Before the wedding planning even begins it all starts with the perfect engagement ring. Enter local jewelry designer, Lauren Priori, owner of L.Priori Jewelry ,who can custom design the perfect sparkler or hunt down a vintage jeweled treasure for that special someone. We’re thrilled to welcome Lauren to our Styled Day series and hear more about what happens behind the scenes!
Like most small business owners, I never quite know what the day will bring me! Luckily, every day is a fun day when you’re a private jeweler. My favorite part of any day? A call from a new client looking to create something sparkly together.
5:45 – Alarm goes off and I roll out of bed and into running clothes. I start most days with a run or cycling class at Breakaway Bikes. An intense sweat session always gives me clarity on business and personal issues.
7:15 – Check facebook and instagram over breakfast. Philadelphia has an unbelievably talented and supportive creative community. I constantly have my ear to the ground for opportunities to collaborate.
8:00 – Bike over to the office. Before I open any emails, I jot down the day’s to do list that never seems to get shorter. After answering urgent emails, I review diamond options and sketches for the day’s client meetings.
10 – Meet with a new engagement ring client. He shares her pinterest board with me and we talk about what he’s looking for in a center stone. She’s into rose gold and organic shapes – this one is going to be fun. Most of my clients have shopped around for a few months, and they come to me when they’re serious about buying a ring.
11 – Work on sketches and stone sourcing for follow up appointments next week. The jewelry industry is a cast of characters, and I love chatting with local diamond dealers to see what’s new in their inventory. My favorite antique dealer entices me with a great deal on a pear shape and some amazing 100 year old diamonds.
1 – Eat a sweetgreen harvest bowl and browse industry and wedding blogs before the afternoon’s appointment. I love seeing my hardworking wedding friends’ work on blogs. Today I’m thrilled to see that a styled shoot featuring one of my rings was published!
2 – Afternoons are for marketing. For a change of scenery, I’ll head to Joe Coffee. My current marketing efforts are concentrated into SEO and online PR. I’m working on a line of sample rings for styled shoots, and I can’t wait to see all the new pretties photographed by some of my favorite photographers!
4 – Head to Jewelers’ Row to see diamonds in person and check on any pretty little things I have in progress. Jewelers’ Row is the country’s oldest diamond district and I love having all these amazing craftspeople in our backyard. I pick up an engagement ring redesign that was finished today. It was her grandmother’s diamond and the new setting is a perfectly updated classic.
5:30 – Check emails and social media one last time. If I’m heading to a networking event, I’ll freshen up and make sure I’m wearing lots of great jewels.
7:30 – Start dinner. Which, if I’m being honest, might involve ordering V Street delivery.
8:30 – Design research and website editing during Game of Thrones. I’m about three seasons behind and feverishly trying to catch up.
10:30 – Lights out!
