Within Naples' luxury shopping scene, where laid-back elegance has tended to dominate, Harwell Godfrey’s statement fine jewelry stands as a brilliant counterpoint. Designer Lauren Harwell Godfrey’s maximalist 18-karat gold treasures fuse ancient symbolism with modern boldness, cosmic wonder with earthly pleasures.
Since launching her label in 2017, the California designer has become a defining voice in luxury jewelry. This week, she makes her first Naples appearance with a trunk show at Marissa Collections (March 20-22), where her graphic pieces entice collectors who seek jewelry with substance rather than mere ornamentation. Through her signature triangular motifs, vibrant gemstone inlays and autobiographical inspirations, Lauren transforms cultural heritage and everyday joys into talismanic treasures that feel both weighty and whimsical. “She is such an empowering spirit,” says Jennifer McCurry, a Naples gemologist and jewelry buyer at the downtown boutique.
A Design Language All Her Own
While fine jewelry often follows familiar forms, Harwell Godfrey refuses to blend in—making the brand a natural fit for Marissa Collections, which has increasingly focused on boundary-pushing designers since debuting their jewelry gallery in 2010. Walking into the Third Street South boutique, these gem-forward treasures command attention. Substantial 18-karat gold amulets are inlaid with vividly contrasting stones arranged in precise geometric formations; evil eyes are reimagined through a graphic architectural lens; and statement rings showcase chunky gemstones framed by the brand’s triangular patterns, a strong influence, stemming from her background as a creative director in the advertising world. "There's a notion of geometry and pattern that is always present," Lauren says.
Diverse inspirations converge in the highly collectible designs, which range from about $500 for single studs to $50,000-plus for pieces with rarer stones and custom work. With about 20 optimism-tinged collections, the influences range from graphic design sensibilities to Lauren's culinary training to social causes she champions to West African textile traditions, connecting to her Nigerian paternal lineage. The designer, who prefers a more masculine style—favoring pantsuits and jeans—gravitates to striking forms over the delicate detailing typical in fine jewelry. "I was looking for things that weren't so dainty and girly—a little bit more edge and a little bit more presence,” Lauren says about her founding vision.
Visual Tension as a Design Strategy
‘Surprise and delight’ define the Californian brand's philosophy. “Just when you think you’ve got it nailed down and I’m doing something, I will change and do something else,” Lauren says.
The label showcases a masterful knack for contrast. Lauren pairs black onyx with yellow gold, plays with matte and polished finishes, and juxtaposes luminous, precisely faceted gemstones against textured 18-karat gold segments. She challenges conventional color pairings, too, as seen in the Totem Drop Huggies, where warm coral meets cool-toned amethyst. Through inlays and varied gemstone settings, she creates bold color-blocking and dynamic visual tension, making each piece unmistakable. Gold framing, repeating shapes and strategic gemstone placement unify the otherwise-disparate elements.
While Lauren remains committed to natural, earth-sourced gemstones over lab-grown alternatives, she liberally reimagines the traditional hierarchies. Materials are selected not for their market value but for their visual properties and symbolic resonance. In a collaboration with the Muzo Emerald Colombia purveyor, Lauren created iterations of her Cleopatra's Vault series, pairing the sustainably sourced Colombian emeralds with black onyx (representative of the queen's kohl-rimmed eyes) and turquoise (a prized gemstone in Ancient Egypt). In other designs, lapis lazuli, mother-of-pearl and even enamel receive the same reverent treatment as diamonds. "They're all precious to me," Lauren says.
And, while every piece carries a profound, talismanic intent, there's an inherent whimsy to the work: a crab claw may exalt a big Tahitian pearl, salt shakers dangle as pendants, and snail rings and shell earrings dazzle with their spiraling, diamond-clad forms. Her most popular creations— a Press-for-Champagne-themed ring with a functioning push-button center and caviar pendants, complete with tiny mother-of-pearl spoons—celebrate life’s pleasures.
Exacting craftsmanship keeps even the most fantastical motifs from looking childish. One of Lauren's most recent debuts marks her most technically complex creation yet—a series of Unicorn pendants and earrings with mixed-set diamonds following the curve of a spiraling horn; textured sections add depth beyond high-polish metalwork.
Courtesy Harwell Godfrey
Courtesy Harwell Godfrey
Courtesy Harwell Godfrey
Transforming Life into Luxury
Every piece tells a story, like her diamond-filled salty take on shaker necklaces, speaking to her culinary background. ”Salt is the magic of food; it makes everything better,” she says. Horseshoes call back to her equestrian childhood, while the geometric, knife-edge Masego rings, earrings, and medallions take after basketry Lauren fell in love with while visiting Botswana; the collection’s name is the Setswana word for ‘good fortune.’ “She goes as far as inscribing a love message, quote or personal note on her designs,” Jennifer adds.
