Soul Connection: More than just an award nomination

The 51st INHORGENTA has come to an end, and the winners of the INHORGENTA Award 2025 have been announced. While Binder Jewellery and Capolavoro didn't take home the trophy for their submission, their creation is about much more than just a prize.

For eight years, INHORGENTA has honored designs from the jewelry and watch industry with the INHORGENTA Award, thus helping outstanding products gain greater recognition. With so many high-quality submissions from around the world, the jury naturally has a difficult task in choosing a winner.

In the "Fine Jewelry of the Year" category, four finalists competed instead of the usual three. Binder Jewellery and Capolavoro were among them with their collaborative project, "Soul Connection." At the end of the gala evening, the INHORGENTA Award in the fine jewelry category went to Gellner for their "Wave Ring." However, Binder Jewellery and Capolavoro have no reason to consider themselves losers. Quite the contrary: what the two companies have created together has the potential to make them both even bigger winners in the long run.

Innovation and inspiration

In the stories that move humanity, the protagonists often become heroes when they leave the well-trodden path and forge a new one. What is often dismissed as stubbornness, naivety, or youthful impetuosity ultimately wins hearts, averts disaster, and leads to new happiness and prosperity. These are the stories we love, the ones that often give us hope and inspiration for our own actions.

One could also consider Theresa Fritsch of Capolavoro and Nick Binder of Binder Jewellery as the youthful heroes of a fantastic jewelry fairytale, which also unfolded at INHORGENTA. Both represent the next generation of German family businesses in the jewelry industry, bringing fresh ideas, daring to try new things, and breaking down the boundaries of habit: a courage and spirit of discovery from which the industry can only benefit. 

The beginning of a flourishing partnership

INHORGENTA is a place of many valuable encounters, of discovering and being discovered, but the story of the creation of „Soul Connection“ also shows the potential behind industry events like the one in Munich.

„The idea came to us at the last INHORGENTA Award ceremony, when we were standing next to each other and thought that it would actually be funny if we won an award together,“ begins Theresa Fritsch.

Nick Binder He added: „We first met three years ago at INHORGENTA and realized that the family environment plays a major role for both companies and that we get along really well on that level. We both felt we were working in a similar field, but at the same time different enough to combine our expertise and create something much bigger.“

A game played with open cards

And so the jewelry fairytale began. The initial discussions between Capolavoro and Binder Jewellery started with a blank sheet of paper and the fundamental consideration of which areas best reflected the core competencies of both companies. For Capolavoro, the choice fell on colored gemstones at its heart, paired with highly precise goldsmithing, while Binder Jewellery is represented by high-quality chains with stylish designs. Theresa Fritsch reveals: 

„"It became clear relatively quickly who would take on which part. We also knew that it had to be a completely new creation that neither side yet had in their collection."“

The idea for the brooch ultimately came from Jasmin Bouquerot de Voligny, the designer at Binder Jewellery. What's innovative about it is not only the fusion of two styles, but also the piece's multifunctionality and versatility. "Soul Connection" can be worn as a belt or collar ornament. The inner part, featuring a colored gemstone, can be removed and used as an earring.

You can read all the details about "Soul Connection" here.

It took six months from the initial idea to the completion of the piece of jewelry – a moment of happiness for both companies, preceded by much deliberation. Theresa Fritsch told:

„The real challenge was establishing uniform production standards. Recycled gold and certified colored gemstones are something that is very important to both of our manufacturers. We laid all our cards on the table. This applies to the manufacturing process, the pricing, and many other factors where you have to consider how to ultimately reach an agreement.“

The brooch part of "Soul Connection" was produced by Capolavoro, and the chain part by Binder. Final assembly of the piece took place at the manufactory on Lake Ammersee. There were no problems. "It worked perfectly," Nick Binder and Theresa Fritsch confirmed in unison during the interview. The positive chemistry that sparked their creative collaboration and contributed to the success of the joint project is clearly evident. 

Learning from each other together

Allowing another jewelry company, which is essentially a competitor, to look behind the scenes is truly a great show of trust, unparalleled in today's jewelry industry – and anything but a given. 

Nick Binder He reports: „We gave the Fritsch family a tour of their factory in Mönsheim and in return visited Capolavoro on Lake Ammersee. We were received very openly and warmly. I think there are so many opportunities for collaboration. You can only learn from each other – without ‚hurting’ each other.“.

This statement not only summarizes the cooperation that Capolavoro and Binder Jewellery have experienced, but also offers a glimmer of hope for all those who sometimes perceive the jewelry industry as distrustful, stuck in its ways and uncertain.

The message behind “Soul Connection”

Behind “Soul Connection” lies not only the innovative spirit of two committed family businesses, but also the pure joy of jewelry, of discovery and a fresh, vibrant inspiration that shows that the limit for new creations has by no means been reached. 

The INHORGENTA Award would therefore have meant more than just a win for a successful design. It would have been recognition of the fact that creativity, innovation, and trusting collaboration are valuable qualities that drive the entire jewelry industry forward. It represents the message: together we are strong.

“Jewelry is always a symbol. A symbol of the connection to oneself and to someone else. We incorporated this symbolism into our entire development process of “Soul Connection”—with the connection between two manufacturers who together create something that neither could have achieved alone,” he summarizes. Nick Binder.

The story of the dreamlike piece of jewelry that paved new paths, opened new doors, and sparked new motivation for greater things – it's not a fairy tale at all, but reality. "Soul Connection," with its limited edition of ten pieces, may have only been the beginning. The foundation for further successful collaborations has been laid. We can eagerly await what the future holds.

Annegret Moser