Benedict Haener: Rethinking Value in Jewelry

Breaking Boundaries: The Art of Benedict Haener

Benedict Haener is a Swiss artist and goldsmith who turns the rules of jewelry upside down. With a sharp eye for detail and a playful spirit, he transforms precious materials like diamonds and gold into objects that look like everyday items—sugar, paper, even candy. His work blurs the lines between art, craft, and social commentary, inviting us to rethink what value means in today’s world. We spoke with Benedict about his creative process, his bold approach, and the ideas behind his provocative collection Kill Your Darling.

Reversing Expectations: From Diamonds to Sugar

IRK: You work with everyday materials like sugar, paper, and glass, turning them into wearable and precious objects. What do you want viewers to feel—desire, doubt, or laughter?

Benedict: Actually, it’s the other way around. I start with valuable materials like diamonds and gold, but I make them imitate everyday things like sugar or candy. The goal is first to irritate the viewer, then to fascinate them. It’s a kind of playful tension that keeps people thinking.

More Than Jewelry: Art That Talks

IRK: Your pieces seem to shift between wearable objects, sculptures, and even social statements. Are they silent manifestos or playful language games?

Benedict: They’re all of those things. My works captivate with technical skill and playful design, but also with irritating associations. They can be worn or shown in exhibitions as statements. I like to resist typical jewelry market conventions with irony and wit. I question values and create new ones by surprising techniques and processes.

Craft Meets Creativity: Breaking the Mold

IRK: You trained as a classical goldsmith but break away from tradition in your work. How did you find your voice between craftsmanship and creative freedom?

Benedict: Letting go of precision is hard for me. During my Bachelor’s studies in jewelry design, I avoided traditional materials like precious metals and stones. This helped me to be free and experimental. But the need for precision stayed—it just shifted to new materials like synthetic resin and aluminum. So, I found a balance: strong technical skill combined with creative irreverence.

Destroy to Create: Challenging the Meaning of Value

IRK: Your jewelry feels both pro- and anti-status—seductive but also subversive. How do you relate to the idea of value, whether monetary, symbolic, or emotional?

Benedict: Value is a human construct, both socially and financially. It’s hard to question your own values, but necessary for progress. That’s the core of my Kill Your Darling project: to let go of what you love, even if it’s your best idea. By breaking cherished diamonds, I challenge traditional jewelry values. But I don’t just destroy—I also create new values and meanings.

Redefining Value: Jewelry as a Provocation

Benedict Haener’s work challenges us to see jewelry as more than decoration. Through clever reversals and unexpected materials, he sparks questions about beauty, value, and tradition. His pieces are both an invitation and a provocation—beautiful yet unsettling, precise yet playful. With Kill Your Darling, Benedict not only breaks old rules but also carves out new ways to think about art and value in a changing world. His journey reminds us that true innovation often requires letting go of what we hold most dear.

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Want some more ? Take a look at : KATRIN ZIMMERMANN: JEWELRY & GLOBALISM IN HARLEM

KATRIN ZIMMERMANN: JEWELRY & GLOBALISM IN HARLEM