Nearly all of our pieces are hand knotted on durable silk-blend string. This means that the stones will not rub together and the pieces will lay softly around your neck or wrist. Knotting is an art, and represents a critical quality difference between the good and the best in handmade jewelry. On the rare occasions when we do use wire, we do so only because the weight of the stones would be too heavy for string. We do not compromise, we do not take shortcuts and we do not use cheap, inferior materials to save a few bucks.

We price pieces according to the materials, the workmanship, and what we think we, as girls with jobs and children and budgets, would be able to afford. We have a nothing over $100* policy.

In addition to supporting woman-owned small businesses, a portion of each sale’s profit is donated to http://www.lifewater.org or to support breast cancer research. (You can choose if you’d like!)

* Okay, we try, and it is unusual, but sometimes a piece is crafted from more expensive materials so, on occasion, we have to make an exception. But those pieces are great value too!

The happy, singing artists at a women’s beadmaking cooperative on the outskirts of Nairobi. A bright-eyed woman with a cloth bag of silver crosses in Addis Ababa. The talented young women entrepreneurs in Shanghai’s pearl markets. A smiling man pushing a humble cart laden with strands of sparkling garnets in Mumbai. The busy but good-humored gem sellers in Bangkok’s weekend market. The tiny Venetian island where austere artisans draw upon 700 years of glass-making history. Kiera has traveled the world to gather the most beautiful and unusual collection of beads, stones, and pearls and turned them into one-of-a-kind, lovingly handmade jewelry.

In her travels around the world as a student, tourist, and diplomat, Gather Jewels founder and designer Kiera Emmons constantly found herself wandering through bead and stone markets, talking to craftswomen and coming up with fresh, fun designs. From locations as diverse as Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Shanghai, Mumbai and Bangkok, Kiera’s collection of beads and stones grew as did her relationships with the women who make by hand and sell jewelry in their communities.

What began as a hobby soon turned into a passion and then a business. While living overseas, Kiera began sending her custom designed jewelry to friends and family in California. E-mails from home began to urgently request more. Kiera’s sister could hardly make it through a workday without colleagues trying to buy the jewelry she was wearing. Her grandmother began to make a list, and Kiera responded by sending boxes of custom designed but extremely affordable handmade necklaces, bracelets and earrings.

After moving to the Central Coast in 2008, Kiera continued to work with her international team of young women business owners to design and create extraordinary handmade jewelry. Through personal relationships based upon mutual respect and collaboration, these relationships have matured into partnerships. The personal touch also extends to customers; Gather Jewels is only sold through home parties and private events and in a select few local boutiques. Though the business has grown, pieces are never factory made and almost always one of a kind (sometimes Kiera and her team get really excited about a new design and make it two or three times!) This means that customers receive their pieces immediately – no waiting and no shipping costs, and, more importantly, that each piece is as unique as the woman wearing it.

Through a business model that provides meaningful economic empowerment for women who might otherwise be forced to work in demeaning and low-wage factory or service positions, Gather Jewels is able to bring you unique jewelry at amazing prices, all while upholding the highest standards for quality and fair trade.