Andrea Li designs one-of-a-kind pastel gemstone jewelry by hand in her Denver studio, working in 14k gold-filled, 14k gold, and sterling silver. Every piece is built once. When it sells, it's gone.
If you've always been drawn to color that whispers instead of shouts, aquamarine, morganite, moonstone, kunzite, you already understand that subtlety is its own kind of power.
Whether you're drawn to blush-toned gems or cool pastel palettes, pastel gemstone jewelry offers a timeless way to reflect your unique style through soft, meaningful design.
Every piece is built once. When it sells, it's gone.
Metals
14k gold-filled, 14k gold, and sterling silver.
Stones
Aquamarine, morganite, moonstone, kunzite.
Guide
Which Pastel Stone Flatters You?
Which palette suits your skin tone?
I build in two palettes, and most people lean clearly toward one. Pastel sits at light tone and low saturation, airy and serene. Jewel tone sits at medium to dark with high saturation, dense and glowing. Pick your skin tone and the stones your eye goes to, and this will tell you which end of the range is yours.
1. Your skin tone
Pick the closest match.
Fair & Light
Cool pastels are your sweet spot. Aquamarine and moonstone create a fresh, luminous effect against fair skin. Morganite adds a soft flush of warmth. Avoid very pale rose quartz: it can wash out against light complexions.
Medium & Olive
You can wear the entire pastel spectrum. Pink tourmaline creates a beautiful complementary contrast, green amethyst harmonizes with olive undertones, and kunzite adds a lilac softness. This is where pastel mixing looks most natural.
Warm & Golden
Morganite and warm-toned kunzite are stunning against golden skin: the pink reads rich rather than pastel. Aquamarine in gold settings creates a warm-cool tension that photographs beautifully.
Deep & Rich
Every pastel gemstone intensifies against deep skin. Moonstone's blue glow becomes electric. Morganite gains a warm depth. Aquamarine appears more vivid and saturated. Pastel doesn't mean subtle, not on you.
2. The stones you are drawn to
Choose up to three. Go on instinct.
Selected 0 of 3
Pastel0%
Jewel tone0%
You are in the right place
Soft, luminous color suits you, which means this collection was built for the way you already choose. You are drawn to stones that glow rather than announce themselves, and light tone with low saturation is where your eye keeps landing.
Keep looking here
Kunzite, morganite, aquamarine, moonstone and lavender keshi pearls, every piece hand-set one at a time.
Saturated color is your register. You landed on the pastel page, but your eye went to depth and density, the stones that hold their own against black and carry an outfit by themselves. There is a whole collection for that.
Go here instead
Chrysoprase, Colombian emerald, chrome tourmaline, spessartite and rhodolite garnet, spinel and deep amethyst.
You can wear both, and you probably already do. What decides it for you is the occasion rather than the palette, which means the question is not which one but which one today.
Pastel gemstones span the calendar: aquamarine (March), moonstone (June alternative), tourmaline (October in pink), kunzite (no official month, which makes it a gift for the person who doesn't want the obvious choice).
02
The Soft-Spoken Bride
Pastel gemstones are the bridal stones for women who want elegance without excess. Aquamarine is a natural "something blue." Morganite reads romantic without reading expected. Moonstone's adularescence photographs like captured light. Explore wedding jewelry →
03
Mother's Day
A one-of-a-kind pastel piece says "I chose this specifically for you" in a way that flowers and gift cards can't. The soft color palette feels maternal without being predictable.
04
The Person Who Doesn't Wear Bold Jewelry
Not everyone wants a statement. Pastel gemstones give you color, artistry, and one-of-a-kind presence, without shouting. For the person who appreciates subtlety, this is the gift that speaks their language.
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A Fresh Start
Graduation, new home, new chapter. Pastel gemstones carry symbolism of hope, clarity, and calm, a tone that matches the feeling of beginning something new.
Find Your Pastel
Property
Aquamarine
Morganite
Moonstone
Kunzite
Green Amethyst
Color
Cool blue-green
Warm pink-peach
Translucent with blue glow
Soft lilac-pink
Soft green
Mineral
Beryl
Beryl
Feldspar
Spodumene
Quartz
Hardness
7.5–8 Mohs
7.5–8 Mohs
6–6.5 Mohs
6.5–7 Mohs
7 Mohs
Daily Wear?
Excellent
Excellent
Good (necklaces, earrings best)
Good (avoid hard impact)
Good (I've never cracked one at the bench)
Bridal?
"Something blue"
Romantic alternative
Ethereal glow in photos
Unconventional elegance
Growth and renewal
Personality
Calm power
Romantic warmth
Ethereal mystery
Quiet sophistication
Fresh, cool
Best For
The person who wants cool elegance
The person drawn to warmth
The person who wants something otherworldly
The person who wants rare and refined
The person undergoing life changes or seeking emotional healing
Andrea Li sources all pastel gemstones at the Tucson Gem Show, selecting each stone for individual character. Many pieces combine multiple pastel stones in a single design: you don't have to choose just one.
