Design Crush: RockaBella Jewels

Having just spent the past few weeks in Maui {my former home} I couldn't help but notice all the island girls were donning puka shells on long gold chains. Although shell jewelry tends to have a tacky side to it, I didn't mind the look at all. I even gifted my bridesmaids RockaBella's puka shell gold bangles and purchased the gold-dipped sharks tooth charm for myself. Kristel, the designer behind RockaBella Jewels, works from her home studio on Maui where she has lived for the past 17 years. She finds inspiration in the ocean. "I am facinated by Peahi, or jaws— the misconception and respect for sharks is where the shark teeth come in. My obsession with pearls and shells is tied to the healing properties of gemstones," she says.

"I want to create jewlery that holds memories. I use letterpress keys to stamp coordinates on gold and silver coins and bars to connect on a new level with my customers— only we know where the location is or the personal stories behind them." She prefers to work with gold in its many forms "to show the versitility of the metal— hammered for an organic effect to dripping off shells and stones like they just got out of the water."

Shop RockaBella here.