Over a decade of design in Calgary. Now under her own name.
Kat MacLean spent more than a decade designing fine jewellery before opening Katalyst Jewellery. That experience shapes everything she does today, the care and attention brought to each finished piece. Katalyst is a reflection of that experience, curiosity and love of the craft.
Kat MacLean is a Calgary jewellery designer and GIA Graduate Gemologist whose career has been shaped across the whole of fine jewellery. From metalsmithing and stone cutting to gemology, goldsmithing and design, her practice is grounded equally in technical expertise and artistic exploration.
Driven by a fascination with wearable art, Kat earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Jewellery and Metals before training as a goldsmith and moving into full-time jewellery design. Over more than a decade in the industry, she has designed and worked with thousands of pieces, developing an intimate understanding of proportion, construction, gemstones and how jewellery lives on the body.
Drawing remains central to that practice. Kat uses traditional hand drafting not simply to illustrate an idea, but to understand it: working through proportion, structure and construction on paper before a piece takes physical form.
Her training as a Graduate Gemologist through the Gemological Institute of America adds another layer to that understanding, bringing the ability to identify and evaluate gemstones alongside an understanding of how the jewellery surrounding them is designed, made and worn.
Kat’s practice extends beyond the studio through mentorship, education and involvement in Calgary’s jewellery and craft community. She believes that sharing knowledge strengthens the craft and helps both makers and clients better understand the objects they create and own.
Jewellery making is more than a profession for Kat; it is a lifelong practice of drawing, making, learning and paying attention. Katalyst Jewellery is where all of those things come together.
Jewellery that makes a statement.
I strive to create jewellery that is both bold and beautiful, drawing inspiration from the character and beauty of the precious materials from which each piece is made.
Every design begins with a simple sketch before taking shape through hands, hammers and a critical eye. My work brings together geometric and organic forms, balancing structure with fluidity to create original designs that feel both enduring and expressive. Architectural qualities lend strength to each piece while preserving the unmistakable presence of the maker’s hand.
My goal is to create jewellery that is more than an adornment: each piece is a functional, wearable work of art, crafted to be treasured.
Training and credentials.
GIA Graduate Gemologist
The Gemological Institute of America diploma in grading and identifying diamonds and coloured stones. Formal gemological training that stands behind Katalyst's appraisal, evaluation and gemstone identification work.
BFA, Alberta University of the Arts
A Bachelor of Fine Arts majoring in Jewellery and Metals. Trained as an artist before building a career in fine jewellery, which is why drawing, exploration and making remain at the centre of the design process.
Goldsmithing training
Bench skills developed through hands-on training alongside working goldsmiths. An understanding of how jewellery is actually constructed informs how each piece is designed, evaluated and cared for.
Asked for, on air
Interviewed by CBC Radio One as a Calgary jewellery and gemology expert to discuss one of the most talked-about engagement rings in the world.
Read the interviewStone cutting and mentorship
Kat's practice extends beyond jewellery design into metalsmithing and lapidary work. She remains involved in Calgary's jewellery community through continued learning, mentorship and sharing knowledge with other makers.
Local craftspeople
Katalyst works with talented Calgary-area goldsmiths, stone setters and stone cutters whose specialized skills help bring designs to life. Supporting and relying on skilled local craftspeople keeps expertise within the community and puts each piece in the hands best suited to the work.
Canadian manufacturing
Katalyst is supported by Canadian casting houses, manufacturers and trade suppliers for specialized production, precious metals, components and processes. These relationships combine the personal attention of a small studio with the capabilities of Canada's wider jewellery industry.
The studio
Katalyst opened in 2026 and moves into its own studio in Kensington in September 2026. It is not a showroom, it is an appointment-only design studio.
Consultations run in person or on video, and all clients are welcome to book a time for a consultation and a pot of tea.
Come and talk about a piece.
Whether it is a ring you are imagining or a box of jewellery you have inherited, the first conversation is free and commits you to nothing.
Call 403 926 7464 or email kat@katalystjewellery.com. Book a consultation in-studio or online. We try to answer all enquiries within two business days.