N.4 | IN CONVERSATION: On your questions, my process, and what’s taking shape in the studio

I’m late sending out this month’s newsletter, but only because I’ve been completely immersed in creating and exploring new work. It’s been seven months since I last designed something new, and I needed to give this moment my full attention. Somewhere in that creative focus, the newsletter slipped through my fingers.

This month, I decided to do something different. I’ve put together a Q&A, inspired by one I shared on Instagram a few months ago. I wanted to take the time to go deeper into some of those questions and share the curiosities many of you have about me and my process. I’ll also be sharing some of the inspiration behind the new pieces I’m currently working on.

I hope you enjoy getting to know a bit more about me and the world behind the work.

Q:When did you start making jewelry?I began making jewelry in 2009, starting with beaded pieces, then slowly transitioning into gold-plated metals and semi-precious stones. In 2011, while living in New York, I took my first metalsmith class. But it wasn’t until 2017, after moving to Los Angeles, that I began working with precious metals. As I grew into my personal style, I felt drawn to creating pieces that were lasting jewelry not defined by seasons or trends, but by timelessness. I wanted to make objects that become part of you and your life.

Why exclusively 18k gold? I grew up in Brazil where 18k gold is the standard. At first, it felt natural because it was familiar but over time, I came to appreciate it on a technical level too. It is my favorite to work on as it is not too soft or too hard and its warm hue is my favorite.

Where does your inspiration come from? I draw from three core areas. First, fashion I've always been drawn to it. I even studied fashion design briefly at Parsons after high school, and though I didn’t pursue it fully, that foundation still influences me. I design jewelry through the lens of personal style, pieces I want to wear every day and keep forever. Second, architecture, especially modernism, whether Brazilian, French, or Italian. I love how it plays with structure, proportion, and emotion. There’s also some Art Deco in the mix. And third, sentiment. Every piece I make is customizable or engravable. Jewelry, to me, should carry meaning, it should hold something of you.

You’re often described as having a distinct point of view. What influences that? I value authenticity above all. I’ve always taken the less obvious path, often going against the grain and while that has its challenges, it’s how I stay true to myself. I don't mean authenticity in the sense of being radically different; to me, it's about knowing who you are, what you love, and moving through the world with intention and self trust. That internal compass is what guides me the most.

Would you ever work with silver? Not at the moment. I don’t feel my designs translate well in silver, it doesn’t carry the same energy. It also requires regular polishing, which doesn’t suit the ease I want my pieces to have.

Are there designers or houses you admire? Yes and I love this question because I admire each for very specific reasons.

• David Webb – His use of architectural forms, bold textures, and vibrant colors is unmatched. Like me, he was inspired by architecture, and I love the strength in his designs.

• Suzanne Belperron – A pioneer. Her work is voluminous, elegant, and full of quiet power. She carved space for women in a male dominated industry. Her use of 22k textured gold is still so relevant today.

• Elsa Peretti – My fantasy godmother. We’re both Taurus women, and while our design styles differ, I deeply relate to her character and spirit. I feel a strange, spiritual closeness to her.

• Haroldo and Roberto Burle Marx – Roberto was a visionary Brazilian landscape architect and artist who also explored jewelry design with his brother Haroldo Burke Marx, a master goldsmith. Together, they created sculptural pieces that embody the soul of Brazilian modernism. Their work is a continuous source of inspiration.

Roberto and Humberto Burle Marx's work from the 70's

In three words, how would you describe your jewelry? Architectural. Bold. Symbolic. I’m a bold minimalist at heart I love volume, but not excess.

Which pieces are your personal favorites? My Sentiment Pendant (the very first I made) holds the ashes of my beloved dog who passed at 18. I wear it on my gold collar almost daily. I also never go without my Laurel II and signet rings, my mismatched diamond studs, and both gold and pavé ear cuffs. But also, my inseparable Elsa Peretti lacquer doughnut cuff in the most perfect burgundy, pairs so well with my jewelry, it is like my lucky charm. These are my staples, pieces I treasure both aesthetically and emotionally.

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BEHIND THE WORK: Visual notes from the new collection in progress

Cartier 1935 Art Deco ring via FD Gallery, 80's Alaïa jacket via Recess LA, entrance of Fondazione Masieri by Carlo Scarpa in Venice, Italy.

This new collection explores form and volume, drawing inspiration from Carlo Scarpa’s architecture, Phoebe Philo’s Céline era, 80s Alaïa shapes, and Art Deco jewelry. More to come.

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SPOTLIGHT: NPJ featured on Vanity Fair UK

Honored to have my PLACA DIAMOND PENDANT featured on a special fine jewelry edit “On Jewelry” on July’s Vanity Fair UK edition.

"Natalia Pas' signature grooves are wider and further apart, adding a corrugated effect to plaque-like pendants and signet rings" - VANITY FAIR UK "In Jewelry" July/Aug 2025

18K yellow gold PLACA PENDANT featuring a 1ct natural round cut diamond

EXPLORE OUR DIAMOND PLACA OR INQUIRE TO CREATE A CUSTOM

N.3 | THE VALUE OF GOLD: Why Your Jewelry Is Worth More Than Ever

Last week, I shared a few thoughts on the rising cost of gold and since then, it has continued its upward path. Over the past six months, prices have increased by more than 25%. In the past year alone, gold has surged over 40%. If you want to skip this subject, scroll down for our JUNE moodboard.

As the global economy shifts, so too does the value of this cherished material. Gold has always been more than a commodity it’s a store of wealth, a global currency, and a symbol of permanence. The current market only underscores its enduring role. And for those who remember: a pair of Manolos once cost $395 in the early 2000's. A lighthearted but telling example of how our economy, and the world, has moved on.

