Alyson Iarrusso, a jewelry designer from Connecticut, has created a fine jewelry line that she hopes will be worn while fishing, surfing, or swimming. Cove Fine Jewelry specializes in producing jewelry that is meant to stand up to the elements, including diamond earrings with super-strong friction backs and gemstone necklaces with tight-lipped clasps. The company’s products are inspired by the coast and are designed to be worn every day. Iarrusso drew inspiration from her time visiting Cape Cod while growing up and her active lifestyle in Hawaii, where she lived for a decade. “Most of the things that I do wear and make, I try to think about, ‘would I wear this on my boat fishing? Would I wear this if we were going to go surfing as a family?’” Iarrusso said. “I wanted it to be jewelry that I can wear at all times. I want my jewelry to be part of your everyday adventure.”
Cove Fine Jewelry uses authentic Tahitian pearls and lab-grown diamonds, which have a higher quality and reduce environmental impact. The collection is entirely made in the United States and all of the company’s gold is sourced from New York City. Iarrusso is proud to be part of local business networking groups, such as the Women’s Business League, which helps her connect with other female entrepreneurs and support each other’s businesses. She believes that selling American-made jewelry is important because it better serves customers and fosters stronger relationships with other U.S. businesses. Each piece of jewelry in Cove’s collection is associated with a specific place in New England, whether it’s red for Boston, blue for Cape Cod, or pink for Connecticut and Rhode Island. Iarrusso said that women identify with their place and wear jewelry that represents their connection to that place. “Everybody has their place and then we walk around the rest of the year thinking about the countdown of when you get to go back to our place,” Iarrusso said. “I love that idea of connecting jewelry to a place and like having it be with you, but it’s also part of your identity.”
Cove Fine Jewelry is a culmination of Iarrusso’s decades of hard work, dedication, and giving back to the community that has held a special place in her heart. Iarrusso grew up in Manchester, Connecticut, but spent much of her upbringing visiting Cape Cod, where her great-grandparents used to drive out to the Cape in the 1950s. Iarrusso’s grandparents later bought property in Eastham, and she would often visit the Cape as a child. Today, Iarrusso lives in Hampton, New Hampshire, with her husband and two children, who share a love for the ocean. The family lives near Lake Cove Beach, which inspired the name of the company. Iarrusso’s journey to becoming a jewelry designer began when she started teaching high school social studies at the age of 21. However, she soon discovered her passion for jewelry making in 2008 when one of her paddling sisters taught her how to solder. Iarrusso started her first jewelry company, Aly Beach Jewelry, in 2008 and continued to teach while working on her jewelry business. After 10 years in Hawaii, Iarrusso moved back to New England and continued making jewelry, but eventually got burnt out. She decided to give fine jewelry another chance and founded Cove Fine Jewelry in 2023. The company has been fully dedicated to her craft ever since. Iarrusso’s success story is an inspiration to other young women who may feel like their career options are limited. She hopes that her story will show females that it’s possible to switch careers and enter a predominantly male-dominated field. You can browse Cove Fine Jewelry’s entire collection on their website. The company also has a list of places to shop in person, where you can find their beautiful pieces.
| Types of Jewelry | Description |
|---|---|
| Diamond Earrings | Cove Fine Jewelry’s diamond earrings feature super-strong friction backs and are designed to withstand the elements. |
| Gemstone Necklaces | The company’s gemstone necklaces have tight-lipped clasps and are made with authentic Tahitian pearls and lab-grown diamonds. |
| Signature Ring Collection | Iarrusso’s signature ring collection features rhinestones associated with specific places in New England. |
Places to Shop
- Homegrown Boutique in Orleans
- Orleans First Friday events in the summer
- Outermost Festival Market hosted by the Orleans Chamber of Commerce
- Cove Fine Jewelry website
About Alyson Iarrusso
Iarrusso’s journey to becoming a jewelry designer began when she started teaching high school social studies at the age of 21. However, she soon discovered her passion for jewelry making in 2008 when one of her paddling sisters taught her how to solder.
“I was able to kind of just play around,” Iarrusso said. “And because it was such an outside culture, I built a little studio on my lanai and kept that going and started a company.”
Iarrusso started her first jewelry company, Aly Beach Jewelry, in 2008 and continued to teach while working on her jewelry business. After 10 years in Hawaii, she moved back to New England and continued making jewelry, but eventually got burnt out. She decided to give fine jewelry another chance and founded Cove Fine Jewelry in 2023. Iarrusso’s success story is an inspiration to other young women who may feel like their career options are limited. She hopes that her story will show females that it’s possible to switch careers and enter a predominantly male-dominated field. “I think it’s really important to show females, especially after motherhood or after having a career and transitioning to a different career that it’s possible,” Iarrusso said. “This probably is something I should have done 15 years ago and I feel very blessed that I can do it now.”
You can browse Cove Fine Jewelry’s entire collection on their website. The company also has a list of places to shop in person, where you can find their beautiful pieces. Experience the artistry and craftsmanship of Cove Fine Jewelry and discover a new way to express yourself through jewelry.
