FINAL EXAM

This pair of eyewear was created as my final examination piece during my apprenticeship as a goldsmith.

Driven by a fascination with sunglasses and collecting them, I spent over a year developing the design and construction of a fully functional frame. Created in close collaboration with my teacher, who also trains opticians, the project required balancing aesthetic decisions with the technical demands of eyewear construction. The final execution took place within 32 hours under examination conditions and continuous supervision.

Crafted primarily from sterling silver, every component of the frame was forged and fabricated by hand, from the front structure to the custom hinges with individually cut threads. The design features an interchangeable temple system connected through a custom horizontal spring mechanism – a mechanical element developed as part of the examination requirements.

As the most ambitious project I have undertaken to date, this piece pushed me both technically and creatively. More than a final examination piece, it became an opportunity to test my own abilities and explore how far I could push the skills I had developed throughout my apprenticeship.