What started as a passion for surfing and sustainability turned into a full-fledged obsession with shaping discarded surfboard resin into wearable art. Abby wears many hats—designer, maker, storyteller, and the driving force behind Surf Gems. She spends her days chiseling, grinding, and refining each gem by hand, all while dreaming up the next evolution of the brand.

When Abby first launched Surf Gems, the entire online inventory fit inside a 10-inch box. Not long after, she left for a surf trip and asked her mom, Jennifer, to help with shipping. That tiny operation has since grown, and Jennifer now runs the one-woman fulfillment powerhouse—packing, shipping, and keeping everything running smoothly. She also oversees production, managing the "Gemseembly" process and our in-person market program. If Surf Gems has a beating heart, Jennifer keeps it pumping.

A creative powerhouse and skilled craftsperson, Sam is hands-on in the workshop alongside Abby. The two spend hours in (very heavy!) full-face respirators, cutting, sanding, and grinding down slabs of Surf Rock to shape every individual piece. With machines roaring, they communicate through exaggerated miming and messages scribbled in dust on the walls. Beyond production, Sam helps dream up future collections and fine-tune shop efficiency. She’s a Surf Gems superstar—nearly every pair of earrings has passed through her hands.

Rocky brings adventure, energy, and a big smile wherever she goes. She has effortlessly slipped into the Surf Gems family—like we’ve known her forever. Whether helping customers find the perfect pair or keeping the stoke high at markets, she’s a natural at creating connections. You’ll most likely find her at a summer event, ready to help you pick the right Gems.

The Surf Gems studio lives inside an old converted darkroom at the back of Steve’s house. As a retired engineer himself, Steve lends his skills to workshop improvements, efficiency hacks, and big brainstorming sessions. He’s also known for whipping up amazing staff lunches—a crucial perk in our hands-on, high-energy studio.

Nico isn’t just Abby’s fiancé—he’s also an engineer, problem solver, and all-around fixer of broken things (which is clutch when you’re running an experimental jewelry studio). With a background in Manufacturing Engineering, he’s the mastermind behind improving production processes, creating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and keeping our machines running. Surf Gems is constantly evolving, and Nico ensures the systems evolve with it.