Gyrogami Blog - Precious Metals, Jewelry, Artwork

A Tactile Element

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Categories: Instruction and information; Experiences and daily life; Jewelry

Word count/read time: 429 words; 2 minutes

One fascinating aspect of chain design has eluded and will forever foil every attempt to explain it: first contact. It is mentioned often but without elaboration...is this a reverse pink elephant?

It would seem logical that man's first piece of jewelry was something simple like an animal tooth or tusk, maybe hung as a pendant or attached to the prized spear. Rings couldn't be too far behind whether small for a finger, medium for a bracelet, or large for a necklace. Maybe these primal body adornments were not for aesthetic reasons but functional ones, i.e. armor or insignia. However, at some point they began to invoke feelings - physical, emotional, and spiritual - and instill a sense of pride.

A ring is something everyone can identify with. They are pretty basic, usually a round-ish piece of metal (or substrate) with or without embellishments like gemstones, inlaid wood, and more. Most of us have worn one at some point even if it was only a homemade paper ring during childhood. There's not much mystery to how they feel.

Amulets, charms, and anything solid have a certain familiarity. Many static pieces share this characteristic. Earrings, strangely, have virtually "no" contact with the body, tunnels and whatnot excluded. They do exert forces and generate torque so they have a unique feel.

Chains change all of that. The European 4-in-1 has been commercially made with rings smaller than 1/16" and wire as thin as 0.3mm. The upper limit is boundless though it gets ridiculous quickly. It can use a multitude of ring sizes and wire diameters. Any jump ring shape will work or combination thereof. There are thousands of variations, never mind weaving layers or sheets!

Size variations do not work well across the entire spectrum of maille families but many can be scaled and manipulated to achieve some incredible results. Every weave is unique and every ring combination within that weave will have a different feel. And behave on their own schedule.

One rope weave collapses like liquid silk. How do you convey the feel of it disappearing into your palm? A sterling mesh fabric clings to every nook and cranny. It's weighty. It's magnetic, yet respectful. How do you describe the intimacy as it envelops your flesh? It's like trying to describe how something tastes...because it really doesn't taste like chicken.

A video or picture lacks the tactile element, arguably the most impressive feature of a chain. Even when clothing covers a piece of jewelry, you still feel and appreciate it. Not because it's jewelry, but because it engages the senses.

Posted by M: January 12, 2019

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