Our WaterDrop jewelry collection reflects on the contrasting properties of water, symbolizing purity and the elemental foundation of life. Water is fitting as a design motif because ocean pearls are our primary gemstone. They originate from pristine tropical oceans and rely on water purity for their production and survival.
The essence of jewelry design lies in conveying themes and emotions visually and symbolically. Our process begins with a broad overview of visual cues that we find, assemble, post, and discuss over time. We then translate these themes into design concepts. For our inaugural collection, we collaborated with renowned designer Eddie Borgo to create a design language unique to Roseate. The thematic concepts we ultimately develop are integrated with practical considerations such as wearability, comfort, choice of materials, and methods of fabrication.
A water droplet maintains perfect surface tension, held together by molecular forces that generate its morphing shapes. For us, this symbolizes wonderful contrasts and ironies perfect for jewelry concepts: balance of opposing forces—weight against lightness, structure against flow, simplicity against complexity. Water embodies a paradox: yielding yet unyielding. Though water can melt away to invisibility, surrendering to gravity, water also possesses infinite persistence. Water can be passive yet over time capable of carving through mountains. It has an inherently changeable form, yet it never loses its essence regardless of the shape it takes.
We seek organic flow, curve, and contour in our designs, inspired by the inspiring, organic work of the late designer and fashion icon Elsa Peretti. But it isn’t just the look of water, it also has a remarkable agency for change. Water serves as the universal solvent, able to carry minerals that form pearls and sustain all life. The functionality of water as a force of physical transmission is thematically significant to us. Oysters create pearls using the minerals provided by ocean currents and water columns. The idea of a moveable language, transcending human boundaries while honoring elemental purities, is central to our design philosophy.
Our LoveLock and TreasureLock jewelry collections are also influenced by the water droplet motif. These pieces feature an innovative shackle created from two water droplets stretching and joining together at the arch. This imagery represents our belief that design, symbolism, and even retail jewelry should aspire to serve a greater, overarching purpose.
Some WaterDrop designs feature two water drops gracefully joined together, symbolizing human connections and our charitable partnerships with Billion Oyster Project, Water.org, and Conservation International. Water.org expands our traditional marine conservation efforts with their inventive microfinance model to leverage safe water and sanitation projects around the world, an elemental consideration for the most essential of life’s ingredients. We try to make it count: 20% of top line sales of our WaterDrop collection are donated to Water.org.
