A ski pendant changed the course of my life.
When I was 16, my dad surprised me with a chunky white gold ski pendant. It wasn't just a piece of jewellery. It became a reminder of everything I loved about the mountains, and I could carry that feeling with me wherever I went.
Hi, I'm Elle, the human behind Pretty Steep Jewellery.
I grew up in the UK, but as I got older I lived for escapes to the mountains. Being surrounded by them made everything else feel smaller and put life into perspective. Eventually, I left my career in London and came to Canada for what was supposed to be one ski season... and I never left (sorry Mum and Dad!).
I started making mountain-inspired jewellery for fun and gifting pieces to friends. One friend moved away and told me she wore her rings all the time because they reminded her of home. That really stuck with me. People didn't just love how the jewellery looked, they loved what it reminded them of. Favourite mountains. Ski trips. Home. Adventures. People they loved.
That's when I realised it wasn't really about the jewellery. It was about how it made people feel.
I think jewellery should feel personal. It should connect you to a memory, a place or a feeling. That's why I design every piece around the things I love most about my life in the mountains... the landscapes, wildflowers, textures and, yes, dogs (if you've seen my socials, you've probably already met my four-legged love, Fia!).
Meaning has become such a big part of what I create that I started offering custom jewellery too. My hope is to capture your adventures, memories and stories in a piece that can be treasured for generations, and eventually passed down along with the stories behind it.
I care just as much about how a piece is made as what it represents. I use nothing but solid precious metals designed to last a lifetime. I love pushing my designs and obsessing over the tiny details, always looking for ways to create jewellery that's a little more meaningful, a little more interesting.
Thanks for following along. I hope you enjoy the ride!
See you in the mountains,
Elle
What I'm loving right now
Reflecting back on Winter, my fav collection is the "Black Diamonds are Forever" Ski & Snowboard necklaces.
The ski slopes captured my heart back when I was a kid and occasionally visited the Alps. The goggle tans (let's be real, it was sunglasses in the 90s), the cute little chalet-style restaurants, and those incredible views. My Dad made me a keepsake on my 16th birthday to remind me of those times - a ski-shaped pendant.
I wanted to create a replica for Pretty Steep, so you too can keep your winter mountain memories with you, always!