When LAGOS first hit the scene, there wasn’t yet a name for the type of jewelry Steven was creating. Working in sterling silver, sometimes mixed with other metals, and semi-precious stones, his expertly crafted jewelry didn’t fit into any pre-existing categorization of the art form. It wasn’t costume, and it wasn’t what was traditionally considered “fine,” and yet its appeal was immediately apparent among women who wanted to express their individuality, and their independence, through their choice of adornment. Recognizing the growth in popularity of not-costume-not-fine jewelry, Neiman Marcus and others created a new category of jewelry then known as “bridge” jewelry, establishing one of Steven’s many “firsts” in the industry.

The development of his signature, trademarked aesthetic, Caviar, in 1984, is yet another of Steven’s “firsts.” Wanting to create jewelry that was recognizable even without seeing its hallmark or packaging, Steven began incorporating elements of Caviar into all of his designs. Variations on the theme are extensive, with some pieces made entirely out of the distinctive beads and other pieces containing a single element of the design. While this adherence to a distinguishing feature was uncommon at the time, it is now an approach that creators of designer fine jewelry consider the holy grail of accomplishment.

A prolific creator, over the course of his career, Steven has developed over 15,000 original designs and created over 2.5 million pieces of jewelry, and he continues to be a trailblazer in both innovation and marketing. Dividing his time between the brand’s Philadelphia Headquarters, its New York City showroom and its Innovation and Development Studio in Bangkok, Thailand, Steven is continually pushing the envelope on the creation of new concepts, materials and strategies.

With the development of jewelry grade ceramic, the brand offers jewelry in a variety of vibrant colors mixed with silver and yellow or rose gold, their Smart Caviar collection enhances the functionality of Apple watches with an elevated sense of style, and their LAGOS For Men collection provides contemporary men with pieces that are classic yet with a rock n’ roll edge.

For close to a decade, Steven has been joined in business by his daughter, Kate Shares Lagos. A co-collaborator, along with her father, on the KSL collection, which offers a fresh take on classic LAGOS styles, Kate now serves as the company’s Brand Stylist & Associate Designer.

In this role, Kate oversees all photo shoots to ensure each image conveys the essence of the brand, she collaborates with retail partners on new initiatives and spearheads company-wide innovations in marketing and PR, ultimately safeguarding the continuation of her father’s legacy.