By Cynthia Unninayar

When you look at the jewellery of Yael Sonia, creator of the award-winning “Perpetual Motion” collection, with its swinging pendulums, rolling spheres, and spinning tops, it is immediately apparent that they are more like wearable art in motion.

When most teenage girls were thinking about ways to celebrate their “Sweet 16” birthday, Yael was designing herself a special ring. “I have always been fascinated with jewellery,” she says, “but not just any jewellery. I love art and think of jewellery as a form of art.” Later, she studied design and goldsmithing, receiving her BFA in Metals and Jewelry. “I started out working only in metal, and the Femininity Collection was my first.”. “Whenever I get time to sit down at the bench and create one of these pieces, they fly out the door.” With the graceful lines and forged hollow design, it is easy to understand why.

Growing up in Brazil—and now sharing her time between New York, Paris, and São Paulo—it was inevitable that the young designer would eventually turn to more colourful creations. “I love colour, and appreciate the beautiful gems of Brazil. In fact, it is where I feel most creative. I spend several months a year at my studio and showroom in São Paulo, fine-tuning my designs and producing the collection.” She works with local stonecutters to obtain the impressive one-of-a-kind gemstones that her skilful goldsmiths turn into her very limited Perpetual Motion collections.

Encouragement for Yael came early in her career. Her very first Perpetual Motion piece was a finalist in the first Tahitian Pearl Trophy, and subsequent models went on to win many other awards.

When not in Brazil, Yael lives in New York where in 2007—only ten years after her professional debut—she opened her own boutique at 922 Madison Avenue. The store has rows of colourful candy-like gemstones and visually interesting toyinspired pieces, moving and swinging with an energy all their own. “A client who walks into the store immediately sees that everything moves, rattles, and comes alive like in a child’s universe,” she adds.

The untraditional pieces by Yael Sonia have a certain museum-like quality about them. For this reason, perhaps, they find an enthusiastic clientele in galleries and with private dealers in the USA, Brazil, and France. Béatrice Trelcat, director of the Galerie Elsa Vanier in Paris, specializing in contemporary design, explains, “We have been showing Yael’s work for five years now. At first, we had to educate our clientele to her range of colours, the cut of her gemstones, and her unconventional settings. It takes time to fully appreciate the details of these intricately designed pieces.”

What’s coming in 2012? Yael will continue limited pieces in the Femininity Collection and Deco lines, while of course adding to her popular Perpetual Motion lines, all evoking art in motion.

www.yaelsonia.com.br