Why & Where

Why buy Empress Jewellery by Emily?
- Australian company
Every piece of jewellery is designed, crafted and constructed by me in Australia. You aren't just buying from an Australian owned company, you're buying from an Australian maker as well. Better yet, you are supporting a small (1 person!) business amongst the bigger companies which often sell pieces that are actually made in overseas factories. 

- High quality materials
Every piece I make is Sterling Silver, 14k Gold filled or 14k Rose Gold filled. Not gold plated, not gold vermeil, but Gold filled. 
What is Gold filled?
These pieces consist of a base metal core (brass or copper) with a layer of solid gold permanently bonded to it. This solid gold layer is thicker (up to 100 times thicker) than gold plated or vermeil, and gives a long-lasting alternative to solid gold. Of course, being that they aren't solid gold, they will wear over time, but as the thicker gold layer means it will last a lot longer than the cheaper alternatives. How long? With the right care, it can last decades. And they are nickel free!

- Support slow fashion
Empress Jewellery by Emily is dainty, beautiful, meaningful pieces. It is timeless jewellery that won't go out of fashion. Each piece is also made to order, and ensures I'm not holding stock, which may potentially not sell and become a waste of materials. 

Where do your materials originate from?
- Metal sheets
Sterling Silver and 14k Gold filled pendants which are cut by me are stated so in the item description. These are cut from sheet metal which I have sourced from a manufacturer in the US.
Any pendants that aren't cut by me are also of US origin. Eventually I would like to cut all pendants from sheet metal, and I intend to switch to Australian sourced and mined metals.

- Chains and components
Chains, jump rings, clasps, earrings are sourced from the same US manufacturer as the sheet metal. 

- Freshwater pearls
The freshwater pearls used by Empress Jewellery by Emily originate from a Chinese freshwater pearl farm. Did you know China farms a lot of the world's pearls? The company I have chosen provide a high quality product- great lustre, and limited imperfections, such as lines and dimples. Eventually I intend to shift to using Australian ethically farmed pearls - watch this space!

- Packaging
The boxes used for each Empress Jewellery by Emily piece is rigid cardboard, meaning it can be recycled, but it is also good quality, so you can also keep using it when storing your jewellery. It can also be used to put various items in and provide hours of fun for a toddler!
The microfibre pouches are also made to be reused for storing/travelling with jewellery.

- Post satchels
I use compostable pouches for delivery. They are also reusable, so you can get another run in the delivery mill out of them before they are composted (hooray for no landfill).

Continuous improvement goals
I am always seeking to improve my product, skills and sources. Moving into the future I would love to engage with more Australian businesses to provide the supplies I need. Continuous improvement does not stop at my suppliers, though. I am also constantly on the look out for better tools and resources to improve the products I can provide. Some pendants are already made from a sheet of metal by my hands, and as time goes on I aim to be able to make it all by hand to give you (and myself) the peace of mind that what has been created has been done so mindfully, respectfully and ethically. 

If you have any questions, or would like more information on anything, I'd love to hear from you!
hello@empress-jewellery.com.au