From Uzbekistan, designer Yuliya Kutovaya offers jewelry featuring the rare metal promoted by the Osmium Institute.
Osmium was the last of the eight precious metals to be discovered, after gold, silver, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, iridium, and platinum. Since then, its price has risen significantly, partly because osmium is the rarest metal in the world. And it is the metal of choice for designer Yuliya Kutovaya, born in Kazakhstan but based in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. At Vicenzaoro September, the designer presents her new Lagan Osmium collection, created in collaboration with the Osmium Institute.
The collection bridges traditional Eastern and Western aesthetics, showcasing osmium’s unique qualities as an innovative material for jewelry. The jewelry from the Lagan Osmium collection features the Islimi plant motif, a traditional oriental ornament commonly used in wood carving. The tactile relief of the jewelry evokes the feel of natural surfaces, while the ornament’s contemporary interpretation reflects Uzbekistan’s artistic heritage. The jewelry’s structure allows for transformation: the central osmium element can be easily removed.
The idea for the collection was inspired by the image of the Uzbek lagan, a decorative round plate traditionally placed at the center of the table, around which guests gather. I sought to combine this symbol of oriental hospitality with a material that represents something truly unique and captivating. Osmium became a metaphor for the central element around which the form and ornament are constructed.
Yuliya Kutovaya
Last year, Yuliya Kutovaya presented her design at the Osmium Visionary Contest in Germany and subsequently continued her creative collaboration with the Osmium Institute. Last May the collection was presented at GemGenève, Switzerland.
