Olga Prieto Jewelry

From brass and stone to memory and meaning.

A look into the world of jewelry artist Olga Prieto

The first time I encountered Olga Prieto’s work, I wandered through a shop in Mexico specializing in home decor. Amid ceramics and textiles, two narrow jewelry shelves stood out. There, a pair of earrings caught my attention. Their organic shape felt soft and alive, almost like something found in nature rather than made by hand.

I did not know anything about the earrings when I bought them. I only knew how they made me feel when I tried them on. I felt beautiful in a quiet and natural way, as if the earrings revealed something already within me. That moment introduced me to Olga’s work. Though I didn’t yet know her story, I sensed emotion and intention in her pieces. I wanted to learn more about the artist behind them.

In my correspondence with Olga, she shared that her jewelry begins long before the metal is shaped. It begins with the way she looks at the world. Every day, her imagination awakens through ordinary moments: a texture in nature, a memory, the way light touches an object, or even a sound in her workshop. These small details hold a power that many people overlook, but Olga does not. She translates them.

Brass Pepita Earrings Flor y Labradoritas

Olga discovered jewelry making quietly and organically. She told me that her path began without a formal plan. When she moved to Mexico at twenty-five, she entered a world full of energy, color, and craft traditions that shaped her artistic voice. She felt drawn to objects that carried soul, and she wanted to create pieces that would accompany people in their life’s journey. “There came a moment when I felt the need to create objects that told a story,” she said. “That is where everything began.”

One of the strongest elements in Olga’s work is her relationship with brass. She describes it as a noble metal, versatile, with a presence that she loves. “Brass has a special warmth and a way of reflecting light,” she shared. “It allows me to add volume, texture, and character, something that fits a lot with my style. I like that it has an honest aesthetic; It does not pretend to be perfect, it is authentic.”

For Olga, the material is never an afterthought. It leads. She told me a stone’s irregular shape or subtle tone can set a piece’s direction. Sometimes, the metal’s texture suggests what it wants to become, an earring, a ring, or a bracelet. She does not impose strict order on the process. Instead, she listens. Each element tells her what it wants to be. Creating this way, through quiet dialogue with the material, is what makes every piece special.

A unique part of Olga’s process is her use of the lost-wax technique. She learned it by observing artisans who had practiced it all their lives. Lost-wax casting begins with a shape formed in wax, which is then encased in a mold. When the wax melts away, molten metal is poured into the empty space, capturing every detail by hand.

The lost-wax casting technique, known in Spanish as cera perdida, is ancient and considered one of the oldest metal-working methods in human history. It arrived in what is now Mexico centuries ago and was used by indigenous goldsmiths and metalworkers long before European contact. Through this method, Olga creates textures and forms that cannot be achieved through more rigid techniques. Some of her pieces feel almost like small sculptures, shaped through heat, handwork, and instinct. Understanding the history of cera perdida adds another layer to her work. It ties her contemporary designs to a lineage of craft that honors time, labor, and intention.

Coralino Earrings

When I asked Olga about the Coralino Earrings I purchased, she told me they grew from her fascination with the sea. Born in Galicia, Spain, a region surrounded by both the Atlantic Ocean and the Cantabrian Sea, she carries that connection within her. “I wanted to create something that carried a beauty that does not try to be perfect,” she said, “but captivates through harmony.” Knowing this, the earrings feel like a piece of the natural world, shaped by an artist’s hands.

Although she was born in Spain, Olga describes herself as Mexican at heart. Both places shaped her understanding of craftsmanship. “I grew up surrounded by colors, textures, and trades that teach you to look at the everyday with respect and admiration,” she said. Her jewelry embodies that influence, honoring the handmade, the material, and the imperfectly genuine.

Olga’s work continues to evolve. She is eager to experiment with other materials that complement brass and stone. She is interested in collaborating with other artisans, including those specializing in ceramics, glass, textiles, and even floral design. “There is something magical in mixing creative worlds,” she said. This spirit of curiosity feels true to her practice as a whole.

At its core, Olga’s jewelry is forged by hand, fire, and intention. Each piece emerges from a deliberate process that honors Mexico’s craft heritage and echoes her story. Her commitment is simple and powerful. She creates with soul, upholds tradition, and shares what can only be made con Alma.

When I wear the Coralino Earrings, I feel the warmth of the brass and the guiding presence of Olga, the artist. Her way of seeing the world is held in the design, and the hands that crafted the piece honor that vision.

Her jewelry does not just adorn. It remembers.

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