Custom Platinum Earrings with Sleeping Beauty Turquoise & South Sea Pearls

Client Inspiration

Sometimes, a new piece begins with the simplest of questions. Earlier this year, Wendy reached out asking if she could see how our Sleeping Beauty turquoise and platinum earrings looked when worn. From that small request, a journey unfolded — one that led to the creation of a very special, one-of-a-kind interchangeable earring set.

What began as curiosity quickly grew into possibility. Wendy wondered if the turquoise could be made slightly larger, closer in size to our South Sea pearl earrings. She also asked if it might be possible to make the design interchangeable, so she could switch between turquoise and pearls depending on her mood.

Design Challenges

The challenge was sourcing a perfectly round pair of Sleeping Beauty turquoise to match the pearls. Natural turquoise rarely comes in such clean, even color, and it is especially rare to find rough large enough to cut into a 10mm sphere. Since the Sleeping Beauty mine has been closed for years, this makes the material even more precious.

Working closely with our cutter, we were able to custom cut a 10mm pair of Sleeping Beauty turquoise gemstones. We also sourced a luminous pair of South Sea pearls in the same size, ensuring both sets would sit seamlessly with our hand-fabricated platinum lace “bubble” jackets.

Craftsmanship Process

Wendy’s thoughtful questions pushed us to refine every detail. Would there be a visible gap? Could the stones also be worn alone as studs? To reassure her, we shared videos of past commissions and carefully adjusted the fittings so that both the turquoise and pearls would connect cleanly with the platinum spheres.

The interchangeable earring design not only offers two looks in one, but also the flexibility to wear each stone alone as classic studs. This versatility has become a hallmark of our work — jewelry that adapts to the moment while retaining timeless elegance.

 

The Final Result

When the stones were ready, I sent Wendy photos and a short video. Her joyful response reminded us why we love this work.

The finished earrings are everything we hoped they would be:

• Sleeping Beauty turquoise of vivid, sky-blue purity

• South Sea pearls with glowing luster

• Platinum lace spheres, hand-fabricated in our California studio

Together, they form a versatile earring set that can transform with each occasion — elegant and playful, timeless and personal.

Video demonstration: the interchangeable design allows the Sleeping Beauty turquoise and South Sea pearls to be worn as classic studs, or paired with the platinum lace spheres for a more dramatic look.

It was also a joy to rediscover that Wendy has been with us since 2018, when she collected one of our gold bubble studs. To have her return years later for another custom piece is a gift in itself.

At its heart, jewelry is about these connections: between stones, metal, and maker, but most of all between people. We are deeply grateful to Wendy for her trust and for allowing us to create something so meaningful together.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What makes Sleeping Beauty turquoise special?
A: Sleeping Beauty turquoise is prized for its pure sky-blue color and minimal veining, making it one of the most sought-after turquoise varieties in fine jewelry. Since the Sleeping Beauty mine in Arizona closed in 2012, top-quality material has become increasingly rare and collectible.

Q: Can these earrings be worn in different ways?
A: Yes. The interchangeable design allows the turquoise or South Sea pearls to be worn as standalone studs, or paired with the platinum lace “bubble” jacket for a more dramatic look.

Q: How long does a custom jewelry commission take?
A: Most custom projects take 6–8 weeks, depending on gemstone sourcing and fabrication. Each piece is carefully handcrafted in our studio.

Have a commission project in mind? We’d love to help bring your ideas to life. Send us a quick note and let’s start the conversation.