Local Jeweler J. Landa’s New River Oaks Boutique

Local Jeweler J. Landa’s New River Oaks Boutique

Jewelry by Becca Wright

For more than two decades, Houstonians have called upon Jay Landa for unique fine jewelry. He opened his J. Landa boutique in Rice Village in 1999, growing and renovating the space many times over, transitioning from his silversmith roots to a statement-piece brand. Now, J. Landa Jewelry has relocated to River Oaks, just a few doors down from State of Grace and Sid Mashburn.


The new boutique has been decked out by designer Dennis Brackeen of Moxie Interiors. The space is lighter and more open than Landa's Rice Village storefront. Diagonally laid French oak floors and antique armoires displaying the beautiful baubles draw the eye at first, but more subtle details, like artisan plastered walls and custom lighting, add another dimension of chic. Brackeen, who also designed previous iterations of J. Landa, says the goal for the new showroom was to be "quiet, sophisticated … timeless," and to provide a "spare yet warm atmosphere."




The elegant aesthetic is emitted through the jewelry as well. Landa has expanded his offerings, adding many new gold-and-diamond pieces — plus a vibrant collection of jewels from Turkey, Nigeria, India and other countries — to his signature collection of vintage turquoise sourced from Native American artisans in New Mexico.

Style

How did you get to where you are today? The present moment is a combined history of my family, my time as an athlete, my passion for learning, and my desire to see the world be better. I grew up as a successful springboard and platform diver, however, an injury caused me to seek alternative treatments to heal my body. In that process, I discovered the power of yoga, exercise, meditation, mindset, and nutrition. This holistic approach eventually led me to open a Pilates and cycling studio called DEFINE body & mind. I opened studios around the nation, and after selling most of my business between 2017-2019, I was ready to explore how I could make an even greater impact on the wellbeing of our community. In 2023, I started actively working on a brand new multi-family/apartment concept called, Define Living. The idea focused on offering health and wellness services within a beautiful apartment setting to increase the wellbeing of our residents. Having a strong sense of community is the number one factor in living a happy life, so why not build a community where daily fitness, cooking classes, and social connection are the norm? We opened Define Living in March of 2024, and we couldn’t be happier with how things are being received. We are already looking at building more concepts like this in the Houston area and beyond.

Keep Reading Show less

How did you get to where you are today? A few key principles integrated into my life: setting clear goals, maintaining a growth mindset, building strong habits, and surrounding myself with the right people. Goals provided direction, while a growth mindset helped me turn challenges into opportunities for learning. Consistent habits, like disciplined work and effective communication, kept me moving forward. Being surrounded by motivated, supportive individuals has elevated my standards and kept me accountable. They’ve provided advice, encouragement, and sometimes that extra push I needed to stay on track. With these elements, I’ve been able to create a framework that helps me succeed and ensures I continue to grow and evolve.

Keep Reading Show less
People + Places