Meet Rose

Every piece of Maristella jewelry begins with one person, one pair of hands, and a story that started by the sea.

It started with a barber's cut. Rose's father, whom she loved dearly, would give her short hair as a little girl — and so she began wearing jewelry, quietly and creatively, to feel more like herself. What began as a simple act of self-expression grew into something she would carry for the rest of her life.

Rose grew up in General Santos City, a coastal city on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines, where the ocean wasn't just a backdrop — it was a way of life. The natural shapes of the sea, the way stone and shell and pearl are formed over time without any human hand forcing them into perfection, became the foundation of her design philosophy. Her pieces don't try to be perfect. They embrace what nature already is.

“You need to try hard — or you'll become a Katulong.”

— Rose's mother

Her mother's words were blunt, but they came from a place of fierce love. Rose lost her father to cancer when she was still young. Life wasn't easy. Her mother raised her to be resilient, resourceful, and relentlessly hardworking. That work ethic is in every piece Rose makes today — every wire wrapped, every pearl chosen, every clasp closed by hand.

Rose moved to the United States and found her way to California, where the coastline reminded her of home. She began making jewelry again — not as a hobby, but as something real. The pieces she creates are directly inspired by the ocean: freshwater pearls, baroque shapes, natural stones, and organic textures that feel like they belong on a shoreline.

The name Maristella comes from the Latin “Star of the Sea” — a tribute to Rose's connection to the ocean and the light that guides her craft. Every piece carries that spirit: natural, meaningful, and made with love.

Today, Rose handcrafts every piece of Maristella jewelry from her workshop in California. She sources her pearls and gemstones carefully, works with sterling silver and gold-filled metals, and puts her hands on every single item that ships. There is no factory. There is no assembly line. Just Rose, her tools, and the music she plays while she works.