L&Co. Jewelry: An Everlasting Token of Japan

Staff Journal

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L&Co. has garnered fans across the world with their uniquely “Japan” designs.

▲L&Co.’s Samurai Ring Collection

I had always struggled when it came to finding the perfect “Japan” souvenir for my friends and family back home. I would sift through various trinkets at gift shops in metropolitan areas and surrounding airports, but end up leaving empty handed—unable to find something that I felt genuinely captured the spirit and traditional beauty of Japan.

Then, I came across L&Co.’s intricate designs of samurai helmets and cherry blossoms. History, culture and nature—the sheer amount of creative expression had me in awe. It was as if they had a piece for all my favorite sides of Japan.

▲”Lucky Open Factory” (Kofu City, Yamanashi)

Yamanashi, No. 1 Jewelry Capital of Japan

The genius behind L&Co. can be traced back to the brand’s company, Lucky & Co., Ltd., when it first opened its doors to the public in 1937 in the jewelry capital of Japan—Yamanashi Prefecture. Yamanashi is a well-known name in the jewelry world, accounting for a third of Japan’s entire jewelry production, and even hosting auspicious jewelry events with royal names, including Princess Tsuguko of Takamado herself.

The current CEO and mastermind behind Lucky & Co., Ltd. is a man named Naoki Mochizuki. He has managed to align the company with his “traditional yet progressive” and “local yet global” vision, amassing a whole new base of customers overseas who just can’t get enough of these uniquely “Japan” pieces.

▲L&Co.’s Online Shop

Inside Look at L&Co.
(Business Model & E-Commerce Strategy)

The planning, design, manufacturing and retail sales at Lucky & Co., Ltd. are all done in-house. They keep up with the trends by teaming up with talented freelance designers and influencers, unearthing perpetually fresh, innovative and creative ideas for their jewelry. Maintaining a strong online presence is also very important to L&Co., and they do so by keeping their followers updated with posts and livestreams on Instagram and YouTube. And now, thanks to a partnership with Shopify, L&Co.’s popular samurai, sakura and kanji-themed collections are available to customers in over 30 countries, in their respective languages.

▲Platinum ore, crystal staircase and 40,000 prototypes (facility tour)

In-Store Experience
(Jewelry-Making Workshops, Tours, & More)

At just a 5-minute walk from Kofu Minami Station, why not stop by in person? At “Lucky Open Factory,” you can get the full jewelry experience by taking part in their crafting workshops and guided facility tours.

At the factory’s jewelry-making workshop, you can create your own original piece of jewelry. First, choose from a variety of ring and necklace bases, then select a colored stone of your choice. Once you have these items in your tray, you will head over to the crafting space to begin the crafting process under the guidance of professional craftsmen. After shaping, polishing, buffing and rinsing your jewelry, the staff will carefully box it up for you to take home.

I absolutely adore the original piece I was able to make as an everlasting token of my visit to Lucky Open Factory. But I think I really get it now, that old saying of jewelry being "addictive"… as I gaze longingly at L&Co.’s Sakura Collection…