Francis de Lara
The Story
 

Francis de Lara is the world’s first fine jewellery-eyewear house, which now continues its evolution with traditional jewellery forms (earrings, rings, necklaces…) to complete the suite. The name stems from Creative Director John-Paul Francis de Lara Pietrus’ middle name.

The high-line eyewear pieces are patiently handmade and unique, from precious metals and gems, and take over 250 to 750 hours to make, individually. Exacting attention to detail and quality is made. FDL Editions, which form the more affordable diffusion line, are hand-finished.

The first collection, ‘Ribbons and Serpents’, consists of pieces formed from 24 karat gold, sterling silver, diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, amethysts, garnets, tourmaline and kunzite, along with accents of precious ebony. All materials are ethically sourced. Each eyewear style is limited to an edition of 12, and never will one piece be the same stone and metal colour combination again, ensuring that every single piece is absolutely one of a kind. 

Francis de Lara harks back to jewellery of the Renaissance era, but in the unexpected and delightful shape of eyewear, which did not exist at that time, and is now the world’s most popular accessory.

“Whilst living in Florence to study jewellery design at the esteemed Metallo Nobile, I sauntered over to the Palazzo Pitti or the Uffizi many a day. As I was looking at all of the beautiful Renaissance paintings: royalty and clergy adorned in incredible jewellery and clothing, I thought to myself “what kind of sunglasses would they have worn if they had had them?” That idea developed into the idea of these jewellery-glasses: some for sun, and some for evening with clear to lightly tinted lenses that a woman can don with a simple black ‘Le Smoking’ tuxedo or a stunning red-carpet gown, to make a bold and beautiful statement, as an option to the more traditional necklace or brooch. Francis de Lara jewellery-eyewear crosses the boundaries between fine jewellery and eyewear, incorporating precious metals, stones, and woods with the spirit of Renaissance jewellery into eyewear. My vision of Francis de Lara evolves with creations in traditional jewellery forms to expand the menagerie.”

John-Paul Francis de Lara Pietrus