Although it’s only 3 years old, Lark & Berry is something of a veteran in the nascent lab-grown diamond jewelry space. Founded by Laura Chavez, the London-based brand has established itself as a known quantity in the emerging category, thanks in no small part to its efforts on the red carpet (pre-pandemic, naturally).
For the 2020 Academy Awards, Lark & Berry teamed with Diamond Foundry, the Leonardo DiCaprio–backed lab-grown diamond producer based in San Francisco, to create a spectacular necklace—a white gold collar dripping with more than 500 individual lab-grown diamonds, totaling 64.5 carats—worn by singer, actor, and style icon Billy Porter.
The beguiling statement piece, which was inspired by “the natural wonder of a celestial supernova,” according to Lark & Berry designer Emily Newman, made clear that the brand values design almost as much as it values the fact that its gems are all lab-grown (or cultured, according to Lark & Berry’s preferred lingo).
In December, the company burnished that reputation when it introduced its Clean Cool Cultured collection of 14k yellow gold fashion pieces set with white lab-grown diamonds. The name refers to diamonds that are “better for Earth, without any shady history,” “created with more responsibility for the planet, with cutting-edge tech,” and grown with “care and progress for humankind,” according to the Lark & Berry website.
Beyond the emphasis on the diamonds’ origin, however, the line is a celebration of 1980s-inspired style, with elements such as high-polish gold and oversized hoops that subtly evoke that bygone era.
Overall, the CCC collection is modern, fun, and wearable. A harbinger of lab-grown diamond fashion jewels to come? We certainly hope so!
Top: Clean Cool Cultured statement hoops in 14k yellow gold with 0.81 ct. t.w. lab-grown diamonds, £4,250 (about $5,900)
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