Top Sri Lankan jewellery designer awarded platinum for fine art

Monday, 30 May 2016 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Jewellery Designer Chamal S. Jayaratna is one of the first Sri Lankans to start designing Jewellery using the advanced technology called CAD (Computer Aided Designing), and one of the leading Sri Lankan designers awarded in the world class events level at the Switzerland Basel World Design contest SILVER AWARD 2015, 3rd place at the ELLE Design Award USA and finalist in the ‘’SHINING 3D fashion Design contest in China.

Chamal’s latest achievement of 2016 was at the Solidscape Basel World Design contest Switzerland where his creation “Secret of the Sea,” recently clinched the Platinum Award for fine art which took his designs to the world class jewellery exhibition stage.

Born to a family with a background in jewellery he took his first step towards jewellery designing with the support of his father at the age of 18, while training as lapidarist under the supervision of his uncle Wijeweera, one of the finest lapidarists and gem merchants in Sri Lanka, and gaining experience by training in CAD under instructor Kalel and studying Gemmology at the University of Moratuwa.

After completing his studies he obtained an opportunity to work with L’AZURDE one of the largest Jewellery companies in the Middle East, and continued training under 3Dsystems of Germany. He explained about the time and experience which he received being invaluable for an initial 6 years as a CAD/CAM engineer which eventually resulted in him leading the CAD/CAM department for them.

Chamal currently spends his time working with international clients like Monore Yorke Australia, Amelee Jewellers Australia, Epic Diamond USA, Hong Kong Global Limited, Master model Turkey and CAD /CAM master model consulting projects for manufacturing processes in global companies.

The CAD CAM process involves transferring the hand sketched design into the Computer Aided Design system, and estimating the dimensions, weight and technical details of the model followed with computer aided manufacture in creating a 3D output which is a resin mould of the model.

The mould then is used for rubber or direct casting with the anointed precious metal and the emerging jewellery is completed with polishing, stone setting, rhodium plating and quality control.

Chamal has started his own design studio in Sri Lanka with designers from around the globe providing services for professional jewellery manufacturing companies, locally and internationally,but he said that as yet most of the local manufactures are unaware about the advanced CAD CAM technology so because of higher cost they are reluctant to use this in spite of its huge benefits , quality and also the saving of time.

Chamal looks forward to expanding the business as a 3D Lab and 3D CAD CAM training institute and sharing his knowledge with jewellery and manufacturing students, as well as initiating the biggest online jewellery store in Sri Lanka, set to be called “Lovlley” where one can buy fine jewellery online.