Malison’s fascination with jewellery began in southern Poland, where she grew up. One of her earliest memories is of sitting with her grandmother as she opened a treasured jewellery box. Seeing the wonder in her granddaughter’s eyes, she said: “One day, these will be yours, when I’m no longer here.” Malison still laughs when she recalls her immediate response: asking how long that would take.

Her journey to the Netherlands began at the age of eighteen. Keen for her daughter to gain some life experience, Malison’s mother encouraged her to spend a summer abroad. She found herself picking flowers in the greenhouses of Pijnacker. During her stay, she walked into a local jeweller’s shop and asked for a job. To her surprise, she was hired on the spot and offered the opportunity to study gemmology. In the evenings, she attended Dutch language classes.

Throughout her career, opportunities kept presenting themselves — and Malison seized them. She worked at renowned jewellers including Simons Juweliers and Eigenmann Juwelen in The Hague and later became co-owner of Luxury Store – Love the Look in Rotterdam. She also qualified as a jewellery valuer. Together, those experiences laid the foundation for her own brand: a collection of high-end cremation jewellery designed to give cherished memories a lasting form.

Square eggs

Malison met her partner while working at a trade fair. They quickly discovered a shared dream of one day living in Tuscany and enjoying a simpler life surrounded by nature. He also noticed something else about her straight away: her work ethic. “I was hardly ever home,” says Malison. “Saturday evenings were usually the only time I slowed down, and even then I’d fall asleep almost immediately.” Today, the couple run Cremation Jewellery together. “It works brilliantly because we complement each other perfectly. He takes care of the business side, while I focus on design and creativity.”

Rose gold pendant with topaz and diamonds

Her pieces are crafted in Italy by master goldsmith Massimo, who has more than forty years of experience in the jewellery industry and a workshop in Valenza. Although no technical challenge seems too difficult for him, he jokingly calls Malison “my biggest pain in the ass” because of her exacting standards. “Recently he shouted down the phone, ‘What’s next? Are you going to ask me to make square eggs?’” she laughs.

Design ideas can appear at the most unexpected moments.“I might be stirring a pan of spaghetti and suddenly notice a shape that would work beautifully as a piece of jewellery.”Malison sketches every design by hand using coloured pencils. People can be just as inspiring as objects. One of those people is artist Ronald A. Westerhuis, creator of the MH17 memorial, with whom she has collaborated in the past.“He’s a walking explosion of enthusiasm,” she says. “I translated that energy into a piece inspired by the passion flower.”

A new beginning

Sometimes a burnout only becomes visible once the pace finally slows down. That was exactly what happened to Malison.After stepping down as director of Love the Look, she decided to take some time for herself and her relationship. Instead of finding peace, she found herself struggling.“Suddenly, I couldn’t do anything anymore. I suffered from anxiety, slept badly and felt ashamed because I was so used to working all the time.”Six months later, while on holiday in Mallorca with her partner and favourite nephew, something shifted.“I woke up one morning feeling completely different. It was as if I’d been given a fresh start. That was the moment I decided to launch my own brand.”

The final piece of the puzzle came in early 2024 when a friend who had lost her father asked for advice. She wanted a beautiful piece of jewellery that would allow her to carry a small amount of his ashes with her, but could only find simple, uninspiring designs.

“That’s when I realised there was a real gap in the market,” says Malison. “Until people experience loss themselves, it’s difficult to imagine wanting something like this.”The response to her collection has confirmed that instinct. Clients often tell her how much comfort they find in wearing a piece that allows them to keep a loved one close.“These are pieces people want to wear for decades. Knowing that I can create something meaningful for them makes me incredibly happy.” With her energy fully restored and her collection gaining attention, Malison feels she is only just getting started.

www.crematiejuwelen.nl