Are +Beryll sunglasses worth it?+
For anyone who values handcrafted, architecturally clean eyewear, they make a strong case. +Beryll is a luxury accessory company that founder Sigmar Berg built around hand-made sunglasses, working with a crew of artisan workers. The brand's purist design ethos, paired with that artisanal approach, is what justifies its luxury positioning for its devotees.
Who is behind +Beryll?+
The brand was founded in 2006 by Austrian-born Sigmar Berg, a painter, photographer and fashion designer who moved to Los Angeles. Trained as an architect, Berg began designing accessories in his Santa Monica studio, starting with hand-made sunglasses. His creative and architectural background is central to the brand's identity.
What is +Beryll's design philosophy?+
Purist and architectural. Berg is largely influenced by his European roots, in particular the Bauhaus style of architecture, and his products lean unisex while also incorporating the feel of Southern California. The result is eyewear and accessories defined by clean lines rather than heavy ornament, reflecting his background as a trained architect.
Which +Beryll product should I buy first?+
Start with the sunglasses, the category the brand was founded on. Sigmar Berg originally focused on hand-made sunglasses before expanding into other accessories, so they remain the truest expression of +Beryll's craft and aesthetic. Once you know the look, the wider lifestyle range opens up from there.
What else does +Beryll make besides sunglasses?+
Quite a lot, all stemming from the same hand-crafted approach. After starting with sunglasses, Berg expanded into jewelry, handbags, boots, belts, hats, scarves, leather vests and other accessories, plus clothing. It has grown into a full lifestyle accessory house rather than an eyewear-only label.
Where can I buy +Beryll?+
The brand established its flagship store in Santa Monica, which began as by-appointment only before opening to the general public. Beyond that, +Beryll expanded to roughly 500 outlets and has been sold at retailers such as Henri Bendel, Maxfield, Barney's and Fred Segal. So it has both a home base and broad stockist reach.
Where is +Beryll based?+
+Beryll is a luxury accessory company based in Los Angeles, California, with its flagship store in Santa Monica. The Southern California setting is woven into the brand itself, since Berg's designs blend his European roots with a distinctly SoCal sensibility. That LA grounding shapes the brand's relaxed-luxury character.
Have celebrities worn +Beryll?+
According to the brand, yes, a notable list. +Beryll says its products have been worn by figures including Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Drew Barrymore, Lenny Kravitz, Robert De Niro and Nicolas Cage, among others. Kristin Cavallari wore the +Beryll Air sunglasses on The Hills, and styles have also been seen on Sarah Jessica Parker, Sharon Stone and Demi Moore.
What makes +Beryll feel handcrafted rather than mass-produced?+
The brand leans on real artisanal labor. +Beryll uses a crew of artisan workers to craft its products, and the whole enterprise grew out of Berg hand-making sunglasses in his own Santa Monica studio. That studio-and-artisan model is the opposite of factory anonymity, which is a big part of the appeal.
Is +Beryll's aesthetic more European or Californian?+
It is deliberately both. Berg draws heavily on his European roots and the Bauhaus design tradition, yet his products also incorporate the styles of Southern California where the brand lives. That blend of continental restraint and SoCal ease is exactly what gives +Beryll its distinctive character.
