What astor + orion does

Astor + Orion is a Seattle-based, founder-owned jewelry company that designs and sells hand-sculpted jewelry cast from recycled metals (sterling silver, jeweler's brass with 18k gold plating). Founder and designer Karen Hartman creates every piece digitally using ZBrush in the Seattle studio before production is carried out in small batches by a single certified casting partner. The company's production facility holds Sedex SMETA 4-Pillar, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 certifications, all current through October 2027, with publicly disclosed audit findings including wages 40% above living wage benchmarks.

The business operates as a direct-to-consumer e-commerce brand at astorandorion.com, supplemented by retail distribution through Nordstrom department stores and an Awin-based affiliate marketing program. The product catalog spans earrings (hoops, studs, drops, statement), charm necklaces, bracelets, sustainable pearls, and dedicated bridal and luxury fashion collections, priced from under $75 to $355. Target customers include sustainability-conscious women, bridal and wedding buyers, and gift purchasers. The company also runs a jewelry take-back program for circular recycling of old pieces.

Revenue mechanics rely on one-time purchases across multiple price tiers, with mid-range pieces ($75-$150) described as the most popular segment. There is no disclosed venture capital or private equity funding, and the company operates as an independent bootstrapped business with ownership concentrated in the founder. Marketing relies primarily on earned media coverage in The New York Times, Daily Mail, Eco Cult, Seattle Met, and Eco Stylist, supported by email newsletter acquisition (15% welcome discount) and content marketing around sustainability and ethical production storytelling.

Name

astor + orion

Legal name

Astor & Orion

Website

https://astorandorion.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Astor + Orion is a Seattle-based, founder-owned jewelry company that designs and sells hand-sculpted jewelry cast from recycled metals through its own e-commerce site and Nordstrom, serving sustainability-conscious women, bridal buyers, and gift purchasers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ethical and Sustainable Jewelry

NAICS

Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing (33991)

SIC

Jewelry, Silverware & Plated Ware (3910), Costume Jewelry & Novelties (3960)

akta.pro primary industry

Designer/Artisan Fashion Jewelry (Independent Brands) (CRAKABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Handmade/Craft Fashion Jewelry (Beaded/Wire/Woven) (CRAKABAD), Artisan/Hand-Fabricated One-of-a-Kind Jewelry (CRAKAHAI)

Keywords

• Handcrafted jewelry
• Recycled metal jewelry
• Ethical jewelry production
• Sustainable fashion accessories
• Bridal jewelry collection

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Direct Jewelry Sales: One-time purchase model for finished jewelry pieces sold directly to consumers through e-commerce website. Products include earrings (hoops, studs, drops, huggies), necklaces (charms, chains, pearls), bracelets, and bridal jewelry. Price points range from under $75 to $355 for premium statement pieces. Gift cards available from $50.
2. Take-Back Program: Jewelry take-back program accepts any Astor & Orion piece for recycling. Customers receive credit toward next purchase when returning old pieces for metal recovery and recasting.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Astor + Orion designs and sells hand-sculpted jewelry cast from recycled metals (sterling silver, jeweler's brass with 18k gold plating, freshwater pearls). Every design is hand-sculpted digitally in the Seattle studio using ZBrush, prototyped, then produced in small batches at a single Sedex SMETA 4-Pillar certified casting partner. The product range includes hoop, stud, drop/threader, and statement earrings; charm necklaces; bracelets; sustainable pearl jewelry; modern bridal pieces; and curated collections such as Hold The Room and Hecate's Knot.

