Life & Work with Grace Liu of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Grace Liu.

Hi Grace, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started out doing one-day pop-up events all over Southern California for about three years, which gave me so much valuable face-to-face time with customers. That experience helped me understand what people really wanted — affordable, tarnish-free jewelry they could truly live in and cherish without breaking the bank.

At the time, there were already a few “waterproof jewelry” brands out there, but most of their pieces were big, chunky, and heavy — more like statement accessories than something you’d want to wear every day. Since they were made from the same stainless steel used for kitchenware, a lot of those pieces quite literally felt like wearing forks and spoons.

From day one, we wanted to change that. We started from the ground up — focusing on design, craftsmanship, and comfort — to create pieces that look and feel just like fine jewelry: dainty, delicate, and full of detail. We also use surgical-grade stainless steel, so our customers can wear our pieces with peace of mind, knowing they’re hypoallergenic and safe for sensitive skin.

After lots of experimenting with different metals and plating methods, we wanted to make sure our jewelry has both — durability and elegance. And that’s how See Sea was born. Our jewelry is waterproof, tarnish-free, and lightweight, made for everyday wear and effortless stacking, so you can keep your shine wherever life takes you.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not a smooth road — there have been challenges at every stage, honestly.

When we first launched our website, we had almost zero visitors and barely any orders. It was discouraging at first, but it pushed us to learn how to connect with customers online, improve our visuals, and build a brand presence from the ground up.

Then when we opened our first brick-and-mortar store, we were completely surprised by how much goes into it — the permits, construction, inspections, even small details like lighting and fixtures took way more time and coordination than we expected.

And of course, managing inventory across multiple stores has been its own adventure. Sometimes things get messy, and we constantly have to reorganize and improve our systems to keep everything running smoothly.

It’s been a lot of trial and error, but every challenge taught us something valuable and helped us grow stronger as a brand and as a team.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I oversee everything for See Sea — from product design and production to store operations, marketing, and customer experience. It’s a lot of hats, but I love it because I get to stay close to both the creative and the business sides.

At See Sea, I focus on creating jewelry that fits seamlessly into people’s real lives — pieces that are as practical as they are beautiful. We design with the modern woman in mind: someone who’s active, busy, and doesn’t want to take off her jewelry every time she showers, travels, or hits the beach.

I’m most proud that our customers can truly live in our pieces. Every design starts with intention — lightweight, comfortable, and versatile — yet made to last through daily wear and all kinds of adventures.

What makes See Sea different is that we put as much thought into how jewelry feels as how it looks. We’re not just making accessories; we’re redefining what “everyday jewelry” means by combining durability, elegance, and accessibility in one place.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
There are so many people who deserve credit for helping See Sea grow into what it is today.

First, my co-founder and partner, Suntae — he handles all the legal paperwork and accounting, which honestly takes a huge load off my plate. It’s not the fun or creative part of the business, but it’s so important, and I couldn’t do what I do without his help keeping everything in order.

I also have to thank all of our past and current team members. Every single person who’s worked with us has played a role in building this brand. They’ve believed in See Sea from the start, and their energy and dedication are what keep everything running — from helping customers find their favorite pieces to keeping the stores organized and beautiful.

And of course, our customers — both the happy and the unsatisfied ones — deserve a lot of credit too. The happy ones remind us why we started, and the unhappy ones show us where we can do better. A lot of companies send out surveys to figure out what needs improvement, but I honestly think customer feedback — especially complaints — already tells us exactly what we need to know. We really value that honesty, because it helps us grow and become better every day.

Pricing:

• most of our waterproof pieces are under $38

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shopseesea.com
• Instagram: @shopseesea
• Other: Tiktok: @shopseesea