After graduating from the Parsons School of Design in 1989, Karen Karch added a much-needed shot of adrenaline to the fine jewelry market with the debut of her first collection. Her street-inspired designs, which were both subversive and stunning, paved way for the phrase “dangerous jewelry,” and were immediately coveted by the world’s most prestigious stores, including Barneys New York, Barneys Japan and Fred Segal Los Angeles. This was only the beginning.

In the ensuing years, Karen Karch has proved herself to be both a formidable designer and a savvy entrepreneur. In 1996, she opened her renowned store at 240 Mulberry Street in New York City, in what was then called Little Italy. The first jewelry designer to enter this unknown retail territory, Karen Karch opened the door for other fashion brands to populate the now trendy and highly successful neighborhood known as NoLIta.

Karen Karch’s jewelry continued to evolve as well. By drawing from a range of historical and artistic periods, such as Victorian, Gothic, Art Deco and Southwestern American Indian, and by choosing well-defined combinations of precious metals and stones, she cultivated a diverse and avant-garde following among both consumers and her peers.

Re-Engaging the Engagement Ring

In the late 1990s, Karen Karch revolutionized the design of engagement rings with the introduction of platinum and diamond engagement and wedding rings. Karen Karch’s tiara rings have since become some of her most recognizable pieces and are favorites among brides-to-be. These elegant and heirloom-quality rings truly captivated the senses with their combination of bezel-set diamonds and weathered textured metal. In 2000, Karen Karch expanded her exclusive engagement ring selection with the addition of a claw-set solitaire diamond setting called “Desire", and in 2005 she created the world’s foremost collection of black diamond engagement and wedding rings.

A Visionary Designer

For a designer who finds inspiration in historical imagery, Karen Karch is always on the pulse of “what’s next” as it relates to her very current consumer. In 2001, she decided to create a symbol for luck and courage, and chose her now-signature “Lucky Horn.” Ahead of the design curve, Karen Karch modernized the horn for fashion consumers by refining its shape and embellishing it with diamonds. Since she introduced her “Lucky Horn” pendant, it has become a ubiquitous design motif executed in a variety of carved stones, such as lapis lazuli and Canadian jade.

Karen Karch 2006

2006 marks the launch of Karen Karch’s new e-commerce website, and 2007 will see the redesign of her popular NoLIta store. To mark this phase of her journey, Karen Karch commissioned artist Marilyn Minter to create the photographic image campaign that will be integrated into both the website and the new store design.