Johan Nel
« Un bijou se juge à l'intérieur, là où personne ne regarde. La qualité d'un sertissage se voit au dos, celle d'une pierre, à la loupe. »
J'ai appris le métier par les mains, en apprentissage d'orfèvrerie, là où l'on comprend un bijou en le fabriquant. Je me suis aussi formé à la gemmologie : savoir lire une pierre autant que la monter. C'est en découvrant la CAO, et Rhino3D en particulier, que tout a changé : le passage des techniques traditionnelles au dessin numérique a ouvert un champ de possibles immense.
Poussé par la curiosité, je me suis formé à la modélisation 3D, au poly-modeling sous 3DS Max et au rendu Vray, jusqu'à concevoir des bijoux pensés pour l'impression 3D et la fonte. Aujourd'hui, avec plus de neuf ans de métier, je mets ce mélange de savoir-faire traditionnel et d'outils de pointe au service de chaque pièce.
Plus de neuf ans de métier, de l'établi à la conception 3D.
- Fabrication & savoir-faire
- Gemmologie
- Qualité des pierres
- Conception 3D / CAO
- Métaux & sertissage
- Entretien (vue d'atelier)
Articles by Johan

What is vermeil?
Discover all the characteristics of vermeil jewelry, the difference with gold plated and solid gold, and what makes v...
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How to tell if an emerald is real
Identify a real emerald with 8 simple tests: inclusions, UV, density, treatments. Avoid the pitfalls.
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Emerald treated with oil
Learn about emerald oiling, a common treatment that enhances clarity. Discover its impact on value, care tips, and ex...
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Black Diamond Guide: everything you need to know before buying a black diamond jewel
The complete guide to black diamonds: types, origins, pricing, care, and symbolism.
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Natural vs. treated black diamond: how to tell the difference?
How to tell a natural black diamond from a treated one: gemological comparison, carbonado, and GIA/IGI certifications.
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Ruby Guide: everything you need to know before buying a ruby jewel
The complete guide to ruby: origins, quality, treatments, pricing and tips for choosing the right one.
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Ruby or pink sapphire: what is the difference?
Ruby or pink sapphire? Two corundums, one color boundary. How to tell them apart and choose wisely.
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Where do rubies come from? Burma, Mozambique, Sri Lanka: a guide to ruby origins
Burma vs Mozambique rubies: origins, colour differences, saturation levels and their impact on value.
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Colour Sapphires: Pink, Yellow, Orange, Violet and White, the Complete Guide
The color sapphire guide: blue, pink, yellow, violet, green. Shades, rarity and buying advice.
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What is padparadscha? The rarest sapphire in the world
Padparadscha: a rare sapphire with unclassifiable pink-orange hues. Origin, rarity, and singular character.
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Emerald Guide: everything you need to know before buying an emerald jewel
The complete guide to emeralds: origins, quality, treatments, pricing and expert advice to help you choose.
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Emerald vs Tsavorite: which green stone should you choose?
Emerald or tsavorite? A gemological comparison covering color, hardness, price and expert guidance to help you choose.
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How to Identify a Real Sapphire: Tests and Tips
Simple at-home tests and their limits. The price gap between natural and synthetic Sapphires is significant: an authe...
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Natural vs. Heated Sapphire: What Is the Real Difference?
Heated or unheated: understanding sapphire treatments, their impact on value, and how to choose based on your budget ...
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Gold plating vs vermeil vs solid gold: which should you choose
Gold is everywhere in jewellery. But not all gold is created equal. Between gold-plated pieces starting at $35, verme...
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How Does an Emerald Form? Geology and Rarity
The formation of an Emerald requires an unlikely geological convergence of beryl, chromium, and metamorphism; a proce...
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How to Choose an Emerald: Essential Criteria
Saturated color, garden inclusions, Colombian origin: discover the 5 technical criteria for selecting a truly rare-qu...
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Price of an Emerald: How Much Does This Gemstone Cost?
The price of an Emerald ranges from $120 to over $60,000 per carat, depending on four valuation criteria recognized b...
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How a Diamond Forms: from the Earth to the Jewellery Case
At a gemstone market in India, a gemmologist lifts a rough diamond to the light. The octahedral crystal,...
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Where do emeralds come from? Colombia, Zambia, Brazil
Colombian vs Zambian emeralds: origins, colour differences, clarity, and their impact on value.
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Natural diamond vs lab-grown diamond: the complete guide
Natural or lab-grown diamond? Explore differences, certifications, and value to make the right choice.
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The 4Cs of Diamonds: Understanding Quality to Choose with Confidence
The 4 Cs of diamonds explained: carat, color, clarity, cut. Your guide to understanding and choosing well.
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Where do diamonds come from? A guide to origins and mines
Diamond origins: how they form, the world's greatest mines, and why provenance shapes value.
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How to recognise a real diamond: 7 simple tests
At a gem market in India, a vendor hands me a stone of striking clarity and intense brilliance. "Diamond...
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The Difference Between Diamond and Brilliant Cut
A diamond is not a brilliant. Yet a brilliant is always a diamond. This confusion in terminology runs through...
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Stones that resemble diamonds: moissanite and zircon
At a gem market in Jaipur, a vendor hands us a ring set with a dazzling colorless stone. "...
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Diamond Certification: GIA, HRD & IGI
A diamond certificate is a passport. Not a guarantee of value, nor a proof of ethical origin...
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Diamond shapes and cuts: oval, brilliant, and princess
Choosing the shape of a diamond means defining the character of an engagement ring for decades to come. The...
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Which metal to pair with diamonds
Diamond is the hardest stone on the Mohs scale, with a rating of 10. This exceptional hardness...
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Black Diamond vs White Diamond: the comparison
The Black Diamond and the white diamond belong to the same mineral family, sharing the same hardness...
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What Colour Is a Ruby? From Soft Pink to Pigeon's Blood
Ruby unfolds a palette ranging from pigeon's blood red to delicate pink: discover the gemological criteria that defin...
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Natural or Synthetic Ruby: the Tell-Tale Signs You Need to Know
Mined or laboratory-grown? Learn to distinguish a synthetic ruby from a natural ruby through visual tests, certificat...
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How Much Does a Ruby Cost? The Real Price, from Carat to Jewel
Ruby price per carat based on color, clarity, origin and treatment. Pigeon blood vs. heated value guide, plus a break...
ReadEmerald Colour: Hues and Quality
Colombian, Zambian, or Brazilian: explore the nuances of Emerald shades, quality criteria, and the influence of origi...
ReadHow to Identify a Genuine Ruby: A Complete Guide
How can you be certain a ruby is genuine? This guide walks you through 7 identification tests: hardness, inclusions, ...
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