Visit the Purple Sands of a Mysterious Beach

South of San Jose, off a stretch of Route 1 that cuts through Big Sur Valley, lies a hidden gem known as Pfeiffer Beach. There, deposits of manganese garnet in the surrounding hills wash onto the beach when it rains, painting the sands below a rich amethyst hue. From the highway it’s a 2-mile trek down a steep dirt road to access this secluded spot, but travelers who time it right are rewarded with a sight unlike anything else on Earth: vast swirling streaks of purple sand glistening in the California sun as they stretch out to sea. 

Capture a little magic wherever you are with the Purple Sands Earrings — stunning jewelry inspired by that hidden beach. On these elegant earrings, asymmetrical pieces of purple amethyst mingle with freshwater pearls in delicate yellow gold-finished settings. Because both purple and pearls are hotter than ever this year, their collaboration is as serendipitous as the phenomenon that inspired it.