Java S necklace

Java looks like a series of clean, symmetrical shapes, but what lies behind it is play.

Notice how one piece slides over the other: it's a nod to sliding puzzles, the Rubik's Cube kind. Games that belong to children and adults alike. That is the charm of Java and what sets it apart: a geometry that never quite stays still.

Java's enamel looks simple, yet it is one of the most difficult in the workshop.

The enamels in the basic series are opaque and held in by a raised rim that stops them. Java has no such rim. The colour has to be contained so it doesn't spill over when it reaches its edge, and for that we use a different catalyst that makes the enamel stop exactly where it should. Even so, it needs constant watching.

The second difficulty is positioning. If the piece isn't perfectly horizontal, the enamel shifts unevenly from one area to another. And these pieces aren't flat; they have two planes, so before enamelling we have to find a way to set them as level as possible.

It is made on Calle Alameda, in the Barrio de las Letras, in a workshop you are welcome to visit. If you drop by, you'll most likely see the next one taking shape.

This is the way into Java and the easiest piece to wear: short, light and made for every day. The four colours are designed to mix with the rest of the series, which includes simple earrings, asymmetric earrings, a ring and a cuff bracelet.

The lacquer protects the plating and the enamel from contact with skin and perfume. Keep it dry and stored on its own, and avoid putting on scent while you're wearing it. With everyday wear and this little bit of care, the gold plating will last for years.