MY STORY
Who am I?
I’m Mason Mignanelli, founder and head-designer of Urban Sterling. I’ve been making narrative-driven jewellery from Argentium silver since June 2020, building each piece around myth, philosophy, and personal symbolism.
As you might have noticed, the phrase “stories in silver” runs through everything I create; from pieces drawing on ancient mythology to more experimental designs like THE WITNESS that develop their own narratives. Each item is crafted with the intention that it carries meaning beyond its physical form.
I work exclusively with 940 Argentium silver, gold, and platinum. Every piece is made in Australia (or Italy for some chains), heat-treated twice, and backed by a 99-year warranty. If it carries meaning, it should be built to last.
I believe jewellery should be more than decorative. It should connect with you, carry story, and gain meaning as you wear it. In a world of mass production and disposable trends, I’m interested in making things that endure. Pieces crafted with intention, designed to be kept.
Each ring or pendant is a small stand against the tide of impermanence. A commitment to beauty, craftsmanship, and the idea that some things are worth taking time to create properly. When something is made with care and carries meaning, it becomes more than a possession; it becomes an artifact of human experience.
The Story Behind Urban Sterling
Before starting Urban Sterling, my only exposure to jewellery had been family heirlooms and custom pieces. All my family are from Italy, so all the men had gold chains with pendants of saints, signet rings with the family crest. The women had earrings they’d bought decades ago from artisans in little Italian villages.
Over time, the jewellery took on the traits of the owner. As a kid I’d look at these objects with a kind of reverence, like they held power I didn’t yet understand. When my grandfather died I inherited his pendant, one he’d worn for over 40 years, and it felt like a real piece of him remained in it. I still never take it off.
These pieces always had an air of potent meaning. They felt surrounded by history, full of stories. They’d earnt their aura through years of adventures, victories, and struggles.
It got me thinking: what if I could do that, but in reverse? Take a story and make it into a ring. Build meaning into a piece from the start, and leave space for you to add your own story over time.
It was an exciting idea. The only problem: I had no idea how to actually make jewellery. Or run a business. Or build a website…
And the competition wasn’t exactly encouraging.
When I looked around at the artisan silver industry, it felt impermeable. There were established international brands and master engravers who’d been practising since before I was born. I was 16 and had never made jewellery before.
Why would I even try?
Stories, of course.
I started with wax tubes and clay carving tools from eBay. The first attempts were rough to say the least, but I was hooked. I didn’t even know how to turn wax into metal. I just spent months googling, asking naïve questions, and failing repeatedly. From engraving to oxidising, each step was a discovery, each mistake a lesson. I still remember using egg yolks to oxidise sterling silver. Not concentrated sulfur compounds, literal eggs from the fridge.
Despite all the setbacks, I kept making pieces, driven by the idea of jewellery not just as adornment but as a medium for storytelling. Each collection like a chapter in an evolving narrative.
Urban Sterling isn’t about churning out accessories to lose in a pub bathroom. It’s about crafting stories in silver that resonate deeply, pieces you’ll want to pass on. Stories that began, perhaps clumsily, with a teenager at a desk, carving wax late into the night.
The brand has grown since those early days, but the essence remains. Each ring, each pendant, each piece is a testament to journey. Yours and mine.
If this resonates, explore the collections. Each piece has its own story, and space for yours.
Thanks for being here.