If You’re Like Me, You Probably Don’t Want More — Just Better

It’s been a little while since I wrote here, and today I just felt like sharing a few thoughts about why I choose things the way I do for Aurora.

When I was a little girl, I remember seeing so much beautiful pearl jewelry, but a lot of it felt quite traditional — something I imagined wearing to a wedding, a nice dinner, or another special occasion. I always loved pearls, but I wanted them to feel more natural in everyday life too. Something you could wear with a T-shirt, a sweater, or a simple dress and never feel too dressed up.

That’s really what modern pearls mean to me. Not changing what makes pearls beautiful, but making them easier to live with now.

I think about materials in a similar way. I’ve considered solid gold many times, and I love it, but I also don’t think every beautiful pearl piece needs to come with a fine-jewelry price. Most Aurora pieces are made with S925 sterling silver, which gives me a balance I really like between quality, wearability, and price. For some gold-tone chains, I use 14K gold-filled for better everyday durability. Lately I’ve also been researching better 18K gold plating techniques, including vacuum/PVD plating, to see how I can make our gold finishes last even better over time. Still learning and testing — just a little behind-the-scenes update. 🤍

And of course, the part I care about most is still the pearl itself. I’m pretty picky here. I always check pearls in natural light because I want to see what they really look like without jewelry-store lighting helping them. Luster comes first for me — that silky glow and movement across the surface that makes a pearl feel alive. Then I look at the color, surface, shape, and how everything comes together.

I’m not looking for something that feels artificially perfect. Pearls are natural, and those tiny differences are part of what makes them special. I just want to choose the ones that make me want to look twice.

Maybe that’s also why I tend to keep my designs simple. When there isn’t much decoration, the pearl has to do the work. I want the finished piece to feel modern and easy to wear, but never ordinary.

I think I’m just someone who would rather have less, but really love what I have. I’d rather choose slowly, wear things often, and keep the good ones for years.

That’s also one of the things I love most about pearls. Each one has its own personality. Some feel soft and quiet, while others have a stronger presence. The more you wear one, the more familiar it starts to feel — its shape, its color, the way the light moves across it. Somehow, over time, you can start to feel a little attached to it.

Maybe that’s why I’m so picky about the pearls I choose. If it’s something you might wear for years and make your own, I want it to be a really good one.

If you’re a little like me, that’s really who I’m choosing for too.

Anyway, just a few thoughts I wanted to share today. 🤍