The last time I adjusted my pricing was sometime last year. Since then, the rise has been significant. Given the amount of gold I use in my pieces often generous and essential to the design it’s time for our prices to reflect this new reality.

This conversation has been circulating widely among jewelers and designers, and I want to share my perspective:

Gold is more than adornment, it is an enduring asset. While the value of a piece may shift depending on design, craftsmanship, or the rarity of its gemstones, the gold itself holds steady. Its worth is not fleeting or speculative; it is grounded in centuries of history, resilience, and quiet, consistent power. Trends fade, but gold remains relevant, revered, and real.

This ties into something I’ve spoken about often in these newsletters: true value lies in what lasts. Whether in garments, architecture, or jewelry, investing in what you love pieces meant to be lived with, passed down, and reimagined is a beautiful way to build a thoughtful, personal style.

At Natalia Pas, the foundation has always been heritage and longevity. And even if one day your relationship with a piece shifts, the material doesn’t lose its value. Gold can be melted down, reshaped, reborn always holding its worth. A fitting metaphor for how we evolve, and how value endures through change.

Prices have now been updated on the site. However, if there's a piece you've had your eye on, I'm happy to honor the previous pricing through June 6th. Just email us for a code to use at checkout.

Thank you, as always, for being here for supporting thoughtful design, and for valuing the beauty of what endures.

Warmly,

Natalia

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SPOTLIGHT: Knot Earrings & Pins

This month, I return to a personal favorite: the Knot Earrings and Pins.Rooted in the enduring motif of connection, they speak to strength, unity, and permanence.

Each KNOT EARRINGS is hand-sculpted in wax, then cast yielding a form that feels both organic and intentional. Understated in scale, yet quietly assertive, they offer a subtle gesture of presence—meant for daily wear or intimate moments.

The KNOT PINS, rendered in solid 18k gold, carries the same language of restraint and refinement. Its sculptural silhouette complements both tailored structure and soft drape a piece that lives lightly yet leaves an impression.

Objects of meaning. Designed not to follow time, but to hold it.

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JUNE MOODBOARD

1. Phoebe Philo wave trousers are so cool and so me. Easy and comfy. I would wear all summer long with different color tees and maybe an open oevrsized button down

2. Bottega Venetta Osservatorio aviator sunglasses. I love a funky sunny to pair with a simple outfit to elevate the look.

3. NP Gold Collar with Sentiment diamond pendant. My daily staple always. Made with thick 18k hand fabricated wire.

4. Nothing Written black large tote. Great summer bag, in leather, such a great price and versatile. You can go from lunch to maybe a happy hour later in the day. Big enough to bring a little outfit change if needed

5. Joan Didion's Miami. I love Joan! This book Miami isn’t just about a city, it’s about a shadow America, shaped by revolution, memory, and power struggles far from the mainland's gaze.

   
   

N.2 | TIMELESSNESS: The Essence of What Endures

In an age defined by acceleration—of trends, of consumption, of images—the truly timeless feels almost radical. It doesn’t demand attention. It earns quiet reverence.

Over the past year, I’ve been immersed in studying design across disciplines - architecture, furniture, fashion - and how each reveals a shared pursuit of intention, substance, and lasting form. Since visiting Paris in January, I’ve found myself drawn to its modernist architecture. That curiosity led me down a path of discovery, exploring the work of visionary architects and designers beyond the shadow of Le Corbusier.

Certain works contain a rare permanence. You see it in the radical geometry of Jean Renaudie, whose angular housing projects stood in defiance of the sterile uniformity of post-war modernism. Unlike mass-produced buildings, Renaudie designed homes where no two apartments were the same—an architectural philosophy rooted in honoring the individuality of human lives. You find it too in the layered urban complexity of René Gailhoustet, whose housing structures offer an asymmetrical, unapologetically human counterpoint to the sleek polish of contemporary trends. These buildings do not chase time—they sit apart from it, inviting quiet reflection. And in the furniture of Hervé Baley, I see the same ethos. His pieces—rare, sculptural, uncompromising—feel more like spatial studies than mere objects. Their enduring power lies in their restraint. They are built to last, because they were never designed to impress.

In fashion, Martin Margiela embodies these ideals. His radical deconstruction of classic garments—exposing seams, inverting linings—was never about spectacle. It was about truth. He challenged convention by refusing celebrity, by letting the work speak for itself. His muses were real people. His garments endure—not just materially, but ideologically. I could write an entire newsletter on Margiela alone—and one day, I will.

At NP, these references live close to my process. They remind me that the most meaningful forms are born from clarity—not trend. I believe fine jewelry should carry the same quiet conviction. Each piece is not designed merely to be seen, but to be felt—today, ten years from now, and far beyond.

From noble materials to deliberate gestures, every curve and setting is crafted by hand—shaped by heritage and guided by the human touch. Never rushed. Never outsourced to time.

Because timelessness is not nostalgia. It is intention. It is making something real in a world that too often forgets to notice what matters.

Like a building that resists flattening, or a jacket that reveals its inner truth, our jewelry isn’t made to follow.

It’s made to endure.

-Natalia

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SPOTLIGHT: The Laurel Ring

This month, I want to highlight one of my favorite pieces: The Laurel Ring. To me, it embodies that elusive quality of timelessness.

The design is bold—anchored in strong, sculptural lines that feel both angular and softly rounded. It draws inspiration from enduring architectural forms: weighty, intentional, unapologetically present.

I designed it for people like me—those who prefer a few statement pieces that do the talking. But if you're a maximalist, it layers beautifully. Stack it. Mix it. Let it speak in your language.

The Laurel has a substantial weight in the hand and on the body. It's meant to stand out—and more importantly, to stay.