Campus for Design and Art, Gemstones and Jewellery, News, Event

Neo-Gemstones: urban mining and the future of jewellery

Project work from the "Bling It!" workshop at the Gemstone and Jewellery Campus and research results from Sofie Boons' doctoral thesis (UWE Bristol) will be presented in Munich.

As part of Munich Jewellery Week 2025, the "Neo-Gemstones" exhibition presents a fascinating combination of science, art and sustainable design. Together with Gabriele Space and IMAL, jewellery designer and researcher Sofie Boons is bringing her innovative research findings and the work of the participants in the "Bling It!" workshop to Munich.

Sofie Boons' research

As part of her doctoral thesis, Sofie Boons investigated the potential of laboratory-grown crystals for jewellery design. During her research stays in Idar-Oberstein, she explored the history and technical expertise of synthetic gemstone production and came across a significant waste problem. Her studies led to experiments with industrial crystal waste and the DIY growth of rubies.

Art meets science

The Neo-Gemstones exhibition shows works that have emerged from these experiments, including works by Boons herself as well as pieces by students and other young artists from Gabriele Space's network. In addition to the exhibited jewellery, a series of lectures by Sofie Boons, Julia Wild and Daniel Rytz will take place on 14 March, delving deeper into the topic of sustainable jewellery practices.

Exhibition details

Location: Gabriele Space / IMAL Kontrapunkt GmbH, Dachauer Str. 54, 80335 München
Opening: Dienstag, 11.03.25, 17:00 – 21:00 Uhr
Opening hours:
Mittwoch, 12.03.25 - Samstag, 15.03.25, jeweils 10:00 – 18:00 Uhr
Lectures: Samstag, 14.03.25, 11:00 – 12:30 Uhr

The exhibition offers a unique opportunity to experience the interface between science, art and sustainable design and to explore the concept of urban mining in the jewellery sector.

Lab-grown rubies © Sofie Boons
Lab-grown rubies © Sofie Boons
Sofie Boons at the lab © UWE Bristol
Sofie Boons during her workshop at the Gemstone and Jewellery Campus © Gina Nadine Müller
Bachelor-Workshop 'Bling It!' © Gina Nadine Müller
Bachelor-Workshop 'Bling It!' © Gina Nadine Müller
Waste products from diamond tool production © Gina Nadine Müller
Waste products from diamond tool production © Gina Nadine Müller
Waste products from diamond tool production © Gina Nadine Müller
Result of the bachelor workshop © Gina Nadine Müller
Result of the bachelor workshop © Gina Nadine Müller
Result of the bachelor workshop © Gina Nadine Müller
back-to-top nach oben