Why Every MitsyMay Piece begins as wax

In a world where so much is designed on a screen and made by machines, every piece of MitsyMay Jewellery begins in a much quieter way.

It begins in my hands.

Before silver is cast or gold is polished, before a gemstone is chosen or a piece is finished, each design starts as wax. It's a material that allows me to work slowly, responding to every curve, texture and movement as it develops. There is no fixed template to follow and no computer model waiting to be copied. Instead, each piece grows through the making process, shaped by hand from the very beginning.

For me, this is where the character of a piece is born.

A Different Way of Making

Wax has been used by jewellers for centuries through an ancient technique known as lost wax casting. While modern technology has transformed many areas of jewellery making, I continue to begin with wax because it keeps the process personal.

Rather than designing with a mouse or stylus, I work directly with the material itself. Sometimes I carefully carve fine details. Other times I warm the wax in my hands, bending, twisting and gently manipulating it until it finds its natural form. Every mark becomes part of the final design, preserving the evidence of the making process.

It means every collection begins with curiosity rather than certainty.

I rarely know exactly how a piece will look when I first pick up the wax, and I love that. The material has a way of guiding me, encouraging subtle changes that often become the most interesting parts of the finished design.

Shaped by Hand, Not Reproduced

One of the things I treasure most about working in wax is that no two pieces are ever completely identical.

Even when creating the same design, each wax model is made individually. Tiny differences in pressure, movement and touch naturally occur as I work. Those small variations remain within the finished piece, making every ring, pendant or pair of earrings quietly unique.

I don't try to remove every sign that something has been made by hand.

Instead, I embrace the individuality that comes from craftsmanship.

It's a reminder that someone has spent time making this piece specifically for you.

From Wax to Precious Metal

Once a wax model is complete, it is transformed using the ancient lost wax casting process which dates back 6,000 years.

The wax is carefully encased in a specialist mould. During casting, the wax melts away, leaving behind a perfect cavity. Molten precious metal is then poured into that space, capturing every tiny detail that was originally shaped by hand.

For many of my designs, the chosen gemstone is cast in place, meaning it is carefully positioned within the wax model before casting. As the molten metal fills the mould, it forms securely around the stone, making it an integral part of the piece from the very beginning.

Some gemstones are too delicate to withstand the heat of the casting process. These are carefully set by hand once the casting has been completed and the jewellery has been refined and polished.

Although the wax disappears during casting, its story remains within the finished jewellery. Every curve, every texture and every gentle movement is preserved in precious metal.

A Piece That Becomes Your Own

Many of my designs can be personalised with a gemstone of your choice, allowing each piece to become a reflection of the person who wears it.

For designs where the gemstone is suitable for cast-in-place setting, I build the wax model around your chosen stone before the piece is cast. This means the gemstone becomes part of the design from its very first stage, rather than being added afterwards.

Where a gemstone requires a more traditional setting, it is carefully set by hand after casting, ensuring it is both secure and beautifully finished.

Whether a stone is cast in place or hand set, every piece is individually made, and the subtle variations created during the wax-making process mean no two are ever exactly alike.

Inspired by Nature and Meaningful Connections

My collections are inspired by the quiet beauty found in everyday moments—changing seasons, natural forms and the meaningful connections that shape our lives.

I don't set out to perfectly recreate a leaf, a branch or a flower. Instead, I'm interested in capturing the feeling they leave behind: the movement of grasses in the wind, the changing textures of the landscape, or the comfort of returning to places and people that feel like home.

Working in wax allows these ideas to develop naturally. The material encourages organic forms that couldn't be achieved in exactly the same way through digital design, helping every collection retain a sense of softness, movement and individuality.

More Than Jewellery

Jewellery often marks the moments we want to remember.

A birthday. A new beginning. A promise. A celebration. A reminder of someone we love.

My hope is that every piece of MitsyMay Jewellery becomes part of your own story. Something you reach for every day without thinking. Something that gathers tiny signs of wear as life unfolds. Something that quietly reminds you of a season, a place or a person who matters.

Beginning each piece in wax isn't simply a traditional technique.

It's a way of slowing down.

Of making with intention.

Of creating jewellery that carries not only the marks of my hands, but the memories of yours.