Our Story
Two Women.
Two Countries.
One Shared Story.
Claudia Zhu in Toronto and Teresa Cai in China are sisters-in-law and co-founders of Unique Jewelry Choice. What began with Claudia making jewelry at home grew through their conversations across countries into a pearl jewelry brand shaped by creativity, careful design, resilience, and a shared belief in individuality.
How We Began
Claudia Zhu
Toronto, Canada
In 2020, during the pandemic, Claudia lost her job in Toronto. At home, she began making jewelry without a business plan—just a few materials and the pleasure of creating something beautiful. Natural pearls quickly became her favourite because each one carried its own shape, surface, and character.
Encouraged by friends, Claudia opened a small Etsy shop. As orders began reaching people beyond Toronto, a creative outlet became a new direction. Today, she leads the brand’s creative direction, customer experience, marketing, and growth.
Teresa Cai
China
Teresa lives in China and has used a wheelchair throughout her life. When Claudia began making jewelry, Teresa became one of the first people she turned to for feedback. Teresa’s eye for materials, proportion, colour, and detail helped refine the pieces from the beginning.
Their conversations crossed time zones and gradually became a working partnership. Technology allowed them to build a process suited to their lives. Teresa now guides product development, supplier relationships, materials, and quality control, helping shape each collection from concept to completion.
Why Pearls
Beauty does not have to be perfect to be meaningful.
No two natural pearls are completely alike. One may be round and luminous; another may have an unexpected curve, subtle texture, varied surface, or distinct colour. We value those differences because they give each pearl its own character—and allow every finished piece to feel personal rather than mass-produced.
Jewelry Made for Real Life
We create jewelry to be worn and enjoyed: for ordinary days, celebrations, meaningful gifts, and quiet moments of choosing something beautiful for yourself. Natural pearls and thoughtful details give each piece presence without making it feel overly formal, so it can become part of real life.
Giving Back
Disability inclusion is personal to our story. We dedicate 1% of revenue to organisations that support greater inclusion, employment, and opportunity for people with disabilities. It is a modest commitment today, and one we hope will grow alongside us.
From Toronto and China, With Love
Unique Jewelry Choice began during an uncertain moment and grew through family, creativity, and care. Thank you for being part of our story.
Claudia & Teresa
Co-Founders, Unique Jewelry Choice