Nature’s Touch: The Secrets of Lost-Wax Casting in Modern Jewellery

Jewellery should do more than shine; it should tell a story.
At Jennifer Kinnear Jewellery, every piece begins not in metal, but in wax—in a centuries-old process that captures the delicate fingerprints of nature and transforms them into treasures meant to last forever.

The Ancient Art of Lost-Wax Casting

Lost-wax casting is one of the oldest known methods of jewellery making, used for thousands of years to create pieces rich in detail and soul. The technique is as romantic as it is technical: a sculpture is first crafted in wax, capturing every curve, line, and texture. This wax model is then encased in plaster and heated, melting away the wax and leaving behind a perfect mould. Into this void, molten silver or gold is poured, freezing every nuance of the original form into precious metal.

The result? Jewellery that feels almost alive with texture and spirit—an artefact not just shaped by the artist, but by nature itself.

From Shoreline Finds to Wearable Art

For Jennifer, it always starts with discovery.
Walking the shorelines of Tarifa, Ireland, and beyond, she picks up sea urchins, crab claws, cockle shells—treasures shaped by the tide, bleached by the sun, and worn smooth by the sand. Back in the studio, these organic forms become the first sketch, the first spark.

Using the lost-wax method, Jennifer preserves every ridge of a shell, every delicate spine of a sea urchin, casting them in silver, gold-plated silver, or solid 9KT gold. The Ocean Collection is a living record of these moments: pieces crafted not just inspired by nature, but formed directly from it.

A cockle shell found one summer afternoon becomes a pendant worn close to the heart.
A small crab claw from an Irish beach finds new life as a bold, talismanic ring.
Every texture, every imperfection, celebrated rather than concealed.

A Process Rooted in Craft, Designed for Now

Though ancient in technique, Jennifer’s designs are thoroughly modern in spirit.
Her collections marry the wild beauty of the natural world with clean lines, contemporary settings, and a refined, minimalist aesthetic. Each piece is made to be worn—not just admired—layered with your daily style or saved for milestones and special moments.

This commitment to slow craftsmanship in a fast-moving world is part of what makes every Jennifer Kinnear piece a future heirloom: tactile, authentic, built to endure the elements of life, just as the natural forms they’re cast from endured the elements of the sea.

More Than Jewellery: A Story You Wear

In a world of mass production, true craftsmanship feels rare—something to be treasured.
When you wear a piece from Jennifer Kinnear Jewellery, you are not only wearing a beautiful object; you are wearing the story of a shoreline, the memory of a journey, the quiet artistry of nature made permanent.

Every shell. Every claw. Every sea-polished treasure.
Captured by hand. Crafted by heart. Carried by you.

Explore the Ocean Collection and discover jewellery born from the sea, made for a lifetime.
jenniferkinnear.com