Among the most personal collections lies Valley of the Moon, nodding to her Sonoma hometown’s nickname and the supermoon event that preceded the birth of her son in 2016. Through her designs, Lauren explores her identity and personal journey. Raised by her Caucasian mother, she had little connection to her father or his Nigerian background. Jewelry became a way to bridge that gap. “My mom raised me as a single mom, so I’ve used this as a way to connect back into that part of my heritage,” she says.
Despite their far-ranging themes, every series and piece is designed to live together. The mix-and-match Foundation line serves as a versatile base, offering chain and hand-knotted beaded options to attach myriad charms from across the Harwell Godfrey repertoire.
From Burnout to Brilliance
Long before designing luxury jewelry carried by institutions like Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, and Marissa Collections, Lauren was a creative director, working on advertising campaigns like 'Never Hide' for Ray-Ban and 'Impossible is Nothing' for Adidas. After 15 years in an industry she describes as "if you don't show up on Sunday, don't bother coming in on Monday," she sought a new adventure.
Jewelry emerged as a happy accident, beginning with crafty leather-and-crystal baubles for music festivals. Lauren’s creations quickly caught friends' attention. Despite having no background in the industry (her mother was a nurse; her grandmother a school secretary), Lauren’s advertising training gave her a solid foundation in visual storytelling. “I was fascinated by the stones and working in 3D because a lot of my career and advertising was in 2D,” she says. “I love the idea of them almost being like little sculptures.”
Harwell Godfrey collections showcase strategic branding clarity, with clear narratives, continuity and a tendency to subvert fine jewelry conventions (a practice in lockstep with advertising’s penchant for disruption). "She is the queen of novelty," Jennifer, who was recognized as a Gulfshore Life Woman of the Year in 2020 for her influential style.
Lauren’s art director influences are most evident in her designs, where rhythmic patterns echo typographic grids and negative space is wielded with intent. This graphic sensibility transforms even the most classic pieces into sculptural statements, like her initial pendants that recall midcentury modern branding. Like effective print layouts, her jewelry distills complex ideas to their essential forms, letting color and structure tell the story. The result? Instantly recognizable fine jewelry that catches on fast and lasts.
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Courtesy Harwell Godfrey
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Courtesy Harwell Godfrey
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Courtesy Harwell Godfrey
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Conscientious Luxury
Lauren is equally intentional about the sourcing of her materials. “I worry about the African economies that rely on natural diamond production," she explains, emphasizing her commitment to ethically sourced natural stones over lab-grown alternatives. “[Plus], I still think there’s something very magical about items coming from the Earth if they’re being harvested sustainably.”
The sense of responsibility gets to the very essence of the brand. Since 2020, Harwell Godfrey’s Charity Heart pendants have raised more than $377,000 for causes ranging from racial justice to food security to the recent Los Angeles wildfires. Lauren’s signature triangles appear here as a repeating device, depicting a heart that’s been broken and mended. But each pendant speaks its own visual language: the World Central Kitchen version incorporates growth-representing malachite; the Futures Without Violence piece employs purple chalcedony, a symbol for domestic abuse awareness; while pink opal honors the pregnancy and birth advocacy nonprofit Every Mother Counts (Lauren’s experience with heart failure following complications from her pregnancy give this particular piece visceral resonance).
When Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, Lauren responded not with a statement but with her Crux collection, where equal-sided crosses symbolize protection and women’s rights. “My rights as a woman are basic and vital,” she states in her collection notes. The garden-themed We Are Seeds celebrates resilience, taking after the proverb, “They tried to bury us, they didn't know we were seeds.”
Courtesy Harwell Godfrey
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Personal Connection in a Digital Age
Despite managing her production remotely—with her designs realized by specialized artisans—Lauren views trunk shows as invaluable opportunities for connection. Her selective approach to personal appearances (she mentions being “very picky” about where she goes, prioritizing time at home with her young son) makes her Naples debut particularly significant.
For Marissa Collections, featuring Harwell Godfrey during their 50th-anniversary year represents their continuing evolution. The boutique, which began as a fashion destination, has developed into one of the most exciting fine jewelry departments in the Southeast, making space for designers who challenge conventions.
Visitors to the trunk show will discover not just stunning jewels but also ones that tell stories of creative resilience, playful luxury, and a designer who continually finds new ways to surprise herself and her fans. “I like to keep people guessing and [feeling] like they’re on this journey with me,” Lauren adds. Her creations embody the best of Southwest Florida style: beauty reinforced with substance.
Meet designer Lauren Harwell Godfrey at the Marissa Collections trunk show, which will be held from March 20 to 22 as part of the boutique's month-long celebration of fine jewelry.