How to Wear Pastel Gemstones
Pastel on White
White linen, white silk, white cotton: the cleanest backdrop makes every pastel gemstone glow. The stone becomes a watercolor accent against a blank canvas. This is the summer styling formula.
Best with: White dress, cream blazer, ivory
Tonal Pastel Mix
Aquamarine with morganite. Moonstone with kunzite. Andrea Li's multi-stone designs already use this approach, building depth by combining pastel tones that are related but never identical.
Best with: Blush, lavender, soft gray
Pastel Against Black
The contrast is striking and unexpected. A pastel gemstone piece against all black reads sophisticated, not sweet. The stone becomes the only color in the frame, and it carries the entire look.
Best with: LBD, black blazer, evening wear
One Piece, No Competition
A single sculptural pastel necklace or pair of earrings, no other jewelry competing. Let the soft color and the handcrafted design do the work. This is how Andrea Li's pieces are designed to be worn.
Pastel stones that hug the ear, opal, kunzite, and sapphire, with no piercing required. Each piece is hand-fabricated in 14k gold-filled by Andrea Li in Denver.
A wristful of pastel, aquamarine, kunzite, and ametrine, each stone its own shade. Each piece is hand-fabricated in 14k gold-filled by Andrea Li in Denver.
Pastel gemstones drawn close to the throat, soft pinks and pale blues against gold. Each piece is hand-fabricated in 14k gold-filled by Andrea Li in Denver.
A soft spectrum at the collarbone, pink kunzite, aquamarine, morganite, and pale amethyst strung in gold. Each piece is hand-fabricated in 14k gold-filled by Andrea Li in Denver.
Pastel stones set to sway, from rose quartz to gray sapphire, light and luminous. Each piece is hand-fabricated in 14k gold-filled by Andrea Li in Denver.
The Tamar Collection is named in honor of a woman who did something truly rare: she saw me. Before the gallery features, the museum showcases, or the collectors' buzz, Tamar recognized the spark in my work. Her unshakable belief in my vision emboldened me to push my boundaries and trust my aesthetic instincts. She wasn’t just my first collector, she was a mirror, a witness, and a kindred spirit. This collection is a tribute to the bond we shared and the extraordinary alchemy that happens when an artist is seen, understood, and celebrated.
After a four-year hiatus from releasing a new collection, I returned to creating with renewed purpose. The Tamar Collection emerged from that return, born at the Tucson Gem Show and forged through countless bench-side pivots in my Denver studio.
Each piece in this collection is one-of-a-kind. Each creation took me on what I call a "micro-journey", a unique path from raw gemstone to finished work that can never be exactly replicated. These stories document that process: the pivots, the problems-turned-breakthroughs, and the moments when the materials finally told me what they wanted to become.
A gemstone is called "pastel" when it has a light, soft, and muted color rather than a vivid, saturated one. This effect comes from the gemstone's low to medium color saturation and a light tone, resulting in gentle shades like soft pinks, pale greens, and baby blues.
Its shimmering glow, called adularescence, fosters a sense of mystery, inspiration, and reflection.
Moonstone jewelry reminds you to embrace embarking on a new journey and celebrating personal growth.
Gifts · Handmade & One-of-a-Kind
Looking for a one-of-a-kind jewelrygift?
A hand-selected edit of handmade gemstone jewelry, each piece sculpted by hand in my Denver studio. Browse by who you’re shopping for and find something they’ll keep for years.
There are three tiers of “handmade” jewelry in the market. Understanding where Andrea Li sits explains why the work looks, feels, and lasts the way it does.
01
Marketplace Handmade
Pre-made settings, pre-cut stones, stock chains. Assembled in minutes, available from hundreds of sellers. “Handmade” means hand-assembled.
02
Production Studio
Original designs cast from molds and reproduced in batches. Higher-quality materials, but the same design exists in dozens or hundreds of copies.
03
Andrea Li
Every technique (hand fabrication, cold connection, briolettes drilled and set without heat) unified into a single design, built around a pastel center stone so the color leads. One piece exists. When it sells, the page comes down.
Andrea has been designing one-of-a-kind gemstone jewelry in Denver for 18 years. She trained in traditional jewelry techniques, runs a one-woman studio, and personally handles every step from gemstone selection to final finishing. There is no team, no production assistant, no outsourced labor.
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“A piece is not finished for me unless I say, ‘Man, that is awesome.’ It just has to be that way for me as a designer. Otherwise it’s an indication that the piece is not done.”
Andrea Li
The models who wear Andrea’s pieces for editorial shoots have told her they feel different in her jewelry, that it brings out a confidence that’s obvious and visceral. That is what happens when someone wears something made with the kind of intention mass production can’t replicate.
