IF you’re looking for exclusivity or custom made jewellery, then S’bhekile Ndlangisa is your man.
The Morningside-based jeweller designer and manufacturer, is making a name for himself in the industry. His handmade, three-dimensional designs, are a break away from the traditional flat and stationary jewellery.
“I am trying to break away from the idea of flat, static jewellery by applying mechanical movement to my pieces and making them more three-dimensional. I am more interested in the motion that machines produce, so I try to transform the idea of motion into a piece of jewellery. My designs resemble a mid-production process. I believe quality jewelry is handmade not machine made.” he says.
“My interlocking jewellery is influenced by engineering. I take my inspiration from the objects that I associate with mechanical engineering and industrial manufacturing, such as gears, interlocking pieces and bicycle chains.There are a lot of technical issues I have to take into consideration in order to reduce these mechanical parts to a smaller scale.” said the artist.
Mary Thomas, who is one of S’bhekile’s happy customers, says everywhere she goes people always ask where she bought her ring. “The number of people that stop me to ask about my ring is unbelievable. He also does amazing repairs,” she said.
Having clinched a number of industry awards, such as the Sanlam private investment innovation in jewellery design award in 2009 and being highlighted as an emerging creative designer by the Design Indaba in 2014, S’bhekile says despite the number of accolades, he still faces financial challenges.
“As I grow in the industry I would also love to work with gold, diamond and other precious metals and gemstones. But currently, most of my designs are silver as it is more affordable and because the suppliers I deal with usually have it. However, that does not mean that I cannot handle or work with the other precious metals. I love challenges and the more intricate a piece is, the better.” he said.
Schooled in jewellery design and manufacture at the Durban University of Technology, Ndlangisa began honing his real-world metal-working skills as a first-year student in 2006. After completing his studies in 2008, he started a studio at home in Mayville doing mostly repairs. He also worked for a jewellery company in the Durban CBD.
“I grew up in Bergville, which is very rural. The first time I came to Durban, is when I came to study at DUT. I never knew anything about jewellery manufacturing but from a young age I was very good with my hands, so a profession in the art field was always my first choice. The time I spent working at the jewellery shop in town, Ii learnt so much, but it was also during that time that I realized that I could do it on my own. That is when I opened S’bhekile Jewellers. The first office I opened was in town, but because of the location and chaos you normally find there, it wasn’t accessible to most of my clients. I moved to The Foundry in Morningside in 2014, because most of my clientele is familiar with the area and it is accessible to everyone. I haven’t looked back.” he said.
He has also designed a number of wedding rings and says people come to him with all sorts of designs they see in magazines. He loves the challenge and says it helps him grow as a jewellery maker. Last year, one of his most expensive designs was sold for R18 000.
For more information about his designs, you can visit info@sbhekilejewellers.co.za or his studios at Morningside, The Foundry Station Drive.
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