Lark & Berry Opens Lab-Grown Diamond Store in Houston

London-based lab-grown diamond retailer Lark & Berry has opened a store in the Upper Kirby area of Houston.

The 1,500-square-foot store is located in a reimagined 1950s bungalow and will have its official “grand opening” in January.

This is the brand’s third brick-and-mortar location. It has a store in London as well as a shop on a mega-yacht based out of Mexico, company founder Linda Chavez tells JCK. (Early this year, Lark & Berry opened a showroom in Houston, which quickly closed.)

Lark & Berry selected Houston because Chavez is a graduate of Rice University and has family in the city. She says Upper Kirby was chosen because it is close to two vibrant Houston neighborhoods: high-end River Oaks and youth-oriented Westview.

Chavez says that while the lab-grown diamond market is getting more competitive, she’s trying to set her company apart with a high-end positioning and designer product.

“I don’t want to get into price wars,” she says. “I want to focus on the quality and the experience.”

She says that about 50% of her sales are for engagement rings, while the rest is for fashion pieces, especially bespoke items.