As you count down to your wedding day, your wedding ring and wedding day jewelry will soon join your engagement ring at the top of your list of most-treasured items. But before you can wear gorgeous styles everyday, you first have to find a jeweler you love. Thankfully, one of the best jewelers calls Pennsylvania home, and we’re thrilled to introduce you to Philadelphia-favorite, Lauren Priori of L. Priori Jewelry.
Lauren Priori grew up loving jewelry. Some of her favorite memories are from the holidays when she and her mom used to visit a local jewelry store and Lauren was able to choose something special to take home. Even at a young age, she was drawn to estate jewelry, which she specializes in now. But when she was little, jewelry simply seemed like something she could enjoy, not a career she could pursue. Thankfully, she had a realization.
“It never really occurred to me that jewelry could be a career until I was graduating from college with a business degree,” shared Lauren. “I had been looking for something that straddled the worlds of art and business and then I realized—AHA!—that’s jewelry! I moved to California and studied to become a gemologist. After that, I became a sponge, working everywhere from Tiffany to Philly’s Jewelers Row to learn everything I possibly could. Seven years ago, I started L. Priori Jewelry and have had so much fun growing the company!”
After spending time working for other companies and brands in a male dominated industry, Lauren decided to start the woman-owned brand she longed to work for. In doing so, she highlights that one of her favorite parts of her job is being the female mentor she had longed to find.
“Creating fun and fulfilling jewelry careers is so satisfying to me. The best part is that when my team is happy at work, it translates to an amazing experience for our clients,” said Lauren.
The heirloom and estate pieces that always pulled Lauren in during her Christmas trips to the jewelry store with her mom are now some of the most important pieces she and her team rework and redesign for clients.
“I love that we can keep the sentiment of heirloom pieces, while making them a bit more modern. Some of my favorite projects EVER have been heirloom redesign projects,” highlighted Lauren, adding, “Diamonds are always the easiest stones to rework, because they tend to be in pretty good shape and withstand the unsetting and resetting process quite well. We love working with gemstones too, and can sometimes even recut them into a different shape. The options are really endless—new engagement ring, right hand ring, every day necklace.”
Whether you’re planning to rework an heirloom piece or design something completely new, the first step toward working with L. Priori Jewelry is always meeting with the team in person during a one-on-one appointment. And Lauren says the experience is far less intimidating than it sounds. The meeting is simply a chance for these creatives to create a custom, relaxed experience for their clients.
“Our team loves to deliver a personalized experience to each client, whether that’s someone who has done a ton of research and knows exactly what they want, or someone who is coming in fresh,” said Lauren. “We bring in diamonds just for you, based on your preferences and budget. From there, we’ll design a ring together. You’ll even see a 3D printed model of the ring before we put it into production. Basically, it’s all about YOU and how we can make you the perfect piece!”
When you’re deciding what stones, metals, and settings to incorporate into your engagement ring, wedding band, and wedding jewelry, Lauren says to ignore all of the trends and instead focus on creating pieces you love.
“If you choose what you love, you’ll be less likely to regret it later. If you love rose gold (it’s my personal favorite!), but it’s not en vogue at the moment, who cares? You’re going to be wearing your ring for a long, long time, and it should be a reflection of you and your partner. That being said, if you’re between two shapes or very different styles, go with the most timeless option.”
Once you’re wearing your engagement ring and you’ve designed your wedding bands, you’ll likely want to turn your attention to gifts for loved ones and bridesmaids. In this, case Lauren suggests turning to L. Priori Jewelry’s classic and minimalist top-seller, the Maura pearl earrings, for a very specific reason: “Pearls look bright and happy on everyone!”
Sometimes the things we love when we’re little are the same things that can help us to launch careers later in our lives. And for Lauren, that’s definitely true. She leaned into her dream to lead a team as well as her love for heirloom jewelry and launched a brand that’s now beloved in Philadelphia and beyond. Whether you’re counting down to your wedding day or treating yourself or someone you love to something special to treasure for years, L. Priori Jewelry is one to know.
You can learn more about L. Priori Jewelry Here or visit one of their local showrooms in Philadelphia or King of Prussia
Read their feature in our magazine below