Bijoux, Bijoux
August 22, 2003
Rosalina Tran Lydster struts past the tourist traffic that clogs Chinatown’s streets. Wearing black slacks and a white, silk top that’s cut high in the back, she arrives at AsianWeek’s office with her daughter by her side. She takes a moment to catch her breath, and then, reaching into her tote bag, pulls out her creations.
How about a chunky strand of pearls with a $68,000 price tag? A gold-and-diamond leaf brooch that transforms into a pendant?
Or, a diamond-and-sapphire elephant ring — part of her Animal Fantasy collection, which she was inspired to design after watching Animal Planet with her children, Brittany, 10, and Sean, 7.
“I get a lot of ideas from my kids,” she laughs. “One time, they were doing their homework using crayons and an idea for a necklace jumped out of my head.”
The founder of Jewelry by Rosalina, Lydster creates high-end jewelry, ranging from $1,500 to $70,000, exclusively for Neiman Marcus. Typically, just 10 copies of each design are produced, but she also works directly with clients for one-of-a-kind pieces. Bold gems and exquisite craftsmanship set her work apart from that of other fine jewelers.
æWhen people spend that kind of money, I want them to have something special,” she says. “Anyone can do diamonds. I like conversational pieces, pieces that can be picked up out of a crowd.”
Though in business for less than two years, Lydster has already attracted attention from A-list personalities. Actress Ali Landry is a client. San Francisco ballerina Yuan Yuan Tan has modeled her collection. And rapper Lil’ Kim has expressed interest in her work for an upcoming tour.
Lydster also sells to women who want to update their look. She remembers meeting a doctor who had on conservative jewelry, including an emerald-cut diamond ring and a diamond bracelet. She ended up buying two of Lydster’s pieces, both made with bright purple amethyst.
“Afterward, she said, ‘These aren’t what I usually buy, but you have a fan now,’” Lydster recalls. “That’s what I like, open minded people who try new things and have fun with their jewelry.”
ALL IN THE FAMILY
Lydster says her love for jewelry is in her blood. In the 1960s, her mother, Hai Vo, was a respected jeweler for Vietnam’s first lady and other Saigon socialites. After immigrating to the United States, her parents opened a jewelry store in Sunnyvale, Calif. Trained as an architect, her father also designed some of the exclusive pieces.
They encouraged their daughter to take over the shop, but Lydster chose to study business instead. Later, while working in the investment banking field, she designed wedding and engagement rings for friends and co-workers.
Bombarded with requests, Lydster decided to go at it full-time. She took her collection to Neiman Marcus’ Las Vegas store and showed it to the jewelry department manager. He liked them enough to contact the store’s buyers and help schedule a trunk show.
“I thought Las Vegas would be a good market because what I do is very bright, very bling-bling,” she says.
Finding success there, she was asked to do more shows, one in Newport Beach, Calif., the other in San Francisco. Now, all three stores sell her jewelry.
Lydster is also negotiating with producers of the Emmy Awards, who want to include her jewelry in gift bags to the nominees, and with NBC executives who want to feature her pieces on Will and Grace and Good Morning, Miami.
Lydster says her mother is still her greatest mentor. Though her parents sold their business, Vo still custom designs jewelry for old clients, some of whom live as far away as Paris. When she and Lydster travel together for business or pleasure, the two always stop by jewelry stores.
“People say, ‘Why are you looking at other people’s stuff?’” Lydster says. “But that’s not what it’s about. It’s about people’s talent. I love jewelry. I consider it artwork.”
Lydster’s rings and necklaces do look like art, spread across a desk at AsianWeek’s office.
As Lydster looks for a piece to model for a close-up shot, her daughter, Brittany, chimes in, “Do one of the animal rings because on the desk you can only see one side of them.”
Says Lydster, “She’s learning.”
Also in Features
APA Designers Take on the Fall
Simplicity Supplants Gadget-Crazy Cargo
Comments
Got something to say?