A punk staple goes chic

O pals on the helix, diamonds on a crest clicker — it’s unexpected, it’s rebellious… and elegant?

“We wanted to change people’s perception that multiple piercings can look classy and stylish —something that you can wear to even formal occasions and not look too punk rock,” best friends Natasha Rodriguez and Maxine Co tell YStyle.

When they started fine jewelry brand Auric & Ice during the post-lockdown days of 2021, with the fresh air they sure delivered, creating something they wish existed in the local market: statement pieces that are investment pieces at the same time, set with natural diamonds, natural gemstones and solid gold. They note: “Both of us actually have sensitive ears so we wanted to make sure that our products are nickel-free and allergy-free.”

Appointments for first-time third piercings are growing. Feelings of freedom and independence in a post-lockdown world as well as shifting workplace conventions contribute to it as individuals feel liberated to explore more daring styles and showcase their personalities.

But where do first-timers begin? “Essential earrings actually depend from person to person depending on their vibe and style,” they say.

“Personally, we recommend classic-shape single-stone pieces as essentials for daily wear. Round brilliants, marquise, pear, trillion, baguette, asscher and emeralds are a good place to start when curating your collection for the very first time. It’s classic and can go with literally everything in your ear stack.”

They don’t believe in rules — and they made their pieces to accommodate every kind of experimentation. Their selection carries natural diamonds, precious and semi-precious gemstones and pearls.

“One thing about our pieces, most of our items come in a white top setting, which means that the prongs are in white gold regardless of the gold color you choose,” they explain. “We made it this way because it helps our F-G natural diamonds shine brighter and the overall look seamless regardless of the gold color you choose. It would be easier to mix and match metals this way.”

They add: “For the size and style, it all depends on the shape of one’s ear. You’d actually be surprised how many ear shapes there are! For ear-styling services, we actually provide this for free to all our clients needing help; we know that it’s really a challenge to curate one’s ears.”

They collaborate with certified piercing studios for popups. Can’t pick a style just yet? They anticipated that, too. “Since most piercings take time to heal, we offer different post lengths which they can use as initial earrings instead of the standard titanium ones offered by most local piercers. This ensures that our clientele looks cute from day one without sacrificing their comfort, style, safety, and their overall look.” Now that’s cool!

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Auric & Ice is having a pop-up today at Ayumi Rockwell. Follow @auricandice on Instagram to shop or stay updated.