Gold has been worn by humans for over 5,000 years — and for good reason. It does not corrode, does not tarnish, and does not react with skin. We work exclusively in solid 18K gold, which means the metal is 75% pure gold throughout — not a thin layer over base metal, not hollow tubing, not vermeil.

18K strikes the right balance: rich enough in gold content to resist tarnish and oxidation, and alloyed with enough silver and copper to hold its shape under daily wear. It is the standard used by fine jewelry houses worldwide for a reason.

Our gold is nickel-free, which matters more than most people realize. Nickel is the leading cause of metal allergies in jewelry. By eliminating it entirely, Teases pieces are suitable for sensitive skin — you should not have to choose between beautiful jewelry and comfort.

Jade is not a single stone — it is a category. True jade refers to two distinct minerals: nephrite and jadeite. Both are genuine jade, but they differ in structure, hardness, and rarity. Jadeite, found primarily in Myanmar, is the rarer of the two and produces the most prized hues — including the coveted imperial green and the translucent icy white known as "glass jade."

What makes jade extraordinary is not just its appearance. Across Chinese culture, jade has been revered for millennia as a stone of virtue, longevity, and protection. It was carved into ritual objects, worn by emperors, and gifted at milestones — births, weddings, new beginnings. That cultural weight is real, and it is part of what makes jade jewelry feel different to wear.

All jade used at Teases is natural and untreated (Grade A jade), meaning no polymer injection, no artificial dyeing, and no heat treatment. We source from established suppliers with documented provenance. What you receive is the stone as nature made it.

The Akoya pearl is the pearl the world fell in love with. Cultivated primarily in Japan — in the cold, nutrient-rich waters of Ago Bay and Mikimoto's original farming regions — Akoya pearls are known for their exceptional luster, near-perfect roundness, and the luminous depth of their nacre.

Akoya oysters (Pinctada fucata martensii) are nucleated and then left to layer nacre for 1 to 2 years before harvesting. The longer the cultivation, the thicker the nacre, and the richer the glow. Japanese pearl farmers have spent decades perfecting this process — and the result is a pearl that photographs differently than freshwater alternatives: crisper, cooler, more mirror-like in its reflection.

We select Akoya pearls in the 6–8mm range, prioritizing luster grade over size. Smaller, well-matched pearls with exceptional nacre depth will always outperform a larger pearl with a dull or chalky surface. Our pearl pieces pair Akoya pearls with solid 18K gold settings — no brass posts, no silver hidden inside.

We use natural diamonds selectively — as accent stones in designs where the precision and refractive brilliance of a diamond creates a moment of contrast that no other stone can replicate. A 0.02ct pavé diamond alongside a jade cabochon reads very differently than an imitation stone: it catches light in a way that makes the jade glow warmer by comparison.

All diamonds at Teases are natural, conflict-free, and sourced in accordance with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. We focus primarily on VS–SI clarity diamonds in the G–H color range — bright and brilliant to the eye without the premium cost of flawless-grade stones that are virtually indistinguishable in finished jewelry.

We do not use lab-grown diamonds. Both natural and lab-grown are chemically identical — we simply believe that for accent use, the age and geological story behind a natural diamond adds to the meaning of the piece, rather than being irrelevant to it.