New York-Based Jewelry Brand Frank Darling Opens Its First Texas Showroom in Austin

The New York-based jewelry brand Frank Darling, known for its custom engagement rings, opened its first Texas showroom in June. The 1,500-square-foot space at 508 Baylor Street marks the brand’s ninth retail location and its continued move toward in-person, design-driven retail experiences.

Founded in 2017 by Kegan Fisher and Jeff Smith, Frank Darling began as a direct-to-consumer business operating out of the couple’s apartment. “It was always about intimacy and personalization,” said Fisher, recalling early appointments where customers would stop by for tea and diamond consultations. That early model has since evolved into a multi-city retail network built around one-on-one appointments and custom design services.

In Austin, the showroom is located inside a former art gallery in a Clarksville bungalow. “We’ve never done a standalone house before,” Fisher said. “As soon as we saw it—and it had been a gallery space before—we were like, oh my God, that has to be the place.”

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Frank Darling’s display of engagement rings, wedding rings and more. (Photo courtesy of Frank Darling)

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Showcase of various diamond shapes. (Photo courtesy of Frank Darling)

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Frank Darling has a selection of natural and lab-grown diamonds. (Photo courtesy of Frank Darling)

A boutique that feels like home

The home, previously occupied by the Stephen L. Clark Gallery, was once owned by Bill and Sally Wittliff and served as the art and production department during the filming of “Lonesome Dove.” The showroom has been redesigned to feel informal and lived-in, incorporating local vintage finds and warm colors.

“We really wanted the color to be a focal point,” said Taylor Ricketts, who leads design for all of the brand’s locations. “This color is very loud, but we decided to lean into it fully,” Ricketts was referring to a high-gloss version of Farrow & Ball’s Picture Gallery Red used on the fireplace mantel and dry bar.

The space also includes a 1970s leather saddle chair and hand-dyed paper lantern from Austin vintage store Joint Detail, pieces from Uptown Modern, and a 30-by-40-inch photograph by Gideon Yeeshun Tsang from his “Sweet Darkness” series. “The contrast of the photo looks fantastic in our light, sun-filled showroom,” Ricketts added.

Design is customized city by city, according to Fisher. “From a brand perspective, Austin just felt aligned—funky, cool and with an appreciation for design,” she said. “It felt very Frank Darling in a way that made it an easy place to start.”

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The living room of Frank Darling’s Austin location. (Photo courtesy of Frank Darling)

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The showroom has an open layout that’s designed to feel cozy and lived in. (Photo courtesy of Frank Darling)

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One of the consultation meeting spaces. (Photo courtesy of Frank Darling)

Designed with Austin in mind

The company’s growth has been steady by design. Frank Darling operates on a bootstrap model, opening showrooms in cities where it already has a strong customer base.

To mark the showroom’s debut, the company hosted its first-ever public opening event, featuring a front-yard ice cream truck, branded parasols and guided walk-throughs of the collection.

Next up for the brand are showrooms in Philadelphia and Miami, as well as a 5,000-square-foot production facility near its New York headquarters that will allow for more in-house manufacturing. But for now, Fisher says the company is focused on what’s happening just beyond the front porch in Austin.

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