Is Lakris Jewelry Handmade? Original vs. Curated

Yes — some Lakris Jewelry pieces are original designs, conceived and developed by us, then handmade or assembled by us. Others are carefully curated from outside makers because their design, materials and overall feel belong naturally in a Lakris collection. While a few are not lakris original designs but handmade by Lakris. 
And if you’ve ever looked at a jewelry website and wondered, “Wait... did this brand actually design this, or did they buy it?” — that is a perfectly reasonable question.

At Lakris, the answer is: both. By Kris Aare Naicker, Founder & Designer.

3 ways a piece can become Lakris

Not every beautiful piece of jewelry needs to begin with my pencil. Sometimes I have an idea I specifically want to bring into the world: a certain stone, a shape, a combination, or a story I want the design to carry. That becomes an original Lakris design.

Other times, I find a piece that already exists and think, “Yes. That belongs here.”
That is curation.

And then there is the third, where only a few of the more common designs are chosen because it is timeless and fits our collection or because it is beautiful but the quality did not meet Lakris standards. In these cases, we choose to hand-make those designs ourselves with high quality materials. This we simply call Lakris Handmade. 

These are three different creative decisions, but Original Lakris Designs and Curated Selections are the two primary ways the Lakris collection is built — and they are the two I’ll focus on here. The important thing is knowing which is which.

What “Original Lakris Design” means

An original design begins here. It might start with a gemstone I want to build around, a shape I can already picture in my head, or a story or symbol I want the piece to carry.

From there, I sketch and develop the idea, considering how the materials, shapes and individual components should work together. Sometimes I create the piece entirely by hand. Other times, individual components are made by outside makers according to what I need, and I bring them together and assemble the finished design myself.

This means that “Original Lakris Design” describes more than where the piece came from. The concept, the creative direction and the final combination are developed as a Lakris design from the beginning.

Our Signature Sets collection consists mainly of original Lakris designs, along with bracelets and pieces found throughout other collections.

An Original Lakris Design is conceived and developed by Lakris, then handmade or assembled by us. Where individual components are produced by outside makers, the finished design is assembled by Lakris.

And what does “Curated Selection” mean?

Curation starts somewhere else. Instead of beginning with a blank page, I begin with a finished piece and ask whether it belongs in the Lakris world.

Do the materials make sense for the collection? Does the quality live up to the Lakris standard? Would I actually put it beside our original pieces?

If the answer is yes, it may become part of the curated collection. Lakris curated pieces can include materials such as 18K gold-plated stainless steel, freshwater pearls and high quality natural stones, depending on the individual design.

A Curated Selection piece is chosen by Lakris for its design, materials and fit within the wider collection, but Lakris does not claim authorship of the original design. Anyone who has ever spent twenty minutes choosing between two almost identical lamps, handbags, paint colors or pairs of earrings already understands this on a spiritual level.

Selection is part of design too — just a different part.

Why I want both

I don't actually want Lakris to become a collection where every piece must exist because I personally drew it first. That would limit the brand for no particularly good reason.

Original design gives me room to create pieces that could only really have started inside Lakris — especially pieces where the stone, symbolism or story is integral to the design. Curation gives me the freedom to spot something beautiful that already exists and say, “That. We need that.”

The result is a collection built from both authorship and taste. Neither needs to pretend to be the other. 

It also goes back to how Lakris started. The original-design side of the brand is especially personal to me because Lakris did not begin with a supplier catalogue or a grand business plan.

It began with my daughter. 

The story of how Lakris began is a little more personal — and deserves a story of its own. You can read more about it in the blog, The Unglamorous Origin of Lakris Jewelry

So how will you know which one you’re buying?

Each product description tells you exactly whether a piece is an Original Lakris Design—a piece conceived, developed and handmade or assembled by Lakris—or part of our Curated Selection—a finished design selected because it fits the collection’s aesthetic, material direction and quality standards. No detective work required.

FAQ

Does Lakris Jewelry design its own jewelry?

Yes. Lakris develops original jewelry designs, including pieces within its Signature Sets, bracelets and other collections. 

Is all Lakris Jewelry handmade?

No. Original Lakris Designs are handmade or assembled by us, and pieces labelled Lakris Handmade are also made by us, although the underlying design is not claimed as an original Lakris design. Pieces in our Curated Selection are produced externally and selected by us.

What does “Curated Selection” mean at Lakris?

A Curated Selection piece was not originally designed by Lakris. It was selected because its design, materials and overall character fit naturally within the Lakris collection.

Is curated jewelry lower quality than original Lakris designs?

No. “Curated” describes how the piece entered the collection, not its quality level. Individual materials and specifications should be checked on the product page.

How can I tell whether a Lakris piece is original or curated?

Lakris states in each product description, “Original Lakris Design” or “Curated Selection” so customers can see the distinction before purchasing.

Is Lakris Jewelry the same as Lakris Smykker?

Yes. Lakris Smykker was the original Danish name of the business launched in July 2023. Lakris Jewelry is the English-language brand name used today.

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