What we're made of

Jewelry made from the mess surfboards leave behind

Every time a surfboard gets glassed, extra resin drips onto the shop floor and hardens, layer by layer, into colorful slabs we call Surf Rock. It usually gets thrown away. Since 2020, we've been turning it into jewelry by hand on California's Central Coast.

How it's made

  1. 1

    Collect

    Leftover resin from local surfboard builders.

  2. 2

    Cut

    Sliced by hand, chosen for color and pattern.

  3. 3

    Sand & drill

    Shaped smooth and drilled one by one.

  4. 4

    Polish

    Our machine, the GemBot, makes the colors shine.

  5. 5

    Assemble

    GemMama sets every gem by hand.

Made in small batches, so no two pairs are exactly alike.

Abby and her mom Jennifer in the Surf Gems workshop

Hi, I'm Abby

I learned to surf on the Central Coast, where the water is cold and the lineup is mostly guys, and I wanted to bring a little color out there with me. In 2020, after being laid off from my job as a chef, I started turning surfboard scraps into earrings. Now my mom and I run it together with a small team, and it's a dream 10-year-old me would be so excited about.

I'm the first to say we're not saving the planet. We do keep hundreds of pounds of resin out of the landfill, and I hope every pair starts a conversation.

With love to you + the ocean,
Abby

The people behind every pair

  • Abby

    Abby

    aka Gemporor

    Founder & CEO

    Runs the business, designs every collection and still crafts up gems in the studio.

  • Jennifer

    Jennifer

    aka GemMama

    General Manager

    Started by shipping a 10-inch box of earrings. Now she's the beating heart of the studio.

  • Sophie

    Sophie

    aka GemSunshine

    Market Lead

    Ever positive, super creative, and the best at styling you at our markets.

  • Nathan

    Nathan

    aka GemNation

    Production

    Cuts, sands and drills Surf Rock into gems, with a sharp eye for the best color in every slab.

  • Liz

    Liz

    aka GemStar

    Brand Strategy

    One of Abby's besties and housemates at the ranch. She makes sure Surf Gems always feels like Surf Gems.

  • Kristen

    Kristen

    aka GemSmith

    Silversmith

    Turned our long-held dream of Surf Gems rings into reality.

  • Nico

    Nico

    aka GemTechNico

    Systems & Process

    Abby's husband, engineer and fixer of broken things. Clutch in an experimental studio.

  • Steve

    Steve

    aka GemPapa

    Workshop Support

    Retired engineer whose old darkroom became our studio. Maker of legendary staff lunches.

Handmade in small batches  ·  Woman-led and family-run  ·  In 65+ shops across 11 states

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