Driven by a lifelong love of adventure, exploration and the natural wold. Ilaura Longley brings the spirit of Alaska into everything she creates. Each fossil and gold nugget she uses tells a story, and hers unfolds in the process.
Who’s Ilaura Longley?
Born and raised on gold rich creeks in Alaska, Ilaura is gold prospector and fossil hunter turned jewelry designer and goldsmith. Ilaura Longley’s pieces are inspired by the idea that beauty surrounds us, all we have to do is look for it. She uses gold from small family mining claims and mammoth tusk she discovers herself at The Boneyard Alaska.
Buried Treasure
“Some of the most remarkable materials I work with have spent thousands of years hidden beneath the Alaskan permafrost. From Ice Age mammoth ivory to natural gold nuggets, these buried treasures carry stories that leave me in a state of wonder as I create with them.”
Jewelry
“Alaska is at the heart of everything I create. Growing up in the wilds of interior Alaska, surrounded by vast wilderness, gold-bearing creeks, and Ice Age history; I developed a deep connection to the land and its treasures. The raw beauty, resilience, and sense of discovery that I feel when I’m here continue to inspire every piece I make.”
“My work is organic, raw, and rooted in nature. I am drawn to imperfect textures, natural materials, and designs that feel refined yet wild. I like to highlight the unique characteristics of the raw gold or ancient materials I use in my designs.”
Alaskan Life
"Go Play Outside"
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"Go Play Outside" 〰️
Ilaura grew up prospecting for gold on her family's mining claims in Fairbanks, Alaska. In 2014, she and her sister, Jordan, turned their passion for gold mining into a business, founding Gold Daughters, a hands-on gold panning experience that has introduced thousands of visitors to Alaska's rich mining heritage.
Her remote Alaskan upbringing continues to inspire every aspect of her life, shaping both her work and creative pursuits. During the summer months, you can find Ilaura prospecting for gold, searching for fossils, running her business or chasing her children and golden retriever through mud puddles. In the winter, she spends her time combing beaches for shark teeth and transforming her discoveries into one-of-a-kind jewelry designs.
“There is nothing more special than holding a piece of our Earth’s history in my hand and bringing life back to an animal that has been extinct for thousands of years.”
