As the air in Tokyo begins to cool ever so slightly and the first hints of autumn settle in, I’m still holding onto a small piece of summer. My new silver shell charm necklace feels like that bridge between seasons, a reminder of warm days and sunlight on the water. It’s a piece that turned out both fun and unexpected, unlike anything else I’ve made or worn before.
The necklace was something I worked on in scattered moments over the course of a couple of months. It started with a single shell, carved out of hard green wax, which I then cast into sterling silver. From there, the idea grew from the originally planned bracelet to the current necklace. I soldered jump rings along the piece so the individual shells could link together, forming a fluid chain of charms. Each stage felt like a puzzle, and I loved watching the design slowly come alive.
One of my favorite parts of the necklace is the toggle clasp. I designed and made it by hand using mitsuro, a traditional Japanese wax that produces a unique, organic wave-like texture. Working with mitsuro is such a different experience compared to standard wax carving and it gives the clasp a subtle movement that feels in harmony with the shell theme. Making sure the toggle fit securely without losing that organic quality was a challenge, but also one of the most satisfying parts of the project.
Charm necklaces are something I’ve always enjoyed wearing, but creating one myself has opened up new possibilities. I’d love to experiment with more variations, perhaps incorporating stones into the charms. It feels like a style with endless room for exploration.
Current projects
This past week was unusually busy, so studio time was limited. Still, I managed to finish a wax oval signet ring, a simple but classic form that I think of as a foundation piece. I’ve been sketching and imagining new design directions as well, and many of them start with refining those classic silhouettes. There’s something grounding about returning to the basics, especially when I know they’ll become the building blocks for more adventurous ideas in the months to come.
