Francis de Lara is founded by veteran fashion photographer John-Paul Pietrus who, at the peak of his editorial career, made the decision to expand his passion for jewellery by attending the esteemed Metallo Nobile jewellery school in Florence, Italy. His studies focused on the Renaissance and, consequently, he produces endlessly opulent pieces punctuated by diamonds, rubies, emeralds, amethysts, and other precious stones.

"Whilst living in Florence to study jewellery design at the 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.