Several designers and brands have built distinctive reputations by turning humble sea shells into coveted jewelry, from mid‑century haute joaillerie to modern sustainable studios.

Why shell jewelry matters

Sea shell jewelry sits at the intersection of nature and luxury, transforming materials washed up on the beach into objects that tell stories about travel, memory, and the ocean itself. Designers use shells in everything from fine jewelry set with diamonds to casual surf‑inspired pieces sold in coastal boutiques.

Seaman Schepps: “America’s Court Jeweler”

• Seaman Schepps is often described as “America’s Court Jeweler” and became famous in the 1940s–50s for bold, chunky designs that frequently featured real sea shells.[beladora]​
• On a trip through Asia he began using luminous conch‑type shells, wrapping them in gold and accenting them with sapphires, rubies, and other gemstones to elevate beach finds into high jewelry.[beladora]​
• His clients included Coco Chanel, the Duchess of Windsor, Elizabeth Taylor, and major U.S. industrial families, ensuring his shell pieces appeared regularly in magazines like Vogue and Town & Country.[beladora]​

Contemporary fine jewelers using shells

Dezso by Sara Beltrán

• Sara Beltrán, founder of Dezso, hand‑selects shells from beaches—treating each special shell like a found diamond—and sets them in gold with gemstones.[thecoutureshow]​
• Her work blends surfer‑bohemian sensibility with fine craftsmanship, making shell pendants and earrings that appeal to collectors who want ocean‑inspired jewelry with a luxurious edge.[nytimes]​

Silvia Furmanovich

• Brazilian designer Silvia Furmanovich is known for adventurous materials like wood, bamboo, and lacquer, and she also creates one‑of‑a‑kind shell pieces.[thecoutureshow]​
• Her approach is to add only minimal gold and diamonds to particularly striking shells so the natural forms remain the focus, turning unusual specimens into statement rings, bracelets, and earrings.[thecoutureshow]​

Other luxury names

• Editorial round‑ups of shell jewelry frequently highlight brands such as Anni Lu, Aurelie Bidermann, Isabel Marant, and Maison Irem, which incorporate cowrie and other shells into necklaces and bracelets.[wmagazine]​
• These designers helped push shells from casual beach souvenirs into fashion‑forward accessories seen in resort collections and summer street style.[wmagazine]​

Independent artists and niche brands

Flotsam & Co. (Hawaii)

• Flotsam & Co., based in Hawaii, specializes in one‑of‑a‑kind sunrise shell and sea glass pieces, using shells the maker personally finds while beachcombing or diving.[flotsamand]​
• Customers are drawn to the direct connection between the jewelry and Hawaiian waters; each necklace or ring becomes a wearable memento of specific shorelines and dives.[flotsamand]​

Jessica Galbreth’s shell art

• Artist‑turned‑jewelry‑maker Jessica Galbreth developed a unique technique to pigment shells with metallic hues while preserving their texture, then wire‑wraps them into pendants and earrings.[boredpanda]​
• Because every shell is naturally different, her pieces are marketed as one‑of‑a‑kind artworks for “ocean dreamers,” emphasizing individuality over mass production.[boredpanda]​

Small coastal studios

• Numerous small studios, like those behind sea glass and sea pottery collections in the UK, use beach‑found shards and shells exactly as found, celebrating weathered surfaces and irregular shapes.[blog.folksy]​
• These designers tend to focus on sustainability, handcrafting, and narrative—each piece often comes with the story of where its components were collected.[blog.folksy]​