Metalsmithing jewelry pieces has been a hobby of mine since undergrad. It uses a process called lost wax investment casting, and combines many elements of aesthetics and engineering processes.
It requires hand carving a piece out of wax then setting it in plaster. Next, fire the flask of plaster to melt out the wax. You’re left with a negative of your piece in a mold. Finally, cast a molten metal of your choice in the mold.
Jewelry metalsmithing requires knowledge about metal types, specific gravity, drafting, and melting points of various materials. The lost wax casting process is akin to industrial production processes like die casting or injection molding, which I find interesting.
Jessica McCallum 