Cast-in-place? What's that all about?

Apparently there are large manufacturers using this technique now because it saves on setting costs.  These people are still using it in a traditional form in that the mould setting is precise, there are hundreds of the same design on a single tree and large, high powered machines handle the process.  This is super useful to obtain volume and time savings. 

It is not the process I use.  Instead I nestle the stones into the wax mould and usually do one little flask with one item in it.   Each and every mould is handmade, not 3D printed or from a wax injection into a standard mould.  

I do follow a process to give the stones the best chance of surviving the heat and pressure.  The best part is taking the metal out of the cooled flask and seeing what happened!!

I like this methodology so much because of what it represents.  Metal and gemstones coming together.  There is a certain lack of control and you have to let it become what it wants to be.  The stones may move.  The metal may lap over the stones edge.  It's organic. 

The designs complement the process.  They are largely fluid and curved, with waves and bumps.  If the metal doesn't quite meet or some texture from the wax is revealed on the metal, I don't eliminate it.  To me it's about seeing the beauty in front of you, not striving for some preconceived idea of perfection.