World's First Fine Fashion Jewelry Brick-and-Mortar Shop Exclusively Featuring Cultured Diamonds Has Opened

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Aug 02, 2018, 10:00 ET

LONDON, Aug. 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Lark & Berry's flagship brick-and-mortar opened its doors for customers in London's high-end Marylebone district. Lark & Berry's first retail space was designed by Houston, Texas-based designer Erika Paola Chavez, founder Laura Chavez's sister.

Just steps away from Selfridge's and Bond Street, this luxurious retail store is one of a kind: The world's first-ever brick-and-mortar retail store carrying pieces made exclusively with cultured diamonds and stones.

First retail jewelry shop that features cultured diamonds and stones exclusively now open.

"Once people see our striking 14K and 18K fine and demi-fine rings, necklaces, earrings and more, all made with cultured diamonds, they will absolutely fall in love with them," says Laura Chavez, Lark & Berry founder.

"There's no better time than now to open. We started just a couple months ago with our online store and have barely been able to keep up. I can't tell you how many e-mails I've answered asking when we are opening the London store. People want to try on these amazing pieces. And for those of you that ask when we are opening in other locations - New York, Paris and Hong Kong are in the planning stages. Keep an eye on our social media channels where all will be revealed."

Chavez had long dreamed of starting her own high-quality jewelry brand, yet the long-standing traditions of controversial, environmentally damaging diamond-mining held her back. Through her research, Chavez discovered a burgeoning innovative industry: using technology to create diamonds, but without endangering lives or perpetuating political turmoil.

Made in a laboratory-controlled environment which mimics the process of diamond formation deep in the Earth's mantle, Lark & Berry's cultured diamonds sit within the purest category of diamonds on the market, with only two percent of their mined counterparts having the same superior quality. The process leads to less waste, less water loss and less impact on the environment. The stones are also conflict-free since no mining and associated exploitation of local communities takes place.

"When we discovered the technology to culture diamonds, we were amazed!" exclaims Lark & Berry Creative Director Katie Rowland. "There's no dirt on our diamonds, just high design and covetable style."

"Understandably, there has been some confusion over what a cultured diamond is. The word 'synthetic' gets thrown around incorrectly, for instance. Synthetic is another word for 'fake.' Cultured diamonds are 100 percent real." Chavez clarifies. "The Federal Trade Commission has verified that a diamond is a diamond no matter where it is created, which has been great in aiding our disruption of the old ways of diamond mining."

"It's the age-old 'you say tomato ... I say tomato.' With the only comparison being the stones' origin, it really is a case of 'you say diamond and I say, diamond.' This offers such clarity for not just our clients, but diamond customers full-stop. It is a great moment for the movement of cultured diamonds being a sustainable and ethical alternative," adds Rowland.

"The true difference between cultured diamonds and mined is that mining destroys the environments of impoverished nations and can lead to child labor and other human rights abuses," Chavez explains. "Lark & Berry's diamond-culturing has changed all of this for the better."

The future is bright and shimmering for Lark & Berry. The brand has received amazing response so far and has aims to continue disrupting the luxury jewelry industry, just as revolutionaries like Stella McCartney did utilizing eco-friendly faux-leather in her luxury products.

Lark & Berry believe in wearing diamonds every day with a "why not?" attitude. From preciously tiny, glittering diamond stars to abstract-set sapphires and kaleidoscopic drops of ruby and emerald, Lark & Berry pieces are big on impact, low on effort. Luxury, but also conversational, modern and offbeat. Design is at the core of the brand along with sustainability and exceptional quality a given. These concepts are at the heart of Lark & Berry's ethos.

Prices range from $200 for the demi-fine 14K gold collections and $3,000 to $100,000 for fine jewelry and wedding collections in 18K gold and platinum.

The Lark & Berry store is located at 52a George St, Marylebone, London W1U 7EA, UK and offers shipping globally.

About the Founder: Laura Chavez has undergraduate degrees in economics and managerial studies from Rice University in Houston, Texas, and an MBA from London Business School.

About the Creative Director: Katie Rowland has a BA (Hons) in graphic design from Kingston University, London. She went on to study jewelry design at London's Central St. Martin's.

CONTACT: [email protected]

Related Images

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Lark & Berry's Flagship London Store Interior
First retail jewelry shop that features cultured diamonds and stones exclusively now open.

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Lark & Berry shop front moments before opening
Shop is located at 52a George St, W1U 7EA, London, UK

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SOURCE Lark & Berry