Platinum A' Design Award Winner 2022
Kimio Fukutani's Miracle of Birth Choker presents itself as a masterwork of contemporary jewelry design, photographed against a pristine white ground that allows the complex chromatic interplay of precious metals and gemstones to command complete visual attention. The compositional architecture describes an elegant horseshoe curve, with the primary focal zone concentrated in the lower half where sculptural, twisted elements cascade in dynamic rhythmic succession, each pod-like form encrusted with pavé-set stones in a sophisticated tetrachromatic palette of warm champagne gold, cool silvery white, rich cognac brown, and deep charcoal black. The upper chain portion employs interlocking circular links that alternate between these same four chromatic registers, creating a visual rhythm that transitions from the organic, almost botanical sculptural forms of the pendant section to the geometric precision of the chain architecture. The golden tones suggest the warmth of 18-karat yellow gold or possibly fancy yellow diamonds, while the white elements read as white gold or platinum set with colorless brilliant-cut diamonds, the cognac passages evoke chocolate or champagne diamonds, and the black sections suggest either black diamonds or rhodium-plated settings with black gemstones. The lighting paradigm is characteristic of high-end jewelry photography, employing soft, diffused illumination from multiple directions to minimize harsh shadows while maximizing the scintillation and fire of the countless faceted stones, each catching light at slightly different angles to create a shimmering, almost kinetic surface quality. The spatial construction is deliberately shallow, presenting the choker as a flat arrangement that nonetheless communicates substantial three-dimensionality through the twisted, spiraling forms of the central pendant elements, which appear to rotate in space like organic seed pods or emerging leaves unfurling. Edge treatment throughout demonstrates exceptional precision, with crisp boundaries between color zones in the chain links and softer, more flowing transitions in the sculptural pendant forms where different colored stone pavements meet and interweave. The figure-ground relationship establishes absolute clarity, the jewel existing as a precious object floating in pure luminous space, inviting contemplative examination of its intricate craftsmanship. Stylistically, the work demonstrates affinities with contemporary high jewelry traditions that marry organic naturalistic forms with geometric precision, evoking the biological imagery that has appeared in decorative arts from Art Nouveau through contemporary biomimetic design while maintaining a distinctly modern sensibility in its bold chromatic contrasts and architectural link construction.
In the natural world, the spiral shape is a special existence that feels the mystery of life. Many spiral shapes can be found in galaxies, typhoons, whirlpools, plants, shells, works of art, etc. In addition, human DNA is also composed of a double helix shape, and 99.9 percent of its structure is common. It is said that he was born in this world with a completely different personality and appearance with only the remaining 0.1 percent difference. In connection with the modeling beauty of the birth of such life, the tone of emotions was expressed in Choker.