design is finalized, a high-resolution 3D printer is used to create a precise physical model of the necklace. The model is printed using a specialized material called PVB (polyvinyl butyral), which can be dissolved later in the process.

 

Stage 3 : ELECTROPLATE


The 3D-printed model is then coated with a conductive material to prepare it for electroplating. During electroplating, the model is submerged in a solution containing silver ions. An electric current is applied, causing the silver ions to be attracted to the model's surface, forming a thin, even layer of silver coating.

 

STAGE 4 : Once the electroplating process is complete, the silver-coated PVB model is submerged in an acetone bath. The acetone dissolves the PVB core, leaving behind a hollow silver shell in the shape of the wings necklace.

 

Stage 4 : Cast with Molten Metal
The hollow silver shell is then carefully filled with molten metal, typically a silver alloy, to give the necklace its final weight and durability. The metal is allowed to cool and solidify within the silver shell.

 

Stage 6 : Finishing and Polishing
After the molten metal has cooled and hardened, the necklace is removed from the casting mold. Any excess metal or imperfections are carefully filed away, and the entire piece is polished to a high shine, accentuating the intricate details of the baby wings and torque necklace design.