Designer Spotlight: Jade Trau, a Modern ‘Diamantaire,’ Creates Wearable Luxury Jewelry

LA Digital
Since establishing her own luxury jewelry company more than five years ago, Jade has implemented her 20 years of diamond industry experience, paying homage to her family heritage as a modern diamantaire.

A fifth-generation jeweler, Jade’s designs are an exploration of authentic personal style through meticulously crafted, uniquely refined diamond jewelry. By reinterpreting vintage inspirations, Jade produces classic yet contemporary pieces of jewelry that tell a compelling story, connecting wearers across generations.

Storytelling, along with the personalized nature of jewelry are at the forefront of the Jade Trau brand. The most beautiful piece of jewelry is a piece that is worn, and creating luxury pieces that wear beautifully and comfortably is her objective. Just as Jade’s approach to design evolves organically around the diamond to enhance its inherent beauty, each piece of Jade Trau jewelry complements the individual wearing it.

Jade Trau jewelry is manufactured and hand-finished under one roof in New York City. Jade finds the beauty in the unseen and brings it out in her designs by using the highest quality materials and finest craftsmanship. Through her obsessive design process, she creates jewelry that becomes an extension of the wearer and empowers self-expression.

Find Jade Trau’s designs in Houston exclusively at Lesley Ann Jewels.
Fashion+Home

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.

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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.

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