Telling THE STORY

BRAND: Monica Rich Kosann

LOCATION: New York, NY

FOUNDER: Monica Rich Kosann

FOUNDED IN: 2003

HOW DID YOUR BRAND BEGIN? I am a storyteller. This started many moons ago when I was a portrait photographer and continues to this day with each collection I design for my fine jewelry brand. Initially, my work was primarily private commissions to photograph families from celebrities such as Usher and Jennifer Lopez to people all over the country. I had this innate sense for how to capture a moment and tell a story with images that really resonated with my clients. I then started placing some of these personal photos inside of vintage lockets, compacts, and cigarette cases (which I’d source during my frequent trips to antique markets!) and give them out as thank you gifts to my customers. They were so intimate, so deeply personal, and unique that it gave me the idea to create my own image cases of sorts. Not something old that had been done before, rather, something fresh and interesting for the modern woman that felt timeless… a locket that is endlessly cool. And so, the MRK locket was born and my brand came to be. I always say lockets are the sexiest piece of jewelry a woman can wear and I’d like to think I am part of making the locket new again to hold those special tokens of love.

HOW HAVE YOU GROWN SINCE? When we first launched, I had a single shelf in Bergdorf Goodman. Now, almost 20 years later, MRK has a fully branded 400 square foot fine jewelry shop on the 7th Floor of Bergdorf Goodman along with two freestanding New York City stores, a robust direct-to-consumer business, and a presence in over 100 wholesale doors nationally.

WHICH PIECES ARE IDEAL FOR PASSING DOWN? I have two daughters and I have raised them to always feel confident and empowered. My jewelry reflects that philosophy and is meant to accompany us on the journeys and roads of our lives, so I always consider that when designing my pieces. I own and love my Four Image Locket which is engraved with my initial. I fully intend to pass that piece down to one of my daughters and my Charm Bracelet which, is customized with personal charms that are part of my everyday story, is one of my favorite heirlooms that I will give to my other daughter.

HOW DO YOU DESIGN NEW

PIECES?

Our pieces are designed to tell a woman’s story, to help her celebrate and cherish all the milestones in her life or merely to give her courage daily. I am inspired by everything everyday: life, my daughters, pop culture, museums, vintage pieces, art. I am always thinking and dreaming. Funnily enough, my best ideas come to me in the middle of the night! My daughter, Danielle Kosann, who is the Artistic Director of MRK as well as an accomplished painter and illustrator, contributes many ideas for design directions as well.

in partnership with Chris Evert, the 18time Grand Slam champion who coined the first ever tennis bracelet in the 1970s) are a big hit as well. Our Slim Lockets are probably our best-selling locket styles and they’re engravable which makes for an incredibly personal gift, especially for a new mother. Each locket is completely customizable using our Locket Bar which allows the wearer to place personal photos inside. I also love our Baby Charm which can be engraved with the date, name, and weight of a newborn and placed either on a bracelet or necklace. Lastly, the MRK Poesy Rings and Bracelets are so special too because they come with an empowering phrase on the inside.

IS YOUR BRAND BEST KNOWN FOR?

WHAT

Lockets are the foundation of our business, but MRK is so much more than that having expanded into numerous categories. Some bestsellers to note: our Design-Your-Own charm necklaces where our customers can choose their own combos of inspiring medallions and chains thus creating their own empowering stories as investment jewelry. The tennis bracelets (created

WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL EVERYDAY JEWELRY LINE UP? Without fail, I wear my diamond tennis bracelets every day and never take them off. I also wear my charm bracelet often. I switch the charms a lot depending on what encouragement I need for the day. Right now, my two favorites are the Wish Dandelion Intaglio Charm which was inspired by my grandson (one of our special times together is collecting “wish flowers”) and the Enamel Sundial Charm which always reminds me that time is precious and to be in the moment.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN THE WORKS? We recently leaned heavily into earrings and we’re debuting some beautiful new colors in our tennis bracelet collection this August. We have so many products coming for Fall, so stay tuned!