SHAO Jewelry

Crafted with Passion, Worn with Purpose

Meet Sarah Shao

Growing up in Hong Kong’s chaotic Pearl Street Market, Sarah Shao learned early that trust is earned, not given. Her grandmother, a seamstress who saved for years to buy her first pearl necklace, would point to the tiny imperfections under a jeweler’s loupe: “See this blemish? That’s where the oyster fought to protect its treasure. Real beauty has scars.”

At 25, Sarah mortgaged her apartment to open SHAO Jewelry—a tiny shop where she worked nights knotting pearls for brides and graduates. “Back then, people thought pearls were only for aristocrats or weddings,” she recalls. “But I believed every woman deserves a piece of her own story, no matter her budget.”

The Moment That Changed Everything

In 2004, a single mother named Linda walked into Sarah’s shop. She wanted a pearl bracelet to commemorate surviving breast cancer but could only afford freshwater pearls. Sarah stayed up crafting a custom piece, hiding a tiny engraved lotus (a symbol of resilience) inside the clasp. When Linda cried hugging her, Sarah knew: This wasn’t jewelry. It was armor.

A Legacy Built on Grit and Grace

Today, Sarah’s daughter Emily Shao leads SHAO Jewelry with the same radical empathy. A Stanford engineering grad, Emily nearly joined a tech startup—until her mom handed her a pearl from their first farm partner in Japan: “This oyster bed has fed a family for three generations. If we abandon craftsmanship for scale, what happens to their stories?”

Under Emily, SHAO Jewelry became the 1 of the leading jewelry brands adhering to the following principles:

Use Ethically Sourced, Traceable Pearls from Regenerative Farms:

Every pearl in our collection is either sustainably farmed or ethically wild-harvested, with zero harm to marine ecosystems. Unlike traditional pearl harvesting, which often involves dredging or harmful practices, our partner farms in Japan, Australia, and the Philippines use regenerative methods that protect oyster reefs and coastal biodiversity. Because true luxury shouldn’t cost the earth!

Empower Artisans, Not Algorithms:

Our jewelry is designed/handcrafted by a network of master artisans in Hong Kong, Los Angeles, and Mexico—communities where jewelry-making is a centuries-old cultural legacy. Each piece carries the soul of its maker:

Hong Kong: Time-honored pearl knotting techniques passed down through generations.

Los Angeles: Bold, minimalist metalwork inspired by California’s creative energy.

Oaxaca, Mexico: Indigenous filigree patterns reinterpreted for contemporary elegance.

 

Listen First:

Emily still hosts monthly Pearl Chats with customers. “A teacher once told me she wears our studs to parent meetings—they make her feel heard. That’s the real ROI.”

Turn Customers into Co-Creators:

We encourage customers to share their unique stories about jewelry on social media. Every quarter, we transform one story into a jewelry collection.

 

“My grandmother taught me that trust is built one pearl at a time. When you choose SHAO, you’re choosing a global family—farmers, artisans, and women like you—who believe beauty should empower, not exploit.”

 Emily Shao

“Cosmo loves their “denim-to-diamonds” ethos: a $150 freshwater pearl choker that outshines stuffy heirlooms, and Akoya studs that cling like a secret to Gen Z’s TikTok-ready ears. As Sarah says:“Real pearls—like real women—aren’t polished. They’re battle-tested.”

COSMOPOLITAN

Delicate Gift Box

We will carefully pick& hand pack your jewelry.

90 Days Returns

Guaranteed money-back returns or exchanges in 90 days.

Free Fast Shipping

Free and fast shipping for the US orders over $99.

Up to 80% Below Retail

Buy premium quality jewelry without overpaying.