About
Forsaken Dunes was founded in 2025 by Mariella Schantl, a self-taught jeweler with a background in art history. Her work is driven by a blend of process, experimentation, and instinct. Mariella’s creative journey has evolved from visual arts to the world of jewelry design. Forsaken Dunes reflects her commitment to craftsmanship, intentional design and supports the ethos of bespoke, artisanal production.
Forsaken Dunes’ debut collection is the culmination of five years of research, experimentation, and travel. Throughout her journeys in the Middle East, North Africa, Australia, and Indonesia, Mariella immersed herself in the traditions of local artisans, drawing deep inspiration from their cultures and craftsmanship. It was during this time that she became captivated by the ancient technique of wax carving — a method that enables her to create anywhere, with only a few tools at hand, and a singular focus on the materials themselves.
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Your order will be packed by hand, with love, and dispatched within 1-2 working days.
Delivery Options:
Austria Standard Delivery (1-2 Working Days): free
Europe: 6.95 €
Rest of the world 17 €
Duties charged for processing by your country.
We are unable to estimate the amount of duties and taxes your package will incur as these are directly imposed by your local customs authority.These charges are to be paid upon the arrival of your parcel, Forsaken Dunes, being an Austrian company, has no authority or influence over these charges which are payable by the receiver. Payment of these is necessary to release your order from customs. For more information, please contact your local customs office.
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Our items are uniquely crafted by hand, the actual materials and colours can be slightly different from the pictures on the website. All sales will be final and as-is. We are glad to discuss any issues with the items and try to find an amicable solution.
We also offer a repair and re-plating service, for your pieces to last a lifetime. -
Gold plated brass and sterling silver jewelry naturally oxidize over time. If your jewelry is left with sweat, perfume, lotion or dirt it can cause discoloration quicker. Keep clean and away from high humidity area, shower steam, and other water activities. When you’re not wearing your jewelry, store them in sealed containers or plastic zip bags to retain shine.
BRONZE AND STERLING SILVER will naturally oxidise over time. Regular cleaning with a silver polishing cloth will help maintain the shine of your piece.
GOLD-PLATED JEWELRY should be gently cleaned with a soft brush and mild dish soap. Do not use a polishing cloth or metal polish on gold-plated jewelry, as it will strip away the plating. We use a 24kt gold vermeil bath (3 micron) which is more resilient than most plating. However plating does not last forever, and may wear thin over time, especially on items with high wear. Please contact us for re-plating if you should need it. Solid gold is available upon request.
SILK CORD – keep your silk cord dry as much as possible. If the cord becomes wet, air-dry in the shade. If the cord becomes dirty you can hand wash it in warm water with a gentle, natural soap.
