SIX French designers, an American and a Scot present ''jewellery

sculptures'' at the Aika Gallery in Edinburgh. All, under the name

Groupe 7, are inspired by the light, colours and landscape of Provence.

These are daring, modern designs mixing gold and silver and precious

stones as well as brass, wood, slate, crystal, quartz, amber, fossils

and even tiny ballbearings and fishing line.

''I like to use modern materials like plastic and nylon along with

stones like pink sapphire,'' says one of the designers, Alain Dubert,

who has lived in Provence for 21 years. Although some of the jewellery

looks beautiful but cumbersome to wear, Dubert insists that he and his

co-workers definitely have comfort in mind. Even one huge disc that is a

ring for two fingers is incredibly wearable. ''I tried it on

yesterday,'' says Aika's Finnish-born Anja Gardiner. ''It feels so

natural!''

This notion of ''wearable sculpture'' is slightly misleading. The

jewellery is normal sized (the largest brooch is under 10cms high) but

intricately and exquisitely made, often one-offs.

Jean Pierre Amouroux's work is especially interesting. One brooch of

gold and mother-of-pearl looks like a cityscape from Flash Gordon.

Another is a starburst with a large piece of amber in the middle. Jean

wittily names it after the sun lotion Ambre Solaire.

The jewellery is often extremely difficult to make. Converting ideas

into finished designs can be exasperating. ''We keep the psycho-analysts

in Provence busy,'' jokes Alain Dubert. ''But we think that if we are

mad enough to think up and make these things, we will find people mad

enough to buy them.''

* Prices for rings and necklaces as well as brooches which can be worn

as pendants range from under #50 to #700. Jewels of Provence can be seen

at Aika, 60 High Street, Edinburgh from today until September 4.