Fall in love with the delicate allure and captivating beauty of morganite a peach-pink hued beauty that has a place among the most discerning modern fashionistas.
A short field guide to the stones in this collection, grouped by the soft colors they bring.
01
The pinks and peaches
Pink kunzite. A pale lilac-pink spodumene with a quiet glow. Kunzite is pleochroic, meaning its color shifts from pink to violet as you turn it, and it has a perfect cleavage that makes it one of the more delicate stones to set. I use it as pendants and as tiny briolettes.
Morganite. The peach-pink member of the beryl family, a cousin to aquamarine and emerald. Hard, 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, and durable, with a warm, romantic blush.
Rose quartz. The soft, milky pink quartz long associated with love and tenderness. A 7 on the Mohs scale, gentle and translucent.
02
The purples
Pale amethyst. The soft, washed lilac end of amethyst, the purple quartz, lighter and dreamier than the deep classic shade.
Ametrine. A natural bicolor quartz, half amethyst purple and half citrine gold in a single stone, mined mainly in Bolivia. A two-in-one sunrise.
Green amethyst (prasiolite). Amethyst's gentle green sister, a soft leafy quartz that reads cool and fresh.
Purple sapphire. Corundum, a 9 on the Mohs scale, in a rich pastel violet. Part of my signature multi-color sapphire thread.
Mystic labradorite. Labradorite with a fine titanium coating that throws a soft rainbow iridescence across its surface, a feldspar with a pastel aurora.
03
The blues and greens
AAA aquamarine. The clearest, dreamiest sea-blue beryl, hard and durable at 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale.
Moss aquamarine. Aquamarine with mossy, dendritic inclusions suspended inside it, more organic and earthy than the clear stone, like a window into a still pond.
Green sapphire and gray sapphire. More of my signature corundum, in soft sage and dove-gray, a 9 on the Mohs scale and tough enough for a lifetime.
Zircon. A natural stone, not to be confused with synthetic cubic zirconia, with remarkable fire and brilliance, in pale blue, white, and champagne.
04
The whites and glows
Australian opal. Hydrated silica that flashes play-of-color, the whole spectrum shifting inside a single stone. The October birthstone, and the most delicate stone I set.
Moonstone. A feldspar with a floating blue-white sheen called adularescence, caused by light scattering between microscopic layers inside the stone. A 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, luminous and a little mysterious.
Akoya keshi pearls. Small, lustrous, free-form saltwater pearls grown with no bead nucleus, so they are pure nacre, with an unusually deep glow.
Freshwater pearls. Soft, varied, organic. One of the two stones I reach for in nearly every piece I make.
Topaz. A hard silicate, 8 on the Mohs scale, in pale, clear, watery tones.
Both are statements. The difference is where the color sits. Pastel is light in tone and low in saturation, so a lot of white light passes through and the stone reads soft and serene. Jewel tone is medium to dark with high saturation, dense and glowing. The same mineral can land in either camp: pale lilac amethyst is a pastel, deep royal purple amethyst is a jewel tone, and I buy them as two separate palettes.
Pastel
Jewel tone
Tone
The very light end of the spectrum. High amounts of white light pass through.
Pastel stones are prized for their soft color, and that softness runs deeper than the shade. Rose quartz, kunzite, and especially opal are delicate stones that reward a little gentleness. A few simple habits keep every piece glowing the way it did the day it arrived.
Pastel kunzite clusters, hand-built one stone at a time.Opal is the softest of the pastels, and the one that most rewards gentle care.
01
Handle by the metal, not the stone
Pick up rings and bracelets by the band, and necklaces by the clasp or chain, rather than the stone. It keeps skin oils and daily wear off the gemstone surface.
02
Put it on last, take it off first
Perfume, lotion, hairspray, and sunscreen go on before your jewelry. Take it off before washing, exercise, and sleep. Sleeping in a piece can scratch it or loosen a setting, especially with softer stones like opal.
03
Clean it gently
Wipe with a soft, dry cloth after wearing. When it needs more, use warm water with a drop of mild soap and a soft brush to lift skin oils. Avoid harsh chemicals, bleach, and ultrasonic or steam cleaners, which can damage soft pastel stones.
04
Store each piece on its own
Keep every piece in its own soft-lined pouch or compartment, away from harder gemstones like diamonds and sapphires that can scratch it.
05
Be gentle with opal and the softest stones
Rose quartz, kunzite, and especially opal are soft and delicate. Opal is sensitive to moisture loss and can turn brittle, so never soak it, store opals somewhere slightly humid, and wear them often so they keep their glow. Leave the most delicate pieces at home on activity-heavy days.
06
Avoid heat and sudden temperature changes
Keep pastel stones out of direct sun, saunas, and quick shifts from hot to cold. Thermal shock can crack fragile stones like opal, and hot, chemical-heavy environments are hard on soft gems.
