Wouters & Hendrix have a rare appreciation for objects that have no intrinsic value or immediate association with jewellery design. For example, at the end of the 1990s, they developed an interest in orthopaedic aids such as shoulder and thumb braces. Inspired by the ingenuity of these seemingly simple supports, in 2000 they designed the cuff bracelet ‘Embrace’ which became a brand icon. Hammered in silver or gold, ‘Embrace’ follows the shape of the wrist, including the protruding bone. For the designers the bracelet symbolizes their creative process: the initial element of surprise leads them into a world that is often a far cry from jewellery design. They view the inspiration from different angles by ‘sketching’ with metal at their workbench and allowing the materials to speak. As they experiment, their artistic signature invariably comes to the surface, sometimes organically, sometimes after dogged perseverance until the eureka moment is reached. Travelling the well-trodden path is not in Wouters & Hendrix’ DNA and, even after more than 35 years, their sights are still trained on the future.