About Us
Hi, I’m Julie Nicholas and I’ve been designing bespoke pearl jewellery and showcasing my collection in Broome since 2007.
My designs are inspired by my love of the ocean, the beautiful Broome beaches and the natural beauty of pearls.
Every pearl and piece of jewellery is individual, and I have so much fun designing these. I only use the finest quality pearls and materials to ensure that every piece is of the highest quality and will last you a lifetime given love.
If you’re ever visiting Broome, call in and say hi. You can find us in Shop 2, 10 Carnarvon Street, inbetween Sun Pictures & Green Mango Cafe Chinatown, or at the Famous Broome Markets
Broome Courthouse Markets: Cnr of Frederick & Hamersley St, Broome. Saturday 8-1pm all year round & Sundays April to October.
THE STORY OF PEARLS
Pearls represent purity and modesty and symbolise lasting love and happiness.
Pearls develop when an irritant resides in the mollusc within the shell, and then nacre is deposited around this irritant to protect the mollusc. The nacre is what gives pearls that lustrous beauty that radiates from them. They truly are one of nature’s amazing miracles. As Pearls are a natural organic substance they do differ in size, shape & lustre making each pearl as individual as you are.
Freshwater Pearls
As their name implies, they are formed in freshwater mussels: Hyriopsis. They are generally composed of mantle tissue which has been nucleated, and then a thick deposit of nacre. Up to 50 pearls can be produced within each mussel shell, which can take up to 6 years to produce. The quality of freshwater pearls has improved dramatically in recent years and they are now comparable to their saltwater relative. As you can see they come in all sort of shapes & sizes.
South Sea Pearls
These pearls are produced within the Pinctada Maxima shell which grows in the warm oceans extending from Southeast Asia to Northern Australia. It is one of the largest oyster shells, and produces the most sought-after pearls in the world. The pearls range in size, shape & lustre. The Pinctada Maxima shell deposits a very thick nacre which shines radiant colours ranging from white, cream, gold or silver with hues of pink, blue and green.
Mabe Pearls
Pronounced Mah-bay (also known as blister or half pearls) are formed on the inside of the pearl shell itself. They are a hemispherical shape. Once formed they are cut out of the shell with a drill. They usually have only a thin layer of nacre deposited on them so need to be handled with a bit more care.
ORDERING THROUGH OUR WEBSITE
I am thrilled that people from all over the world also love pearls as much as I do, and buy my designs for themselves and as gifts. Here’s a few details on how it all works.
Shipping
For online orders, we usually ship within 2-3 working days if we have your item in stock. We carefully pack your order to minimise any chance of damage, and use Express Post boxes so your pieces are with you quickly.
Australia wide postage is now FREE over $100. International postage is $30 to all destinations.
Once orders are packaged you will be emailed a tracking number which you can trace through Australia post.
We claim no responsibility for lost or damaged items. Any missing/lost items will need to be to lodged with Australia Post.
Payment
Secure online payment can be made here through Paypal. If you wish to arrange bank deposit or credit card please contact us directly via phone or email.
Out of Stock Items
We’ll let you know immediately if an item is out of stock, and give you an estimate of when we will have new stock. If you’d rather not wait, then we invite you to choose an alternative piece, or we will refund you.
Customer Care
We are happy to provide exchanges or in-store credit on any items returned within 7 days of delivery if unworn and in original condition & packaging. Returns or exchanges need to be pre-approved via email and are at the discretion of Lush Designs. All postage costs will need to be incurred by the purchaser.
We offer a 6 -month warranty on all items but please keep in mind jewellery needs to be treated with love, and some delicate pieces do require extra care. This warranty covers manufacturing defects but does not cover wear & tear. It will be up to our discretion to decide if to repair or replace the said item.
We do offer repairs outside this period but costs will need to be covered by the purchaser. Please email us photos & we can make arrangements from there.
Jewellery Care
Our jewellery is made to withstand every day wear but keep in mind some extra care will keep them looking amazing for years to come.
Whilst our jewellery can be worn in water we recommend not to, to lengthen the life of your pieces. Same as when exercising, swimming in pools, cleaning the house (yuk!) it is best to take it off.
Pearls should be gently cleaned with a soft damp cloth after wearing, and the silver or gold cleaned with a silver polishing cloth. If not being worn for a period of time, clean your jewellery thoroughly then store in an airtight bag.