Frequently Asked Questions

AUTORE MODA is an Australian demi-fine jewellery label, founded in 2020, that brings South Sea pearls into everyday wear. Each piece is designed to move from morning to night, made with traceable South Sea pearls, 18k gold vermeil, 9k solid gold and sterling silver. The brand is rooted in the heritage of the AUTORE Group, one of the world's largest South Sea pearl producers.

AUTORE MODA was founded in 2020 by Ruby Autore, daughter of Rosario Autore, a pioneer of the modern pearling industry, and Jane Autore, an award-winning jewellery designer. Ruby created the brand to give South Sea pearls a younger, more wearable narrative after years working in luxury marketing, sales and global expansion.

AUTORE MODA owns the entire process from ocean to jewellery. Because the AUTORE Group farms its own oysters across Australia and Indonesia, every pearl is traceable from harvest through grading to the finished piece, rather than being bought in from a third-party supplier.

AUTORE MODA's South Sea pearls are sustainably farmed at AUTORE Group pearl farms across Lombok, Sumbawa and West Java in Indonesia, and Western Australia and the Northern Territory in Australia. Together, these farms produce more than 350,000 South Sea pearls each year.

A South Sea pearl grows inside the Pinctada maxima oyster over roughly two years. Skilled technicians "seed" a mature oyster by inserting a round nucleus and a small piece of donor mantle tissue, which forms a pearl sac and begins secreting nacre — the lustrous substance that slowly builds up in microscopic layers to form the pearl.

Growing a single South Sea pearl takes about two years inside the oyster, after roughly two more years spent growing the oyster itself to maturity before it can be seeded. Once harvested, every pearl then goes through a further six to twelve months of grading at AUTORE's Sydney headquarters before it's ready for jewellery.

No. Unlike many other cultured pearls, South Sea pearls are not dyed — their colour, from white through silver to gold, is created entirely by the oyster itself during the nacre-building process.

The AUTORE Five S's™ is AUTORE's in-house grading standard used to assess every pearl by hand: Shine, Surface, Shade, Shape and Size. Only pearls that meet this standard are selected for AUTORE MODA collections.

Because a pearl is grown by a living oyster rather than shaped by hand, its size, colour and surface texture are entirely natural. That means every AUTORE MODA piece featuring a South Sea pearl is genuinely one of a kind.

A South Sea pearl is a cultured pearl grown in the Pinctada maxima oyster, the largest pearl-producing oyster in the world. They're regarded as the rarest and most valuable cultured pearls, known for their large size (typically 8–20mm and up), thick nacre and satin-like lustre, and are produced only in Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

South Sea pearls are larger (8–20mm+ versus 2–9mm for Akoya), take longer to grow, and come in natural white, silver and gold tones from the Pinctada maxima oyster native to Australia and Indonesia. Akoya pearls, grown in Japan, China and Vietnam, are smaller, prized for near-perfect roundness and a bright, mirror-like lustre in white, cream or rosé tones.

Both are premium cultured pearls in a similar size range, but they come from different oysters and waters. South Sea pearls (Pinctada maxima, Australia and Indonesia) are known for white, silver and gold tones, while Tahitian pearls (Pinctada margaritifera, French Polynesia) are famous for naturally dark overtones — charcoal, peacock green, aubergine and blue.

South Sea pearls are grown one at a time in a large saltwater oyster over roughly two years, producing thick nacre and significant size. Freshwater pearls are grown in mussels that can produce multiple pearls per cycle in a shorter time, making them more abundant and affordable, though generally smaller with thinner nacre.

Generally, yes. South Sea pearls take longer to grow, come from a much larger and rarer oyster that typically produces only one pearl at a time (versus multiple pearls per freshwater mussel), and have thicker nacre and larger average size — all of which place them at the top of the pearl value scale.

Keshi pearls are small, irregularly shaped, all-nacre pearls that form naturally as a by-product of the culturing process, without a bead nucleus at their centre. Because they're solid nacre, they often have an especially bright lustre, and their organic, asymmetric shapes make each one unique — you'll find them in our Keshi collection.

South Sea pearls typically range from 7mm up to 20mm and beyond, with most falling between 9–15mm. Anything larger than 15mm is considered exceptionally rare.

