Grotto Sea Jewelry Collection

Dwelling place of divinity inlaid with luminescent pearl and silvered whispers of the old gods, the grotto is a place of rebirth and primordial creation. Carved by the sea to host her myriad secrets held captive by time, it collects broken dreams and shattered hearts alongside golden chains of longing.

Merfolk call it home, wrapping their lips around untold songs to form peculiar pearls of shadow and brilliant, melodic light. Herons walk the water in a state of endless grace, plucking fish sculpted by salt from a seabed rich with coral and abundant life.

Steeped in Old World lore and winding currents of magic, the grotto is where humanity is born anew.

In naming these pieces, we drew upon the ancient gods, poetry perched on Roman tongues, and a gathering of strange, lovely creations gifted by the sea and sky. Our pearl necklace honors Venus, and the droplets of sea foam from which she was born. But for the Starlight Coral Earrings, we turned our gaze to the night sky.

Distinctive as late summer starlight, these freshwater pearl earrings branched like coral awash in shades of ethereal pinks, purples, and blues caught in white. Colored glass stones hold the pieces aloft while an intricate golden star dangles from the bottom.

Sirena del Mare — named for the famed Sirens of the Sea—is crafted of majestic branches of coral woven through with treasures of the whispering sea. The two halves meet in a delicate kiss across the collarbones to bear a single, glimmering stone bright as pure sunlight.  This regal necklace, and its earring counterparts, host starlight, pearls, seashells and coral on a golden chain—a trove worthy of the sirens who spun it into existence. 

As she rose from the seafoam, water clinging to her luminous skin, away dropped a thousand delicate pearls back into the sea.

Pearls are one of our most ancient markers of beauty and status, created in a mystical process at the heart of the sea. They are emblematic of Venus and her birth, as taken from Botticelli's famed work, and appear in thousands of paintings, sculptures, and artworks over the last two millenia. 

Mother of Pearl, in particular, brings divine wisdom and intuition, offering clarity and strength of mind. Crafted in wonder below the churning sea, centuries have seen this glowing nacre formed into jewelry and engraved into tools adorning the homes of Ancient Egyptians, Chinese, Mesopotamians, and Indians alike.

The glimmer of pearl invites magic into your life, pale as the shimmering moon for which several of our pieces are named.

Herons exist in a constant space of rebirth—stately, tranquil witnesses to the tumultuous kiss of earth and sea. 

The tactful creature allows neither force of nature to rush her hunt, but waits for the precise moment to strike. Her presence is a reminder to wait and watch, for what is meant for you will not pass you.

Our design is hand-painted with deep blue enamel over the gentle intaglio shape of the heron, set behind domed glass for a lifelike effect and wrapped in a case of gold.

Shells hold an abundance of meaning across many cultures. Deeply grooved in a golden fan, the scallop shell represents pilgrimage and arrival to the divine while the smooth, rounded cowrie shell forebodes wealth and fertility. 

Crafted with a rough, imperfect exterior, oysters hold a different sort of magic—alchemy that allows them to transform sand into pearls in secret. It is no wonder that legend would have us believe Venus emerged from their shells. Symbolic of peace, duality, balance, and the inner self, the oyster is an omen of quiet reflection, and radical internal change. 

It is an old belief in the houses of Italy that the beautiful thickets of red coral decorating their grottos first formed when the blood of the sea god’s lover struck the ocean upon her death. Soldiers fashion it into their helmets, sailors tie pieces to the boughs of their ships, and mothers hang coral over their babies’ cribs—all to ward off evil eyes and earthly wounds alike.

Our hand-crafted resin piece takes inspiration from this lore, promising prosperity, joy, creativity, and of course, protection.

About Fallen Aristocrat

Fallen Aristocrat is a jewelry line inspired by travel, history, and imperfect things that tell a story. Handmade in the United States, the jewelry is cast in brass and luxuriously plated in antiqued gold for a storied look of time.

Designer Paula Danyluk, owner of the renowned Paris Market in Savannah, Georgia, has long been drawn to things with a past. Musing on her own personal collection of vintage charms and French coins, she set out to create a new generation of heirloom jewelry by creating pieces that feel at once extravagant and everyday, modern with a vintage appeal.

Our debut collection of Fallen Aristocrat is named the First Empire and features four series: Bonaparte, Romonov, Museum, and Lover’s Eye—but we've added on others since. Explore them in our collections at the top of the site!

Fine Art Photography set in France is by Jamie Beck, featuring model Louise Pascal wearing our Aristocrate line in the opening and closing images, as well as the Carnelian piece at center. 

Modern Photography set in NYC is by Kyla Rys, featuring our Lady with Doves pieces, as well as the new Portrait Pearl Earrings.