Back from Summer: Sun, Sand, and Sparkling New Charms

Hi friends,

It’s been a minute—but I’m back! This summer was a beautiful blur of kids’ camps, city errands, time in the studio, and quick family trips. Honestly, summer can feel even more hectic than the rest of the year, with the extra pressure to slow down and enjoy it all. But I made time to recharge at the beach (my happy place), and I’m not done yet!

Jones Beach, NY

I’ve missed sharing what I’ve been working on, and I’m so excited to start creating new pieces for you again—my amazing clients and jewelry lovers. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be rolling out a three-part series on what’s been going on behind the scenes. Here’s part one:

Sun Keeper Key Charm: A Summer Collab with @gemgossip

Photo by Gem Gossip

At the start of the season, I launched a special charm in collaboration with the one and only Danielle Miele of @gemgossip. Danielle’s an expert in all things vintage and modern jewelry, with a loyal following of over 220K collectors. She’s also a long-time fan of my key charms and owns one of my original "Key to My Heart" pieces.

Together, we dreamed up something special: the Sun Keeper Key Charm. Danielle envisioned a sunburst design, and we landed on a clean, symbolic piece with eight radiant rays surrounding a central gemstone. It’s a poetic nod to both the sun and the idea of holding the key to something precious.

Our first release featured three gems: tsavorite garnet, iolite, and blue-green tourmaline—and it sold out in less than 24 hours!

Behind the Scenes:

• Designing the Wax Model

  I built the key out of sheet wax, carefully carving the rays to ensure proportion and balance. We chose a 3mm round gemstone to keep the scale wearable and the gold cost accessible.

• Casting in 14k Gold

  After perfecting the wax models, I cast them in solid 14k yellow gold, then cleaned, polished, and prepped each piece for setting. I finished them with a hefty jump ring to add structure and quality.

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• Choosing the Gems

  Since @gemgossip’s followers love green, we included two green stones—tsavorite and blue-green tourmaline—and a vivid blue iolite as a contrast.

• Launch Day Magic

  Danielle styled and shot the collection beautifully. Her followers loved the photos and the charm story—we sold out in 24 hours!

@gemgossip wearing the Sun Keeper Key Charms

Photo by @gemgossip

Photo by @gemgossip

What’s Next:

We’re already preparing for a second drop of the Sun Keeper Key Charm this August, with some exciting new gemstone choices—including one that’s rarely available in small faceted cuts (but we made it happen!).

Be the first to know by following @gemgossip and @mejiajewelry on Instagram, and make sure you’re signed up for my newsletter here.

More updates coming soon—I can’t wait to share what else is in store!

With love and sparkle,

Elise