The Full Story
Metal & Muse - handmade jewellery with a wicked sense of humor.
I’m Marco - a third-generation Master Diamond Setter & Jeweller, with over 30 years of hands-on experience in the trade. I grew up surrounded by molten metal, precision tools, and the kind of old-school craftsmanship that’s hard to find these days.
Metal & Muse is my rebellion against the polished, soulless sparkle of mass-produced jewelry.
Every piece I make is handcrafted, then engraved by me - personally, imperfectly, and unapologetically. No two items are ever the same. Even if I make the same ring twice, the engraving will be different. That’s the point.
Expect phrases like “fuck you”, “piss off”, “excuse me”, and other delightfully rude sentiments - each one delivered with tongue firmly in cheek.
This is jewellery for people who don’t take themselves too seriously, who love craftsmanship but hate conformity.
Whether you're flipping the bird in silver or whispering gilded gold sarcasm through a dainty pendant, Metal & Muse is here to help you say what you really mean - without saying a word.
What I Sell
-
Handmade & Assembled Jewellery - rings, pendants, cuffs, bangles, and more
each piece crafted with care and a touch of rebellion.
-
Custom Hand Engraving - every item is engraved by me, with no repeats. You’ll never get a copy - only originals.
-
One-of-a-Kind Attitude - snarky, sweary, and sometimes sweet. The engraving is always unexpected and always personal.
TL;DR –
Handmade in Auckland by Marco, a third-gen jeweller with zero tolerance for boring. Every piece is engraved by hand — imperfect, original, never repeated. Expect “fuck you,” “piss off,” and other delightfully rude sentiments. Craftsmanship meets rebellion. Jewellery that says what you’re really thinking.
The First Moon-Man
I’m not a writer. I’m not a web designer. I make jewellery. No machine can engrave like I do. No algorithm can fuck it up just right. Every piece is handmade, original, and never repeated. Metal & Muse is human. Messy. Sharp. Real.
Back in 2020, I carved a little figure out of wax - helmet, arms out, legs bent like he was bracing for impact. I didn’t sketch it first. Didn’t plan it. Just started shaping something that felt right.
That was the first Moonman.
I cast him in bronze, then silver, eventually in 9ct yellow gold. Each one’s a bit different. Even now, with a mold, they come out with their own quirks. I piece them together by hand, and something always shifts.
That’s the part I love. They’re never perfect. They’re never the same
.
The Moonman’s got attitude. He’s a little protest in metal. A middle finger to the polished, the predictable. I’ve got him tattooed on my arm - my daughter did it. That says enough.
These photos show the early days. Wax models, castings clamped in the vise, bits of metal mid-process. It’s messy. It’s real. It’s me.
I don’t write stories. I make them - with fire, metal, and a bit of defiance.