Product overview

Astor & Orion is a Seattle-based jewelry company offering sculptural and modern jewelry that is ethically made from recycled metals. The product portfolio centers on hand-sculpted earrings (hoops, studs, drop/threader, and statement styles), charm necklaces, and bracelets, with special collections including the Modern Bridal line, Hold The Room luxury fashion jewelry, Hecate's Knot mythology-inspired pieces, Sustainable Pearls collection, and Modern & Minimal everyday jewelry. All pieces are designed in their Seattle studio, hand-sculpted digitally, and cast from recycled metals (sterling silver, 18k gold-plated brass, 18k gold-plated sterling silver) in small batches by a Sedex SMETA 4-Pillar certified casting partner. The company also offers gift cards as a complementary product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hoop Earrings Hand-sculpted hoop earrings cast from recycled metals, available in sterling silver, 18k gold-plated brass, and 18k gold-plated sterling silver across multiple sizes and sculptural designs for everyday wear.
• Stud Earrings Geometric and sculptural stud earrings designed for solo wear or ear stacking, cast from recycled metals including sterling silver, 18k gold over 925 silver, and 18k gold-plated brass.
• Drop & Threader Earrings Lightweight drop earrings, dangles, and threader earrings made from recycled metals, featuring baroque pearl drops, filigree designs, and sculptural forms for women.
• Statement Earrings Bold, maximalist earrings including baroque pearl drops, gold and silver filigree, and oversized hoops designed for weddings, special occasions, and everyday statement looks.
• Charm Necklaces Women's pendants and charms designed as symbolic jewelry for luck, protection, and milestones, hand-sculpted in Seattle and cast in recycled sterling silver or 18k gold-plated recycled brass.
• Bracelets Eco-friendly bracelets in recycled silver and gold including cuff bracelets, pearl bracelets, and chain bracelets.
• Sustainable Pearls Collection Baroque and keishi freshwater pearl jewelry featuring sculptural shapes, set in recycled metal designs created in the Seattle studio.
• Modern Bridal Jewelry Curated bridal jewelry edit for the bride and bridal party, featuring bold sculptural pieces and delicate pearls that coordinate without matching.
• Hold The Room Collection Luxury fashion jewelry collection exploring jewelry as ornament and architecture, featuring interlocking curves and geometric motifs cast from recycled metals.
• Hecate's Knot Collection Mythology-inspired jewelry built around the knot motif representing two paths crossing and binding, cast in recycled sterling silver and 18k gold-plated brass.
• Modern & Minimal Collection Affordable minimalist jewelry collection with simple and modern lines designed for everyday wear and a sense of luxurious calm.
• Gift Cards Astor + Orion gift cards starting at $50 that can be applied toward any ethically made jewelry purchase on astorandorion.com.

Quantifiable outcome

• Wages verified 40% above living wage benchmark at production facility
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Sedex (Auditing Partner)coreOthers · 1 May 2026Independent third-party audit organization providing recurring SMETA 4-Pillar audits of Astor & Orion's casting partner facility. Covers labor standards, health and safety, environment, and business ethics. Most recent audit May 2026. Audit highlights published on Astor & Orion website.
• ISO Certification BodiescoreOthersCasting partner holds ISO 9001 (quality management), ISO 14001 (environmental management), and ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety) certifications, all current through October 2027. Third-party verified compliance with international standards.
• NordstromsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAstor & Orion jewelry is available for purchase at Nordstrom department store locations, providing physical retail presence alongside direct e-commerce.
• Fair Trade LAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Fair Trade Los Angeles organization, collaborating with ethical fashion organizations to advance responsible sourcing across the industry.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ana Luisa: Direct-to-consumer fine jewelry brand using recycled gold and offering accessible everyday pieces. Comparable in sustainability positioning, price-point ladder, and DTC-only model.
• Mejuri: Direct-to-consumer jewelry brand offering everyday fine and demi-fine jewelry at accessible price points. Highly comparable business model as an independent, vertically-obsessed DTC brand focused on original design and ethical sourcing.
• Catbird: Independent Brooklyn-based jewelry brand specializing in delicate, handcrafted fine jewelry with an ethical sourcing ethos. Directly comparable as an independent designer brand with similar price points and sustainability positioning.
• Monica Vinader: UK-based contemporary jewelry brand offering hand-finished demi-fine and fine jewelry with sustainability credentials. Comparable in original design, recycled metals, and mid-premium price positioning.
• GLDN: Handmade jewelry brand focused on delicate, ethically produced pieces at accessible price points. Directly comparable as an independent designer-led DTC brand with similar sustainability messaging.
• Soko: Ethical jewelry brand connecting artisans with global consumers through a marketplace model. Comparable in ethical production focus and use of recycled/sustainable materials.
• AUrate: New York-based DTC fine jewelry brand offering sustainable gold and pearls at accessible price points. Comparable in ethical sourcing, recycled metals, and direct-to-consumer model.
• Vrai: Sustainable fine jewelry brand focused on lab-grown diamonds and recycled gold. Comparable in ethical sourcing commitments and direct-to-consumer premium positioning.

Emerging players

• BaubleBar: Mass-market fashion jewelry brand with overlap in earrings, necklaces, and gift-purchase use cases. Comparable in customer segment and entry-level price points, though differentiated by mass production versus hand-sculpted positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Brilliant Earth: Public-magnitude leader in ethical fine jewelry with broader category scope (engagement rings, diamonds, fine jewelry). Comparable in verified ethical sourcing and recycled metals, but operates at much larger scale and higher price points.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about astor + orion