Dara Kaye Jewelry just dropped a high-end twist on the “cute monster” craze with its new LeKayeKaye charm—a sparkling creature built for both fashion and investment.
💰 Priced at $1,890, LeKayeKaye is no plush toy.
Crafted in 14k yellow gold with lab-grown diamond eyes and a lab-grown diamond pavé bail, it’s a luxurious nod to the viral Labubu trend.
“It’s done the Dara Kaye way—elevated, and with solid gold and lab-grown diamonds,” says designer Dara Kaplan.
LeKayeKaye joins the wave of novelty jewelry that merges childhood nostalgia with grown-up luxury. Kaplan recommends layering it on a long charm necklace alongside subtler pieces.
📈 The trend is red-hot. Labubus—plushies and figurines made by China’s Pop Mart—exploded on social media after BLACKPINK’s Lisa posted one in April 2024. Since then, celebs like Rihanna, Madonna, and David Beckham have joined the hunt. Even Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez reportedly received Labubus at their wedding.
Despite the hype, not everyone is charmed.
🗞️ The Wall Street Journal dubbed them “creepy little trolls,” while one fan called them “ugly little critters.” But that’s kind of the point.
“Monsters have always been part of the human psyche,” Kaplan says.
“They represent fear, yes—but also playfulness and identity.”
Whether it’s Sesame Street’s Elmo, DoodleBob from SpongeBob, or a monster under the bed, Kaplan believes we’re drawn to these characters because they tap into something deeper: a desire to smile, remember, and rebel.
“Women today are throwing out the traditional jewelry playbook,” Kaplan adds.
“They still want quality—but they also want joy.”
As for what’s next from Dara Kaye?
“So much more,” Kaplan teases. “Never say never.”