Sea Treasures :: Petite La Mer

Sea Urchins are members of the phylum Echinodermata that also includes starfish and sea cucumbers. They have fivefold symmetry, which is called pentamerism and is easily seen in the dried shell of the urchin. They move by means of hundreds of tiny, transparent, adhesive "tube" feet and sometimes the most visible sign of life is the spines. The spines serve to protect the urchin from predators. Sea urchin "roe" is traditionally considered an aphrodisiac and is consumed either raw or briefly cooked. In Japanese sushi cuisine it is called "uni" and while particularly popular there, it is also widely consumed in Chile, Greece, Spain, Korea and other parts of the world.

Our Sea Urchin line is finished in gold over silver with peridot, appetite, amethyst and pink tourmaline.

Fan Coral

Gorgonia Ventalina

These large coral colonies are easy to recognize because of their fan shape.  A flexible, horny substance forms this coral's central skeleton with living tissue forming a layer over the entire surface.  Fan Coral typically grow across the current so that their polyps can spread out their tentacles to form a net for catching plankton.  Fan corals appear in shades of red, yellow or orange.  They can grow up to 6 feet high and 5 feet wide and are found in all oceans but are particularly abundant in the Atlantic Ocean.

24 kt gold over silver, cast in bronze with multi colored Swarovski crystals.

Handmade in the U.S.A.

Beach Shells

Sea shells belong to the kingdom Mollusca.  Most Mollusca are soft fleshy creatures that have a hard external skeleton type structure to help protect them.  Mollusca can be found in both salt and fresh water, as well as on land.  In the oceans, this structure is known as a seashell.  They have a crusty outer layer called conchiolin, an intermediate layer of calcite and a smooth inner layer composed maily of calcium carbonate.  Found in verying shapes, sizes and colors, their beauty enhances any beach walk.

Available in Bronze with 24kt gold over silver plate.  Some styles with freshwater pearls.

Handmade in the USA

Antigua

Antigua and Barbuda is an island nation located in the easter Caribbean Sea, on the sea's boundary with the Atlantic Ocean.  These two major islands are close neighbors within the middle of the Leeward Islands.  On the beaches of these islands is a plethora of weathered shells with each one displaying specifice shape, pattern, ornamentation and color and yet all individual onto themselves.

Bronze in gold tones of 24kt. gold over silver with faceted onyx beads.

Handmade in the USA

Itty Biitty Shells

This collection of small shells and colored beads was designed to remind you of warm summer days and strolls along the beach.  Think of sea glass twinkling in the sun and catching your eye, the tide coming in and covering your feet as your toes dig in the sand.  Close your eyes and you're there!

Available in 24kt gold over silver cast in bronze with faceted synthetic chalcedony, blue onyx,  amazonite beads and freshwater pearl.

Handmade in the USA

Petite Starfish

Particularly among the young, Starfish are the most popular  creatures when you go tide pooling!  They may well be the most unusual well-known creatures.  They have no front or back and can move in any direction without turning.  Rather than using muscles to move their hundreds of tiny legs, starfish use a complex hydraulic system to move around or cling to rocks.  They can move quite gracefully across a surface.

Hand patinaed bronze with gold tones of gold over silver and sea foam freshwater pearls.

Handmade in the USA

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 Cascading Shells

Available in gold tones of 24kt gold over silver cast in bronze with pink freshwater pearls and blue chalcedony.

Handmade in the USA.