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Jeweler Lewis Baribault Celebrates 50th Work Anniversary
The Connecticut jeweler reflected on five decades in the industry and what the future holds for the family business.
The Baribault family celebrated Lewis Baribault’s 50th work anniversary last month. Pictured here, from right, is Nichole Baribault, Lewis Baribault III, Lewis Baribault, Raeann Schwartz, Christina Ortiz, Dan Ortiz, Cathy Baribault, and Evan Schwartz. (Image courtesy of Brian Ambrose Photography)
Glastonbury, Conn.—In another life, jeweler Lewis Baribault may have been a motorcycle mechanic.
His uncle, Philip Baribault Sr., owner of Baribault Jewelers in Glastonbury, Connecticut, encouraged him to try his hand at fixing watches instead.
It must have stuck because Lewis and his family just celebrated his 50th work anniversary last month.
The Baribault family raised a glass to his five decades in the family business on April 23 at Rooftop 120 in Glastonbury.
“I always loved working with my hands and ended up going to watchmaking school and loving it as much as I loved mechanics, so I stayed working at Baribault Jewelers,” said Lewis.
The business was founded in 1948 with Lewis taking over in 1988.
He earned his stripes as a master jeweler and setter, later building an on-site shop for custom jewelry and repairs.
The industry has changed since Lewis took the reins. He highlighted the advent of online jewelry selling and the rise of lab-grown diamonds as two of his biggest challenges, but a strong family bond behind the scenes is his key to success.
His three children, Christina Baribault Ortiz, Raeann Baribault-Schwartz and Lewis Baribault III, are also part of the family business.
“We work very hard together to make things happen in our business and work through any challenges,” said Lewis, “but the most important thing to me is that we keep a healthy family dynamic.”
The store has received several industry awards through the years. It touts its status as a “Blue Diamond” Tacori dealer, a special accolade given by the jewelry brand to its top partners.
Looking ahead, customers can still find Lewis behind the counter as he intends to remain an active part of the business, with a little downtime thrown in, too.
“I love what I do so it never feels like work. I will continue to work and be active in our business and also enjoy the fact that my children can professionally run our business, so I can choose to enjoy myself on a golf or fishing trip.”
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