Pearls without rules.

Everyday pearls, in sterling silver. Made to be lived in.

For women who have nothing to prove.

Freshwater Pearls. Sterling Silver. Genuine Gemstones.

A Little About Me

Jewelry that lives with you

I’m Nancy, and I make jewelry you reach for without thinking. Pieces you put on in the morning and forget about, until someone asks about them. Hand-knotted pearls and sterling silver, made to be worn often, stacked freely, and lived in.

I’ve worked in fine jewelry for over 30 years. I learned by watching, listening, and doing, the old way. Over time, I became the person people trusted with their heirloom pearls, restringing pieces passed down through generations. I stepped away for a while to explore other paths, but I always found my way back to the bench.

And back to pearls.

Pearls have always meant something to me. They are my birthstone and my first love, but it goes deeper than that. They begin as a tiny irritant, and over time become something beautiful. I love the way they feel against my skin, their soft glow, their imperfect shapes. No two are ever the same, and that is exactly the point.

Each piece is made by hand in my home studio in Ontario’s wine country, atop the Niagara Escarpment, using 925 silver from Italy and materials from Canadian suppliers I trust. Nothing mass produced. Nothing overdone. Just honest materials and thoughtful work.

I make stackable pearl, gemstone, and silver bead bracelets and hand-stamped charms called Love Drops. Pieces that hold initials, names, dates, and small moments you want to keep close.

Jewelry that becomes part of your everyday, and over time, part of your story.

Made to be worn, loved, and one day passed on.

 




You can reach me at  – hello@thepearlbench.com

Jewellery Care

Take care of your jewellery and it will last a lifetime!

Each piece of The Pearl Bench jewellery is handcrafted using genuine gemstone beads and either sterling silver or 14k yellow gold filled. With proper care, your jewellery will retain its beauty for many years to come.


Metals will tarnish, especially when exposed to humidity. However, jewellery that is worn regularly needs less care, so The Pearl Bench strongly encourages you to wear your jewellery every day.


Body sprays, perfumes, hairsprays, etc will dull your jewellery.  Do not wear your jewellery in water, showering, swimming, in the sauna or hot tub, or while exercising.  Jewellery should be the last thing you put on in the morning when dressing, after that spritz of perfume and hairspray, and the first thing you remove while preparing for your night.  It is not advisable to wear your jewellery to bed.  Some medications and people with highly acidic systems will tarnish the metal.


The Pearl Bench strongly recommends you do not clean your jewellery with baking soda or toothpaste as this will cause scratching.


Gemstone and pearls strands that have been hand knotted should be gently cleaned with a soft cloth.  Knotted strands should never be subjected to moisture as this will stretch the silk.


Be especially careful with aragonite, pearls, moonstones, opals, and turquoise as these are soft stones that can be damaged easily. If a particular gemstone needs special care, it will be noted in the listing description.


The Pearl Bench recommends periodically buffing your jewellery with a soft flannel cloth. It is best when not wearing your jewellery to store it in the pouch is was shipped in.

Jewellery Terms & Meanings

14 KARAT GOLD FILLED: gold filled is a thick layer of gold bonded on both sides of a brass core.  Gold filled jewellery is legally required to be 5% or 1/20 gold by weight.  Gold filled can be considered a long-term metal. Due to its cost and durability, Gold filled is the next best option to solid gold.

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STERLING SILVER: is Silver which is 92.5% purity. The remaining 7.5% can be any one of several other metals or a combination of metals. It's most often copper, but the composition can vary. Sterling silver can also be known as 925 Silver.
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GEMSTONE BEADS: all gemstone beads used are purchased through reputable gem dealers in Canada and India.  All are graded AA or AAA. Variation in colour, size and natural inclusions are to be expected and are part of the beauty of natural stones.
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HAND STAMPING:  the process of hitting a metal letter/design stamp with a hammer so that it leaves an impression of the design or letter on the sterling silver or gold filled. We create our jewellery by hand, no stamping or engraving machine is involved, so there will always be variation in alignment and spacing.   The beauty of this process is that each piece of Gracie Jewellery is as unique as its wearer.
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BAROQUE PEARLS: are an irregular, non-spherical shape. Shapes can range from minor to distinctly ovoid, curved, pinched and lumpy shapes.
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KESHI PEARLS: are often referred to as "happy accidents" in the pearl world. They are formed as a byproduct of the pearl cultivation process when the oyster rejects and spits out the implanted nucleus intended to form a cultured pearl. Despite the lack of a nucleus, the oyster continues to deposit nacre, resulting in a keshi pearl. Unlike most cultured pearls, which have a bead nucleus, keshi pearls are composed entirely of nacre. This gives them an exceptional lustre and a unique, radiant glow that many pearl enthusiasts adore. Keshi pearls are known for their distinctive and irregular shapes. No two keshi pearls are exactly alike, making each piece of keshi pearl jewellery truly one-of-a-kind. These pearls can be found in a variety of colours, including white, cream, grey, and even more exotic hues like blue, green, and gold. Their colours can be incredibly vibrant due to their all-nacre composition. Since keshi pearls are not nucleated, they are considered more natural compared to other cultured pearls. This makes them particularly valued by those who appreciate natural gemstones. Due to their lack of a heavy nucleus, keshi pearls are typically lighter than other types of pearls, making them comfortable to wear as earrings or in other types of jewelry.