From the bench · Andrea Li
The collection where turmoil became beauty
A note from Andrea Li, on building her Pastel collection by hand in her Denver studio.
On the back of my work there is a weave, a web of wire I was told for years to hide and never could. It is where I turn chaos into something more beautiful for having come through it. No collection has lived that out more than Pastel.
“
A microcosm of turmoil that turned into beauty, like a small blossom fighting its way through a spring snow.
”
Those are my own words about one of the cuffs in this collection, a piece born of pure frustration. Soldering a repurposed component into it was, in my bench notes, a bear. I hit walls I had not planned for and had to decide whether to let the vision die or fight for it. I chose to fight, and what came through was a small, hard-won thing I still love.
A statement necklace in the same collection failed at the front after I had already finished the intricate back. It was deflating. But I had committed too deeply to walk away, so I rebuilt the front entirely, and the design I set aside became a second necklace on its own. Two finished pieces from one failed plan. That is the whole idea behind the weave: nothing endured is wasted, and the pressure is often the exact thing that makes the beauty. It runs through every piece in Pastel, and through everything I make.
Interested in a Custom Pastel Piece?
Express Your Individuality For Your Next Special Occasion with Your Own Custom Pastel Gemstone Jewelry
Create Your One-of-A-Kind Pastel Gemstone Jewelry
Looking for something truly personal, beyond what's available off the shelf? Custom pastel gemstone jewelry allows you to co-create a one-of-a-kind piece that reflects your style, story, and sentiment. Whether you're dreaming of soft pink rose quartz earrings for a summer wedding or a cool aquamarine pendant for everyday elegance, I work closely with clients to transform ideas into meaningful, wearable art. These custom pieces are perfect for bridal and bridal party jewelry, milestone gifts (birthdays, anniversaries), self-gifting for personal milestones,and elegant daily wear
Unlike mass-produced options, custom pastel jewelry offers creative freedom in selecting your gemstone, metal, and design details, from ethereal gemstone arrangements to sculptural silhouettes. Every piece is handcrafted to order, allowing you to choose from a range of soft-tone gemstones like the ones below.
Custom
01
SELF LOVE
Green Amethyst
Gemstone
Need a little more confidence in your morning stand up? Green Amethyst is said to boost your confidence and provide you with the courage to stand for yourself.
02
COLOR OF THE SEA
Aquamarine
Pastel Gemstone
the name aquamarine means seawater. In ancient times, aquamarine was thought to protect those at sea. It was believed to keep sailors safe from trouble from adversaries
03
RESTORATIVE
Lavender Amethyst
Pastel Gemstone
Lavender amethyst is renowned for its soothing, gentle energy, especially compared to the stronger energy of darker amethyst varieties. It’s recommended for those seeking emotional healing, improved sleep, or a peaceful mind and spirit
luminous, timeless and organically created by a living creature04
PEACE
Pearl
Pastel Gemstone
Pearls are believed to enhance confidence and self-esteem. They are said to promote a sense of inner peace and tranquility
What to Expect from the Custom Process
01
Inspiration & Consultation
Share your vision, occasion, or inspiration images. I'll help guide gemstone and style selections that suit your needs.
02
Design Collaboration
You'll review concepts and the gemstone options, then refine them with me before the work begins.
03
Crafted Just for You
Once approved, your custom pastel jewelry is handmade with care, ready for weddings, gifting, or personal celebration.
Some are. Stones like opal, rose quartz, and pearl are soft gemstones with delicate characteristics. Use caution when handling and cleaning them. Ensure they are well protected when traveling with these fragile stones.
02What if a pastel gemstone piece I like is sold out, can you recreate something similar?
Yes. Since my pieces are one-of-a-kind and hand sculpted, I can create something similar but not exact. The gemstones I select are chosen for their rarity and unique cuts, with limited availability. I can usually find other gemstones comparable to those in the original design to recreate a piece infused with its own story of originality.
03Can I customize the pastel gemstone palette to match my wedding colors?
Absolutely! I can work with you to customize your bridal jewelry to the exact color palette for your wedding. I can even match the colored stones in your engagement ring to create a matching set of jewelry for you to wear on your big day.
04Can sapphires be pastel?
Yes, sapphires can be pastel. Contrary to most beliefs that sapphires are deeply hued and saturated, they also come in a myriad of colors, including beautifully soft-hued colors that work beautifully in pastel gemstone combinations.
Pink kunzite
Morganite
Rose quartz
Pale amethyst
Ametrine
Green amethyst
Amethyst stalactite
Mystic labradorite
AAA aquamarine
Moss aquamarine
Sapphire (purple, green, gray)
Zircon
Australian opal
Moonstone
Akoya keshi pearl
Topaz
Jewel tone
01
02
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