Founder and owner, Mark Lauer, studied jewelry design in college, creating and selling jewelry on campus to help pay for his college tuition. It was here while trading earrings for wax candles that Mark met his future wife Susan, who is now the company's accountant.
After graduating from college Mark worked for two different jewelry companies in Chicago, but designing was his true passion. He felt a need to create his own original jewelry designs. In 1985 Mark's brother Michael joined forces with him, and Mark Michael Designs was born. Mark Michael Designs was originally started as a wholesale business in the basement of Mark’s house. Mark would design and manufacture the jewelry while Mike would travel all over the USA selling Mark's designs to jewelry retailers. It was a slow start from their humble beginnings but soon they had over 100 accounts, a downtown Minneapolis manufacturing facility, and Mark Michael jewelry was being sold across the country.
In 1997 Mark's brother Mike passed away suddenly. Mark was left with a difficult choice: either close the business or forge on alone. After encouragement from other colleagues in the jewelry industry, Mark decided to continue on with the wholesale company he and Mike had started together.
In 2000 Mark, turned to a new direction, left the wholesale business and opened his retail gallery Mark Michael Diamond Designs on Main Street in Maple Grove. This direct to public retail formula provided a wonderful opportunity to work directly with customers. For the past 14 years Mark Michael Diamond Designs has been a mainstay on Maple Grove's Main Street. From humble beginnings to being voted Maple Grove's Best Jeweler, Mark Michael Diamond Designs stands for original and custom jewelry designed and handcrafted locally right here in Minnesota.