Owner of L. Priori Jewelry
Lauren is the owner of L. Priori Jewelry, based in Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia, PA. A Millville, New Jersey native and Wharton and Gemological Institute of America (GIA) grad, Lauren is a trained gemologist and jeweler with diverse talents. She specializes in everything from creating custom engagement rings, to revamping family heirlooms, to collecting stunning estate and antique jewelry pieces, which she releases once a quarter.
Her aesthetic is all about mixing new, old, dainty, and bold. It’s not uncommon for her to combine antique and estate pieces with more contemporary jewelry — one of her many specialities includes layering and stacking unexpected pieces for a fresh look.
In just two years, Lauren has quickly become Philadelphia’s go-to jeweler. In 2017, Philadelphia Magazine included L. Priori Jewelry in their Best Of issue for Best Estate Jewelry. Her work has also been featured in Philadelphia Wedding, AskMen, Racked, Style Me Pretty, JCK, and Wedding Chicks.
Her experience spans the high-volume sales floor of Tiffany & Co., a fast-paced diamond auction house in NYC, and Philadelphia’s historic and revered Jewelers’ Row. In 2016, she started L. Priori Jewelry, offering clients a relaxed, welcoming environment where the focus is on fine jewelry education and value.
For more information on Lauren and L. Priori Jewelry, check out the links below!
Digital Spotlight
Tell us what your greatest personal challenge is, and how you’ve achieved success in spite of it.
Starting a business in a male-dominated industry has certainly come with its challenges. While being a woman has been a disadvantage at times, in many ways being a woman business owner has been a positive thing. I understand my customer much better than some of my male counterparts, since I’m my own ideal client. I’ve also been able to find a niche in marketing successfully towards women.
Name something that guides both your personal and professional development and helps you to regain focus during challenging times.
My parents are immigrants and have instilled the virtue of hard work since I was a little girl. When the future becomes uncertain or work becomes overwhelming, the only thing that calms me is to make a plan and do the work.
What do you believe is at the core of why women hesitate to “lean in” and pursue leadership roles where they are?
Women take on so many roles outside of work. We have a tendency to plan our life around making room for those roles, even if we aren’t mothers or wives quite yet. It’s harder to go for a promotion or take a risk to start a business when you’re trying to structure your life to accommodate the children you might have in a few years.
Tell us one of your greatest professional accomplishments, and why it meant so much to you?
I’m excited to be bringing on a full time employee next year. I started my business hoping to create a place where people would love to work, so bringing someone on full time is a huge step in that direction.
How do you manage fear in both your work and personal life?
Fear seems to rear its head when the future is unknown. The only way I can quiet fear is by getting as much information as possible. Sometimes that means reviewing my books with my accountant to see if I can afford an employee, and sometimes that means talking to friends who have been through what I’m going through. The truth is that entrepreneurship is synonymous with fear, so you have to accept it along with uncertainly and just jump.
What do you believe will be the greatest global benefit to having more women in leadership roles?
More women in leadership roles simply means untapping more human potential. As more women lead, more women will stay in the workforce – more smart and talented women who may otherwise have been discouraged.
What have you found to be the most effective way to motivate and energize your team?
Having a small team means that each person can see the impact of their work. I try to be very clear about how small task, like packaging a box to perfection, impact not only the business, but also a special moment in someone’s life. Jewelry is about so much more than pretty things. It’s about heirlooms, memories, and joy.
What is at the “core” of your drive and motivation to succeed?
At the end of the day, I want L. Priori to be so much more than just a source for beautiful jewelry. I want the company to make our little corner of the world a better place. From using recycled metals to creating an incredible workplace, everything I do is focused on doing the right thing.