AUTORE MODA jewellery is crafted in three metals — sterling silver, 18k gold vermeil and 9k solid gold — alongside natural gemstones and diamonds. Most designs are offered across two or more of these options so you can match pieces to jewellery you already own.

Gold vermeil is a sterling silver base plated with a thick layer of genuine 18k gold. AUTORE MODA plates its vermeil to 3 microns — thicker than standard vermeil — for greater depth of colour and longevity, and every piece is hallmarked '925' to confirm the sterling silver base.

Gold vermeil will naturally soften or fade in colour over time with everyday wear, moisture and contact with chemicals — this is normal for the material and not a manufacturing fault. When it does, AUTORE MODA offers a professional replating service for AUD $100.

9k solid gold contains 37.5% pure gold, alloyed with other metals for strength and durability. It's available in yellow, rose and white tones — each shade coming from the alloy mix — and is hallmarked '375' as a mark of authenticity.

Yes. 9k solid gold pieces are hallmarked '375' and gold vermeil pieces are hallmarked '925' to confirm the sterling silver base beneath the gold plating.

Yes. AUTORE MODA uses natural gemstones and natural diamonds, including natural champagne, pear, marquise and trilliant-cut diamonds featured across our diamond and gemstone collections.

Sterling silver and 18k gold vermeil are generally well tolerated by sensitive skin, though reactions can vary between individuals. Following our care guidelines — keeping pieces away from moisture, perfume and chemicals — helps minimise irritation and protects the finish.

Remove your jewellery before swimming, showering or exercising, and gently wipe pearls with a clean, damp cloth to remove oils, perspiration or dirt after wear. Store pieces away from moisture and direct sunlight when you're not wearing them.

We recommend taking your jewellery off before swimming, showering or exercising. Chlorine, salt water, sweat and humidity can affect both the pearls and the metal finish over time.

Store pearls separately from other jewellery to prevent scratches, in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Avoid leaving pearls sealed in packaging for long periods, as trapped humidity can cause oxidisation.

Keep your jewellery away from perfume, hairspray, lotion and other cosmetics, as pearls and plated metals are sensitive to chemicals. The simplest rule: put your jewellery on last, as a final step before you leave the house.

Wipe the piece gently with a clean, damp cloth — avoid abrasive cleaners, polishing cloths or any material that could scratch the pearl or plated surface. If tarnishing or fading is more significant, our replating service can restore the finish.

Yes. Sterling silver and 18k gold vermeil naturally darken or fade with wear over time, and AUTORE MODA offers professional replating for AUD $100, with a turnaround of approximately 7–10 business days. Email hello@autoremoda.com or drop your piece at the Double Bay boutique to arrange it.

Wrap a thin strip of paper or string snugly around the base of your finger, mark where it overlaps, and measure that length in millimetres — that's your circumference measurement. Alternatively, measure the inner diameter of a ring that already fits well. Use either number with the calculator on our Ring Size Guide to match it to AU/UK, US and EU sizing.

If you're between two sizes, we generally recommend sizing up. Wider bands (6mm and above) tend to fit more snugly, so consider sizing up half a size for those styles, and measure at the end of the day when fingers are at their largest.

Many AUTORE MODA bracelets are designed with adjustable lengths — for example, the Olivia Bracelet adjusts between 16.5cm and 18cm — so one size fits a range of wrists. Check the product details on each item for its specific adjustable range, or see our Bracelet Size Guide.

Necklace length is a matter of where you'd like the pendant or pearls to sit — shorter lengths sit at the collarbone, while longer lengths fall lower on the chest. Our Necklace Size Guide breaks down each length with visual guidance to help you choose.

For sizing questions on rings, bracelets or necklaces, contact our team at hello@autoremoda.com with the product name and your measurements, and we'll advise on the best option for your piece.

AUTORE MODA accepts major credit and debit cards through our secure checkout, as well as Shop Pay for a faster express checkout.

Yes. Orders within Australia are sent via an express shipping service with tracking, insurance and signature on delivery.

Shipping is complimentary on all Australian orders over $150. Orders under $150 have a flat $10 express shipping fee applied at checkout. International orders ship free of charge via DHL or FedEx.

Yes, for Sydney Metro customers. Place your order by 12pm AEST and it will be delivered the same day for a flat $20 delivery fee.

