Thoroughly Modern Metals
The Maya Magal woman, says founder Maya Magal of her eponymous brand, is most usually a ‘London professional looking for unfussy jewellery they can wear any time of day. They’re effortlessly chic and aren’t bothered by designer names — they’d rather discover their own independent brands which reflect their style.’
‘Effortlessly chic’ is a pretty good summation of Magal’s designs, which manage the clever trick of being both pared back and timelessly sleek without ever being boring. This is partly thanks to the brand’s signature mixing of metals (gold and silver frequently appear together in a single piece), but also its tendency towards more organic forms – styles with names such as ‘Lava’ or ‘Puddle’ that appear almost liquidly malleable.
Magal describes it as a ‘clean, minimalist look’ and designs are crafted with layering in mind, whether that’s stacking rings or wearing necklaces of different lengths and designs. ‘The aim is to make affordable, handmade jewellery that’s wearable every day rather than pieces which are only brought out for special occasions,’ Magal says.
There is also a range of earcuffs, hairclips, charms and the like, which, all together, could shift a look from pared back to maximalist pretty quickly. And this fluidity and flexibility is a huge part of the brand’s appeal to its many fans.
As the granddaughter of a renowned Cairo jeweller, it’s not surprising Magal’s love of jewellery is so innate. Look no further than the beautiful, one-off designs sold directly ‘Off the Bench’ (i.e. direct from the brand’s small team of London makers), which are cited as a celebration of Magal’s love of ‘handmade craftsmanship’ and are very special indeed.
