Julia Bocanet | 48 HOURS OF FUNCTIONAL DAZZLE: Forgotten Jewels, Daily Rituals and a Little Flirtation

What if working from home required a chatelaine, your fan could flirt for you, and choosing a ring meant finding just the right words?

Join designer, goldsmith and researcher Julia Bocanet for a playful journey through an imaginary 48 hours in the present, where the jewellery habits of past centuries are still very much alive.

We begin with a lady, going about her day, accompanied by different functional jewels. There are errands, little necessities, a change from day to evening, and eventually - a party. There, across the room, a gentleman takes notice. A fan moves. A message is sent. Perhaps not everything needs to be said aloud.

The next morning, we follow him, with his enseigne pinned on and a signet ring on the index finger. Between meetings and the practical businesses of the day, his thoughts keep returning to the woman from the night before. He has an idea: a ring. But can he find the one with just the right nuance?

Along the way, Julia introduces the ingenious, intimate and sometimes mischievous jewels that once accompanied everyday life - objects that could organise a day, reveal a status, send a signal or start a romance.

And when our gentleman finally presents his carefully chosen ring? One final practicality reveals itself...

Designer, goldsmith and researcher Julia Bocanet combines her different expertises to craft unique pieces for her clients. She honed her skills in Kyoto, New York and Eindhoven, before settling in her hometown of Amsterdam. Now her work is known for its refined elegance infused with plenty of narrative. 

Her love for historical jewels began early on, with a general interest in functional objects once relevant in our daily lives, yet for one reason or another disappeared and forgotten. Why? And are they worth a revival? It's these questions that she asks with students worldwide, as she encourages young goldsmiths to review history and find inspiration.

RESERVE YOUR SEAT | Sunday, 6 December 2026 · 11:00

The Winter Salon | Hotel Des Indes, Den Haag
Lecture is in English