pearls suspended in fish hooks turn into delicate jewels designed by bérénice noël

irene belfi, the first space dedicated to contemporary jewelry in milano, presents the jewels by the young designer bérénice noël. born in the réunion island, off of madagascar, noël was surrounded with nautical tales and created a fictitious storyline to inspire her collection. pearly, crystallized waterfalls, weightless clusters of gold and mother-of-pearl make up the designer’s delicate accessories.

bérénice noël, a toi pour toujours, fish hooks, gold, garnets
image © jean-louis tornato

through her jewelry, noël recounts a story of fatal seduction in which a mermaid attracts men on the island and traps them by hiding sharp fish hooks under hidden treasures. in the same way, her jewels feature pearls and stones that hide the hooks, integrating them into the piece. the rock crystals evoke sea salt grains or perhaps drops of water, and seem to disappear once the jewel is worn around the neck.

bérénice noël, vahiné, fish hooks pearls, silver
image © alessandro nanni

in some pieces the designer suspends pearls in fish hooks, in others she drills the stones with the hooks, a more invasive approach. the seemingly dangerous hooks become dainty pieces of jewelry as they hide behind pearls, smoked quartz and blue topaz.

bérénice noël, appart, fish hooks, smoked quartz, silver

the designer crafts her tales as deliberately as she does her jewels. ‘the island reveals itself to be an accumulation of torn clothing, upon which disturbing jewels are enthroned. hidden beneath these jewels, sharp clawed hooks await new prey: remnants such as a wedding band engraved «forever yours», and pearly bone-like structures are long-since trapped. I then have the vision of a woman, a siren perhaps? who creates jewels as traps for men, with what she finds around her : fishhooks strewn on the seabed, the treasures of stranded ships, the remains of past conquests… already so close to land, it’s no longer possible for me to turn back.’

bérénice noël, vahiné, fish hooks, pearls, gold
image © jean-louis tornato

bérénice noël, damla, fis hooks, zirconia, silver
image © jean-louis tornato

bérénice noël, cupidon, fish hook, topaz

bérénice noël, damla, fish hooks, zirconia

project info:

designer: bérénice noël

gallery: irene belfi contemporary jewellery gallery