WORKING -- Bruce Lambert

-- Story by Deirdre Newman, photo by [TK]

HE IS

In the business of making his customers sparkle

DESIGNING WITH FLAIR

Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but jewelry designer Bruce

Lambert is a close second because his customers can be assured that no

one else will be sporting the same distinctive design.

While most of Lambert’s work is in engagement, wedding and anniversary

rings, his specialty is designing custom jewelry.

Lambert tries to get to the heart of exactly what his clients are

looking for, like when he designed an angel pendant for a man whose wife

was battling cancer.

“A custom ring is just like a bridal gown,” Lambert said. “In case of

a ring, I have the size [of the jewel] and the personality to consider,

so I really tailor it for the individual needs.”

Lambert also designs men’s jewelry, such as watches and rings. He has

been creating his designs in Newport Beach for the past 24 years.

A DIVERSE CLIENTELE

Many of Lambert’s designs are for customers who have purchased or

inherited a large, unique jewel and want a special setting to showcase

it.

One client brought in a large alexandrite gem that was in an older

mounting to get a fresh look for it. Another had a dome-shape ruby

cabochon that she had bought in Sri Lanka.

“I told him I wanted something that made a statement, and it’s great,”

said Pat Stayner of Corona del Mar, who says her penchant for large

jewelry is due to her age. “I’m too old to wear delicate jewelry.

[Lambert] always seems to take care of what we need, and that makes it

all worthwhile.”

While many of his customers are from the area, Lambert also has a

sizable clientele spread across the country. One client from Casper,

Wyo., sent Lambert a 2,000-year old Greek coin so he could make a special

pendant out of it.

A DESIGNING PROCESS

After talking with his clients, Lambert usually spends a few hours

doing some conceptual drawings and then drafts the final working drawing

to present. For his far-flung customers, he scans the design into his

computer and e-mails it to them.

While Lambert accedes to requests for unconventional designs, he

favors the traditional look.

“If I was designing automobiles, I would prefer to be designing

Porsches or BMWs because I like the clean, tailored lines,” Lambert said.

Three jewelry craftsmen in an on-site workshop turn Lambert’s designs

into reality.

In addition to his creative designs, Lambert molds his rings in an

unusual shape -- instead of round, they are shaped like a trapezoid so

they fit more precisely and so the jewel stays straight on the finger.

Lambert said he enjoys that his clients come to him for the special

occasions in their lives.

“People don’t usually come to buy jewelry because they’vejust lost a

job or are mad at somebody. It’s a celebratory event,” he said.

THE PERSONAL TOUCH

Many of Lambert’s customers have been bringing their precious jewels

to him for decades, providing a repeat business that helps him weather

some of the rough economic times.

“What I typically offer is the personalized service of looking after

people myself,” Lambert said.