Monica Rich Kosann wants to help you tell your story. She believes everyone has one; in fact, she’s been helping others tell theirs for years. Before becoming a jewelry designer, she was a photographer and thought of herself as a curator of lives, on film, that is. As a brand, she continues to see herself as a storyteller, using jewelry as the portrait for others’ lives.
The Locket: a Story Forever Held in Time
Kosann’s transition from photographer to jewelry designer was natural because it was merely an evolution of her ideology; instead of photographs, the stories people wanted to share would be told through the jewelry they chose for themselves. Kosann believes jewelry is personal; the mantra on her website declares “your story, not ours”. That idea is a common thread running throughout Kosann’s collections. One of her most signature collections is the Lockets, designed to carry actual photographs or text that express who people are and how they want to be known to the world.
When Kosann was a photographer, she would deliver her clients’ finished work in vintage compacts or cigarette cases she’d found in antique stores or thrift shops. In that way, clients would receive an heirloom along with their picture. Kosann was inspired to do that with her jewelry collections, as well. You’ll see that with everything from charms to poesy rings to high jewelry: her knack for creating a modern heirloom that celebrates the life of the person wearing it shines through.
The Collaborations: More Stories to be Told
Because Monica Rich Kosann can’t let a good story pass her by, she loves to collaborate with some of the best storytellers out there. She’s teamed up with tennis legend Chris Evert to reimagine the tale of the tennis bracelet. Recalling details such as the green tennis court, there is a green stone amid the strand of diamonds and a dangling jewel to represent a bead of sweat that Evert remembers. Most recently, she’s joined the Shondaland initiative (quite literally), taking a Seat at the Table, a project created to shine light on those working behind the scenes of Shonda Rhimes’ shows like Bridgerton. Together with costume designer Ellen Mirojnick, Kosann brings Bridgerton from the screen to life with her Regency-inspired collection, including a Wisteria locket, a Bee charm, and a Crown poesy ring inscribed with “Queen”. Just as each character from the show is multi-dimensional and layered, so is each piece from this collection.
The Commitment: Certified B Corporation
At the end of the day, Kosann wants the people who wear her jewelry to feel like royalty. This is why she is committed to ethical sourcing, sustainability, and empowering both her employees and customers – and, as a result, is a certified B Corporation. Having met the set of rigorous standards of quality and conduct it requires was easy – from its 2003 inception, Monica Rich Kosann has been operating by those standards every day.
Explore our selection of Monica Rich Kosann pieces at Schwarzschild's Jewelers. Visit us in Carytown Exchange today!