Our Story
The Story Behind Tess & Mae
Some things are meant to be passed down.
Two sisters. One jewelry box. A lifetime of little stories.
Sunday afternoons with Grandma Rose.
We grew up in Park Slope, Brooklyn, in one of those long, narrow apartments where two sisters learn to share just about everything. A bedroom. A closet. And, more often than either of us would admit, the same favorite earrings.
Two floors below us lived our grandmother Rose. On rainy Sunday afternoons, she'd bring out her old wooden jewelry box and place it right in the middle of the kitchen table.
Inside were little treasures collected over a lifetime. Delicate gold bands, pearl earrings from her wedding day, and an oversized cocktail ring that never quite fit our tiny fingers. She'd let us try on every single piece.
Looking back, it was never about what any of it was worth. Most of those pieces weren't particularly expensive. What mattered was the way she wore them. To the grocery store. On neighborhood walks. Even while making Sunday breakfast.
To Grandma Rose, jewelry was never something you saved for the right moment. It was part of the moment itself.
"Jewelry wasn't for special occasions. Jewelry made the occasion."
A little wisdom from Grandma RoseA little vintage. A little everyday.
As we got older, our love for jewelry took two slightly different directions.
Tess could spend an entire Saturday wandering through vintage shops and flea markets, searching for pieces with character. Something beautifully imperfect. Something that looked as though it already had a story to tell.
Mae was always the practical one. With a love for fashion and styling, she cared about how jewelry actually lived in a wardrobe. Could you wear it with a white T-shirt? Would it look just as good on a Tuesday morning as it would at dinner on Friday?
Our conversations became a familiar routine. Tess would send a photo of a ring she loved. Mae would reply, "Okay, but what would you wear it with?"
Somewhere between those two perspectives, we realized we were looking for the same thing: jewelry that felt special without needing a special occasion.
Back to the kitchen table.
In 2019, we found ourselves sitting around the very same kitchen table where so many of our favorite childhood memories began. Grandma Rose's jewelry box was right there between us.
We talked about creating a place for the kind of jewelry we'd always loved: thoughtful designs, beautiful details, and pieces that felt personal without carrying an intimidating price tag.
We didn't want another jewelry store filled with things you'd wear once and forget. We wanted pieces you'd reach for again and again. The ones that quietly become part of who you are.
And just like that, Tess & Mae began. Not with a grand business plan or a fancy studio. Just two sisters, a shared point of view, and a jewelry box full of memories.
Chosen with intention. Worn your way.
We're not goldsmiths, and we've never pretended to be. What we are is thoughtful curators with a shared love for beautiful jewelry.
Tess looks closely at the design, proportions, and finish of every piece. Mae thinks about how it feels, how it layers, and how naturally it works with an everyday wardrobe.
We believe great style doesn't need to be complicated or out of reach. Sometimes, the smallest detail makes the biggest difference.
Beautiful jewelry. No big fuss.
We want shopping with us to feel just as easy as wearing the pieces you find here.
That's why we keep things simple: clear U.S. sizing, straightforward product details, and jewelry that brings a little something extra to your everyday wardrobe.
Standard shipping is just $5 anywhere we ship within the United States, and it's on us when your order reaches $50.
And if a piece isn't quite right, eligible items can be returned within 30 days of delivery, in accordance with our return policy.
Because finding something you love should feel exciting, not complicated.