Two years ago, neither of us imagined we'd be writing this. Zee spent his days in finance. Carla was building a career in cosmetics. We met at a tech company in 2021 — she was my assistant, and somehow that turned into the easiest, truest kind of love. What we didn't expect was that her lifelong fascination with crystals would eventually become the thing that reshaped both our futures.
By the end of 2025, we'd made our decision: leave the careers we'd built, and devote ourselves to something we actually believed in. That's how Art Deco Crystals was born — first as an online shop, then, with the generous partnership of our friend Anlinta Yu, as a small physical space in Nanjing.
What makes our crystals different
We don't buy from catalogs. Every month, we travel to Donghai, China — one of the world's true centers for natural stone — and select each piece by hand. If it doesn't feel right to us, it doesn't make it into the shop. That's not a tagline; it's just how we've chosen to run this.
Right now, that means two kinds of treasures:
- Hand-carved picture jasper figurines — koalas, dragons, ravens, gargoyles, and more, each one carrying the natural banding and color of the stone itself, so no two are quite alike
- Natural stone bracelets — black obsidian, rose quartz, amethyst, and other stones sourced and strung by hand
Whether you're just starting a collection or you've been drawn to crystals for years, we've priced things so there's an easy way in — pieces under $10, favorites under $30, and statement stones above $100 for when you're ready to go further.
Why we do this
We don't think of crystals as just objects. We think of them as companions — things that can steady you on a hard day, or just quietly make a room feel more like you. That belief is the whole reason we're here.
Say hello
This blog is where we'll be sharing what we learn on our sourcing trips, the stories behind specific stones and carvings, and a few tips for anyone new to crystals. We're glad you're here for the start of it.
Welcome to Art Deco Crystals. We hope what you find here feels like an old friend.
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