How Meghan Markle’s sparkle earned an unknown earring brand $1.2 million in investment

The “Meghan Sparkle” appears to have stretched beyond the movie landscape. It seemed to have played a pivotal role in the success of an emerging ethical jewelry brand. During a recent episode of BBC’s Dragon’s Den, Kimai co-founders Sidney Neuhaus and Jessica Warch revealed that Markle played a significant role in their brand’s success.

Warch disclosed that they began their start-up with no investment, but, thanks to the Duchess of Sussex, their brand began flourishing after she associated herself with their earrings.

Markle wore earrings from Kimai four years ago, propelling the ethical jewelry brand’s growth. The exposure led to a significant increase in revenue, and subsequently, the company secured a $1.2 million investment.

“How did you get Meghan Markle to wear your jewelry?” investor Steven Bartlett asked the co-founders.

Warch explained that the magic lay in cold emails they sent to every name they possibly thought of. According to Warch, their success story of getting investors and the Duchess of Sussex on board their brand was reaching out to them through this method, according to People.

The Belgian duo, creators of a brand using lab-grown diamonds and recycled gold, secured a partnership with an impressed investor, Bartlett, who commended their proactive approach in contacting Markle.

The brand gained global attention when Markle wore their 18-karat gold Felicity earrings during a visit to Smart Works’ London hub in January 2019. The brand’s co-founder revealed that Markle’s team contacted them after they sent her the earrings, and she expressed genuine admiration for the pieces.

The royal family’s official website does not provide explicit guidance on accepting gifts, but according to Prince Harry’s memoir “Spare,” Markle shared the freebies she received, including clothes, perfumes, and makeup, with the women in their office.

This act of generosity speaks volumes to Markle’s warmth in the workplace after their marriage in 2018. The memoir did not shy away from the divisions among royal staff members during that time. In 2019, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle formally separated their royal households from Prince William and Kate Middleton, establishing two distinct offices at Kensington Palace.

In the subsequent year, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle relinquished their royal duties and moved to Markle’s home state of California with their son Prince Archie, now 4.

Their daughter, Princess Lilibet, was born in the U.S. in 2021.