Laia Carreras

What makes a material worth wearing on the body?

My work deals with stone-setting and stones that have not traditionally been seen as precious. Wearing valuable materials on the body through jewellery is something humans have done for a long time, but what is considered precious or fine enough to be worn has changed over time.

Through rings, we express thoughts and ideas about value, aesthetics, status, identity, relationships, and more. Rings are set with expensive materials, which are not always conflict-free or ethical. What makes a stone precious enough for you to wear? Is it the traditional diamond, or stones such as granite whose primary purpose is not to be beautiful, but to build up large parts of our society?