This pastel gemstone ear cuff is handmade by Andrea Li in her Denver studio -- a sculptural, non-pierced design built from recycled 14k gold-filled wire that hugs the ear's natural curve without a piercing.

The frame started as a problem: shaping, soldering, and reshaping the wire until the arc sat flush with no pressure point. When one cuff came out shorter than the other, Andrea added an extra wire layer to both -- a correction that became the piece's defining edge, creating a perimeter shaped perfectly to hold a gemstone cluster. Each cuff holds a hand-wrapped cluster of yellow aquamarine, kunzite, green topaz, and Peruvian opal, accented with Japanese Akoya Keshi pearls and sapphires in green, purple, and grey. The palette reads like a spring afternoon -- soft enough for a ceremony, striking enough to wear with a plain black top and nothing else.

Opal is the most fragile stone Andrea sets, and on this cuff it goes in last. The gem cluster is cold-connected -- each stone wire-wrapped individually, no heat near the opal -- which is what lets the cluster sit close and full without putting pressure on the stone.

One of a kind. Built once and never repeated. When it sells, it's gone. Explore the full Pastel Gemstone Jewelry collection, or go deeper on the opal in this piece at the opal gemstone guide.

• opal gemstone guide

No piercings required. Built once and never repeated.

Explore the full Pastel Gemstone collection or learn about the aquamarine and moonstone varieties used in this collection.

Get a peek into my process of making these ear cuffs →

No piercings, no problem, these sculptural ear cuffs deliver high-impact glam without commitment. Inspired by ethereal lightplay, this pair fuses glimmering opal rondelles with a waterfall of 14k gold-filled sequin chains that shimmer with every turn.

Crafted by Andrea Li, this jewelry designer’s work draws on elements from her signature style, unexpected, romantic, and unapologetically expressive. The hoops are structured to hug the ear gracefully, while the dangle tassel earrings dance just at the jawline, creating captivating movement and energy. The chain tassels were sourced at the Tucson gem show, a favorite hunting ground for the artist’s rarest finds.

Wearers seeking unique statement earrings that combine modernity with softness will find these ear cuffs a dream. The opals catch the light with pastel flashes of teal, blush, and violet, like a candy-glazed rainbow whispering against the skin.

Materials

• Ethiopian Opal Rondelles

• 14k gold-filled sequin-dapped chains

• Recycled 14/20k gold-filled wire components