We’ve always loved jewellery!
We’ve worn it, lived with it, and understood it as something more than an accessory. In Sri Lanka, jewellery carries history; not only in how it looks, but in how it’s made. Sri Lanka is known worldwide for its craftsmanship, tradition, and rare resources, and that legacy is something we grew up around and learned to respect deeply.
Coming from a second-generation jewellery background meant being surrounded by process from an early age. Watching how jewellery is designed and finished by hand builds an appreciation for patience and care. It also invites curiosity.
Loving something doesn’t mean leaving it untouched, sometimes it means asking how it can evolve while staying true to what matters. The goal was never to move away from tradition, but to translate it: to take the discipline, skill, and handwork we admired and reinterpret it through a modern lens that feels expressive, relevant, and personal.
Where it started
When we started 25UPONFIVE in 2023, the intention wasn’t to reject what we had learned. It was to explore how that knowledge could exist in a different form. We’ve always believed jewellery could be a tool for creativity and self-expression, not something limited to formality.
At the same time, we were seeing more jewellery become fast, factory-led, and disposable; pieces designed to exist briefly, without much thought for longevity or meaning. That contrast shaped our direction and clarified what we wanted to build.
So we kept the foundation and allowed ourselves to explore new forms, proportions, and attitudes. Jewellery designed for everyday wear; expressive but grounded, genderless, versatile, and personal. Working with 925 Sterling Silver felt important to us, not as a statement, but as a commitment to making pieces that can be worn over time, not disposed of. It felt unfamiliar at times, and it felt like a risk, but it also felt honest.
Doing it small, on purpose
Our first step came with THE NEXTWAVE Collection in 2024. It was intentionally modest; three pieces and a few chain designs, created while we were still learning what it meant to build a brand from the ground up.
The ZEROTOHERO pendant, the ONEPEACE pendant, and the SHIMMERS hoops were developed without pressure to scale or impress. We handled the visuals ourselves, friends helped with shoots, and many early ideas were shaped over long coffee conversations. Along the way, we learned quickly that building something meaningful takes time.
There were mistakes, adjustments, and constant learning; not just about design, but about running a business. That collection wasn’t about making noise; it was about starting honestly and understanding our own pace.
Learning to trust the process
That first experience gave us clarity and confidence. With THE STARBOUND COLLECTION, we allowed ourselves more time to think, revise, and refine, trusting the direction we were slowly defining.
Designs were drawn and redrawn. Some ideas moved forward, others didn’t. Conversations with our craftsmen became more collaborative, allowing the process to guide decisions rather than forcing outcomes. This collection wasn’t shaped by trends or symbols meant to sell an idea; it was built piece by piece, with longevity in mind.
The NOVA STAR and STARGIRL became the core, but the collection expanded naturally into new chain styles, heavier bracelets, and for the first time; “rings”. Each piece felt like a continuation of an ongoing conversation. The response mattered, not because of numbers, but because it showed us there was space to be more experimental while staying grounded.
Tradition, carried forward
Handcrafted Silver jewellery has always been about patience, and about understanding when enough is enough. That principle hasn’t changed for us. What has changed is how we choose to interpret it.
We work in small batches and make pieces to order when possible, allowing for subtle variation because no two hands ever work the same way. We design jewellery meant to be worn daily, styled freely, and lived with over time. To us, modern jewellery should feel expressive without being disposable, and personal without being temporary.
Where we’re heading
Every collection has helped shape the next, offering clarity rather than urgency. We’re continuing to experiment thoughtfully, to design with intention, and to work closely with the artisans who bring each piece to life.
We’re still learning, still refining, and still deeply respectful of the craft that inspired us in the first place. Building slowly, with care, feels like the right way forward, and the right way to create jewellery that lasts.