Yes, AUTORE MODA ships worldwide via DHL or FedEx, free of charge. International orders generally arrive within 7–14 business days depending on destination.

Possibly. Duties and taxes are determined by your order value and destination country, and are the responsibility of the customer to pay on delivery.

Orders within Australia typically arrive in 2–5 business days. International orders generally take 7–14 business days. Exact delivery details are provided in your order confirmation email.

Once your order is dispatched, you'll receive a shipping confirmation email with a tracking link so you can follow its progress to your door.

Yes, in-store pickup is available at the AUTORE MODA Double Bay boutique, with orders usually ready within 24 hours. Select "Pickup" at checkout to arrange this.

Orders are processed quickly, so if you need to make a change or cancel, email hello@autoremoda.com with your order number as soon as possible. We'll do our best to help before your order is dispatched, though changes can't be guaranteed once processing has begun.

If you change your mind, AUTORE MODA offers refunds, exchanges or credit notes within 30 days of receiving your online order, subject to a few conditions on sale items and made-to-order pieces outlined below.

Full-price items are eligible for a refund to your original payment method within 30 days of delivery. AUTORE Pearl Strands and Bracelets are excluded from refunds, as these pieces are custom made to order.

Items bought at full price can be exchanged within 30 days. Items purchased with a promotional or discount code (excluding Welcome and Loyalty codes) are eligible for a credit note only, and during sale periods we can only offer exchange for credit note due to high sell-through of stock.

No. Products already marked as Sale are final sale — please choose carefully, as these items aren't eligible for a refund, exchange or credit note.

Return and exchange shipping costs are the responsibility of the customer.

Email hello@autoremoda.com with your order number to begin a return or exchange, and our team will guide you through the next steps.

In-store purchases can only be returned for a credit note or exchange within 30 days — we don't offer refunds for change of mind on in-store purchases.

Email hello@autoremoda.com with your order number and photos of the fault, and our team will prioritise resolving it — a refund can be issued once the item has been inspected. Normal wear and tear, oxidisation, faded plating, a broken chain, cracked or chipped stones, and bent rings or earrings aren't considered manufacturing faults.

Yes. If you buy an item at full price and it's marked down or included in a promotion within 7 days of your purchase, we'll honour a one-time price adjustment, provided the item is identical (style, size and colour), still in stock, and the original purchase was made directly through autoremoda.com or an AUTORE MODA-owned store.

No, AUTORE MODA doesn't offer price matching with other retailers, resellers, department stores or online platforms.

Yes, every AUTORE MODA piece purchased from autoremoda.com comes with a 12-month guarantee against manufacturing defects.

The guarantee covers genuine manufacturing faults. Contact hello@autoremoda.com with your order number and photos, and our in-house repairs team will assess the piece for repair or servicing.

General wear and tear, oxidisation or faded plating, a broken chain, cracked or broken stones, and bent rings or earrings are not considered manufacturing defects and fall outside the guarantee. Repairs outside of a defect may incur a fee, subject to review by our repairs team.

Replating costs a flat AUD $100 and takes approximately 7–10 business days. As sterling silver and 18k gold vermeil naturally tarnish with wear, replating isn't covered under the manufacturing warranty.

Yes, our Bridal Edit features pieces designed for wedding days and beyond — timeless, considered designs in South Sea pearls, diamonds and gold, worn by our brides on the day and long after.

Yes, AUTORE MODA offers a private bridal shopping experience for brides who'd like one-on-one styling support. Get in touch via hello@autoremoda.com or visit the Bridal section of our site to enquire.

Our flagship boutique is at Shop 2, 20–26 Cross Street, Double Bay, NSW 2028, Australia.

The Double Bay boutique is open Monday to Friday 9:30am–5:30pm, Saturday 10am–5:30pm, and Sunday 11am–3pm.

No appointment is needed for a general visit during opening hours — walk in any time to browse and try on pieces. If you'd like a more personalised session, such as bridal styling, we recommend booking ahead via hello@autoremoda.com.

Email hello@autoremoda.com for general enquiries, wholesale or media and collaboration requests, or use the contact form on our website. Our team aims to respond within 24 hours.

Our customer service team is available Monday to Friday, 9:30am–5:30pm AEST.

Yes, our team is available via live chat on autoremoda.com for instant styling and jewellery advice.