saravich-sungtrakankul__unknown__ual__2025

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School: RCA
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Year: 2025
Author(s):

Source: https://ualshowcase.arts.ac.uk/project/646519/cover

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# Project Description

Maybe Pearl

Saravich Sungtrakankul

Summary

Final work

Awards

Winner | Graduate Award 2025

I am a jewellery designer with a strong interest in materials and innovation. My work explores and questions the role of jewellery in contemporary culture, while also redefining the value and use of non-precious materials.

I am a jewellery designer with a strong interest in materials and innovation. My work explores an...

College Central Saint Martins

Course BA (Hons) Jewellery Design

Graduation year 2025

Lustrous and pearlescent, yet no real pearls are used; Saravich's jewellery rethinks value through carefully crafted reinterpretations. Using tin cans, nail polish and makeup, her collection preserves the iconic shimmer through championing materials that are often dismissed as insignificant. By embracing the faux pearl, Saravich challenges its negative connotations, shifting the focus from rarity to process, labour and intent. This material-led project offers an alternative to the traditional pearl, proposing that the precious can be redefined.

Interpretative text by Clementia Tivona, BA (HONS) Culture, Criticism and Curation

Final work

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Pearl Highlighter

Videographer / Editor: Ruilin Li

Model: Aadya Keshav

Research and process

Pearly Gel nail polish

Nail polish in different pearlescent colours

First few layers of gel nail polish

After multiple layers, it started to form a three-dimensional shape

Pearl chrome powder is applied

Pearly nail polish was collected and applied in multiple layers to create a three-dimensional form, with its pearlescence enhanced through the use of metallic chrome powder. Additionally, a tint of coloured nail polish was added to achieve a more realistic and refined finish.

Tin-plated steel

ball bearing set on a acrylic as a tool to push the material into a shape

Tin-plated steel sheet is placed in a cylindrical hydraulic pressing tool

Two half spheres are required to form a full round pearl

Pierce cutting the excess material

Matching two halves and joined with laser welding machine

Blow torch patination to imitate the natural Tahitian pearls colour

I developed both the tools and processes needed to transform tin-plated steel using a hydraulic pressing technique to form spherical shapes that resemble pearls. Since the material cannot be soldered, I used a laser welding machine to join the seams cleanly and securely. Additionally, I developed a patination method that mimics the appearance of natural Tahitian pearls, enhancing the material's visual similarity to genuine gemstones.

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Lustrous and pearlescent, yet no real pearls are used; Saravich's jewellery rethinks value through carefully crafted reinterpretations. Using tin cans, nail polish and makeup, her collection preserves the iconic shimmer through championing materials that are often dismissed as...

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# Links

## Official page
- https://ualshowcase.arts.ac.uk/project/646519/cover

## External
- https://www.instagram.com/saravichs
- mailto:petchsunpet@gmail.com
- https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fualshowcase.arts.ac.uk%2Fproject%2F646519%2Fcover&text=Maybe+Pearl
- https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fualshowcase.arts.ac.uk%2Fproject%2F646519%2Fcover&media=https%3A%2F%2Fportfolio-tools.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F06%2F05211408%2FSungtrakankul_Saravich_06.png&description=Maybe+Pearl