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RONDELLE: refers to the shape of the bead. A rondelle bead is disc or doughnut shaped and wider than the height of the bead.
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CHATOYANCE: is an optical phenomenon in which a band of reflected light, known as a 'cat's-eye,' moves just beneath the surface.

LABRADORESCENCE: the iridescent property of labradorite results from light diffracting off closely spaced layers of calcium- and sodium-rich feldspar. As the stone is turned, flashes of blue, green, yellow, and red are visible across properly oriented surfaces.

Return Policy

REPAIRS

At some point, your elastic bracelets will need to be restrung. We repair only bracelets purchased from us.  We will supply the high quality elastic and the labour free of charge. You are responsible for the shipping both ways and the replacement of any missing parts.

Please contact us at: hello@thepearlbench.com for further instructions.

RETURNS AND EXCHANGES

We are sure that you will fall in love with your new jewellery, but if for some reason you feel like it is not the right fit for you, we are happy to issue an exchange or store credit. Please email us at hello@thepearlbench.com within 7 days of receiving your order to initiate the exchange. We ask that you send the jewelry back with all the original packaging. Exchanges or store credit will not be issued for damaged, altered or worn items. We do not cover the cost of return shipping from you or to you.

Hand stamped items are non-returnable. 

Due to Health Canada regulations, all earrings are non-returnable.

DAMAGED/ INCORRECT ITEM/ SPELLING

If your product is damaged on arrival to you, or wasn’t as you ordered, please contact us immediately (and include a photo) at hello@thepearlbench.com and we will happily arrange a replacement or repair.

We do not offer refunds for faulty, damaged or incorrect items, we repair or replace the item.  This is our company policy which complies with Consumer Affairs Canada.

CANCELLING/CHANGING ORDERS

We begin working on your piece straight away so please check all details of your order – spelling, length, colour of metal. If you wish to change your order please contact us immediately at hello@thepearlbench.com and we will check what stage of production your order is in. If your piece has already been started it may not be possible to change it.  However if you still want to go ahead and make changes, you may be to subject to a re-work fee. Cancelled orders are subject to a service charge if your order has been started. Amount will be determined by how far along your order is and if material can be reused.

DISCOUNTS

The Pearl Bench never runs a sale. We believe our product is fairly priced everyday. From time to time, we offer an extra special gift with purchase. These free gift specials are only offered to our Friends who have signed up to receive our newsletters.  We would love to have you join us, you can sign up on our Friends page 

PRODUCT SAFETY WARNING

The Pearl Bench does not recommend necklaces or bracelets for children as they contain small parts that may come loose and cause a choking hazard. If you choose to purchase for your child please ensure they wear their necklace or bracelet only under supervision.

By purchasing from our store you accept our store policies.

Shipping Policy

The Pearl Bench is excited for you to get your package and we do our absolute best to ensure orders arrive as quickly as possible!

It is very important that you supply your correct address and postal/zip code. The Pearl Bench will not be held responsible for lost items due to incorrect/incomplete delivery addresses being supplied. Please check your order confirmation email us at  hello@thepearlbench.com  immediately if you notice any errors or missing information. Once the item is dispatched we cannot make any changes.

A signature may be required at delivery.

Due to the value of the jewellery, The Pearl Bench cannot ship to P.O. boxes. 

Shipping throughout Canada:

Flat rate shipping $10.00 on orders under $99.00  Free complimentary shipping within Canada on orders $99.00 and over 

Packages shipped within Canada are shipped expedited mail with tracking number. Your tracking number will activate within 48-72 hours of the mailing label being printed.  In order to provide you with the fastest delivery possible, orders are couriered to Toronto where they are put into the Canadian Postal Service mail stream and can take upwards of 10-15 business days to arrive, depending on your location. 

Shipping to the United States:

Flat Rate:  $27.00 

U.S. orders have the tariff & duty charges included.  No surprises at your door.    Expect some delays as U.S. customs works the kinks out. 

Packages shipped to the United States are shipped first class with a tracking number. Your tracking number will activate within 48-72 hours of the mailing label being printed.  In order to provide you with the fastest delivery possible, orders are couriered to Toronto where our broker delivers directly to US Customs. Once the package has cleared customs, our broker delivers your package directly to the USPS Office located in Rochester, New York. 

The Pearl Bench is not responsible for lost or stolen packages with a confirmed delivery. 

Delivery times appearing on the site are estimates and are to be used as a guide only and commence from the date of dispatch from our Broker.  The Pearl Bench is not responsible for any delays caused by the delivering Postal System or destination customs clearance processes. 
The Pearl Bench has absolutely no influence over the postal system or customs and cannot speed up delivery of your package while it is in transit.

The Pearl Bench does not falsify customs documents. 

You must comply with all applicable laws and regulations of the International Delivery Destination. The Pearl Bench will not be liable if you breach any such law.

Thank you for choosing The Pearl Bench. We are so happy you are here.Â