Our Story

JAE Jewelry began in Los Altos, California, but its roots stretch back much further—into a lifelong love of making things by hand. From hand sewing beside her mother at just five years old to designing stage wardrobes for musicians in the 1980s, founder Julie Ann Eckstrom (JAE) has always been drawn to creating pieces that feel expressive, thoughtful, and personal. She attended the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) in San Francisco, where her appreciation for design, materials, and craftsmanship continued to take shape.

Over the years, jewelry became a natural extension of that creativity. What started as handmade gifts for friends—Victorian-inspired love token bracelets and one-of-a-kind pieces created to celebrate birthdays and milestones—slowly revealed something more. Friends consistently encouraged her to sell her work, often noting her distinct aesthetic and natural ability to mix materials in a way that felt effortless yet refined.

Two pivotal moments brought everything into focus. The first came when Julie gifted a close friend an ombré moonstone beaded necklace. Her friend insisted on paying for it, pointing out that while similar pieces existed, this one felt different—more intentional, more beautiful, and unmistakably Julie’s. The second moment followed later during a visit to her son’s college. Simple gemstone bracelets made in his school colors were met with immediate enthusiasm. They weren’t loud or obvious, but quietly meaningful. Elegant, wearable, and rooted in natural stones, those bracelets sparked months of requests. That moment gave rise to LOYAL by JAE, a collection celebrating school spirit, athletes, and personal stories in a refined, everyday way.

After decades devoted to raising her family, Julie returned to her creative roots at just the right time. With her children older and her husband retired—he encouraged her to finally “go for it”—JAE Jewelry was then born, this time with clarity, intention, and heart.

Today, JAE Jewelry is designed and handmade in small batches in our Los Altos, California and Kauai, Hawaii workshops. Inspired by the natural beauty of the coast, each piece reflects organic forms and natural textures. Working with semi-precious gemstones, freshwater pearls, and gold-filled metals, every design honors sutil variation—no two pieces are ever the same.

We believe deeply in small-batch production—often fewer than ten pieces of any design—so each piece feels personal and considered. Details matter. Jewelry should never feel mass-produced; wearing something handmade just makes you feel grounded.

At its heart, JAE Jewelry is about wearing what makes you feel good—relaxed, confident, and beautiful. Each piece is meant to be lived in, layered, and worn every day, carrying meaning that feels personal and true.