If there's one collection that defines esdeinés, it's the porcelain one. Not because it's the most expensive or the most striking — but because it's where the most time, patience, and skill go into each piece. An esdeinés porcelain necklace isn't manufactured: it's built, step by step, by hand. And in this guide, I'll tell you exactly how.
What is cold porcelain?
Cold porcelain is a handmade paste that, unlike traditional porcelain, does not need an oven to harden. It air-dries naturally for about two days. This makes it ideal for creating jewelry pieces with a very fine level of detail — small pendants, delicate figures, shapes that would be impossible to achieve with other materials without losing precision.
Working with cold porcelain requires patience and knowledge of the material: knowing when it's at the exact point of malleability for modeling, understanding how it behaves during drying, and respecting the time the process needs. There are no shortcuts.
The step-by-step process
1. Hand modeling
It all starts with the cold porcelain paste. Each pendant — a heart, a gilda, a little face, a tomato, a sardine can, a cowboy hat — is completely modeled by hand, without molds. This means that each piece bears the imprint of the process: small variations in thickness, curvature, and proportion that make no two identical.
It's meticulous work. A small piece like the Love Necklace pendant can take between 20 and 40 minutes just for modeling. More complex pieces, like the sardine can of the Sardine Necklace, require reproducing every detail — the shape, the relief, the half-open lid — building the volume little by little and with precision, always against the clock before the paste loses its adhesion point.
2. Air drying — two days of waiting
Once modeled, the piece needs to air dry for approximately two days. There's no oven, no accelerated process — cold porcelain needs its time to harden uniformly from the inside out.
This step is as important as modeling. If the piece is moved or touched before it is completely dry, it can deform. If the environment is too humid, drying takes longer. The process must be respected.
It is precisely because of this drying time — and everything that comes after — that orders from the esdeinés porcelain collection are managed as pre-orders with a lead time of 4 to 7 days. Each piece is made when it's ordered, with the attention it deserves.
3. Polishing
After drying, the piece is polished by hand to remove imperfections, soften edges, and prepare the surface so that the paint adheres uniformly. It's an invisible step — no one sees it in the final result — but it's what makes the difference between a piece that looks handmade and one that looks professional.
4. Hand painting
This is the step that most defines the personality of each piece. With fine brushes and acrylic paint, each pendant is hand-painted, color by color, layer by layer. There's no printing, no decal, no mechanical process — there are hands deciding where each stroke goes.
The Gilda Necklace — one of esdeinés' bestsellers — has color details in the figure that vary from piece to piece. The sardine can of the Sardine Necklace has hand-painted letters. And the Tomato Necklace, another of the collection's favorites, has its highlights, shadows, and texture painted one by one — a detailed job only possible by hand, making each tomato unique.
Two pieces of the same design painted on the same day will never be exactly alike — human strokes have a natural variation that no machine can replicate. That's what makes each necklace unique.
5. Varnishing
The last step before assembly is varnishing — and it's a double process. First, an acrylic medium is applied to seal the paint and prepare the surface. Then, a layer of varnish gives the piece its final finish. This two-phase process provides real resistance: a properly varnished piece withstands daily use, rubbing against clothes, and occasional contact with moisture without the paint deteriorating.
6. Necklace assembly
Once the pendant is finished, it's time for assembly. In the esdeinés porcelain collection, the clasps and metal components are made of 18k gold-plated stainless steel — a material that does not rust and maintains its finish over time. Each necklace is assembled by hand, ensuring that the pendant is centered, the clasp works perfectly, and the overall piece hangs correctly.
Why no two pieces are alike
Now that you know the process, it makes sense. Each piece goes through six completely manual phases — modeling, drying, polishing, painting, varnishing, and assembly — none of which can be mechanized. The hand that models does not apply exactly the same pressure twice. The brush that paints does not reproduce exactly the same stroke. The varnish does not fall exactly the same on two different surfaces.
That's what I always say at esdeinés: because it's handmade, there won't be a necklace exactly like yours. It's not a marketing phrase — it's a direct consequence of the process.
Questions I always get about cold porcelain
After years of working with this material, these are the questions I receive most often. I answer them directly.
Is cold porcelain fragile? Less than it seems. Once properly varnished, the piece has real resistance for daily use. What you need to avoid is a strong impact or a fall from a height — like any volumetric object. Under normal use conditions, esdeinés porcelain necklaces last for years without visible deterioration.
Can I get wet with the necklace on? Occasional contact with water — washing hands, a drop of rain — does not damage the piece. What you should avoid is prolonged immersion (pool, daily shower) and contact with chemicals like perfumes or creams directly on the porcelain. With these basic cares, the necklace remains in perfect condition.
How long does a porcelain order take to arrive? Since each piece is made to order, the lead time is 4 to 7 business days from order confirmation. It's not a stock item: it's your piece, made for you, from scratch. That time is part of its value.
Can I request a custom design? In some cases, yes. If you have a specific idea — a pendant with a special shape, a specific color not in the store — write to me directly. We evaluate it piece by piece according to the complexity of the order.
The collection's three bestsellers
Of the entire porcelain collection, there are three pieces that come back again and again — the most requested, the most gifted, the most remembered:
- Gilda Necklace — The most iconic esdeinés figure. Painted with a level of detail that makes each piece have its own expression. For those who want jewelry with character.
- Tomato Necklace — The most beloved of the collection. Hand-painted porcelain tomatoes with their highlights and textures, combined with red glass beads and blown glass tomatoes. Original, lively, and completely unique.
- Sardine Necklace — A porcelain sardine can with hand-painted letters and miniature fish. Humor, sea, and craftsmanship in a single necklace. One of those that spark conversation.
The complete collection
In addition to the three bestsellers, the collection includes many more designs, each with its own story:
- Love Necklace — Hand-painted heart pendant. The gift with the most intention.
- Beach Necklace — Hand-painted marine motifs. To carry summer all year round.
- Rodeo Necklace — Boots and cowboy hat built piece by piece.
- Little Face Necklace — Hand-painted human figure. Unique in each piece by definition.
You can see the complete collection at esdeines.com/collections/porcelana.
If you want to delve deeper into caring for your handmade jewelry, read our complete guide to handmade jewelry care — the tips also apply to porcelain pieces.
How to care for your porcelain jewelry
Varnished cold porcelain is resistant, but it deserves some basic care: avoid prolonged contact with chemical products — perfumes, creams, bleach — and store each piece separately so they don't scratch each other. That's enough for your necklace to last for years in perfect condition.
Want to discover the complete collection? Visit esdeines.com/collections/porcelana and find the piece that defines you.