50 YEARS IN FAMILY DIAMOND BUSINESS - Westfair Communications

Family and friends recently celebrated Lewis Baribault”™s 50th anniversary at Baribault Jewelers. From left: Nichole Baribault, Lewis Baribault III, Lew Baribault, Raeann Schwartz, Christina Ortiz, Dan Ortiz, Cathy Baribault and Evan Schwartz. Photo courtesy Brian Ambrose Photography.

When Lewis Baribault of Glastonbury, Connecticut, was 16 years old, he dreamed of becoming a motorcycle mechanic. But persuaded by his uncle, Philip Baribault Sr., owner of Baribault Jewelers, he switched to becoming a watch mechanic. Now, 50 years later, the Baribault family celebrated his milestone anniversary in the family business at a special event 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,” Lewis Baribault explained. “However, running a successful jewelry business also takes a savvy mind for managing money, marketing and leading a team of staff, in addition to jewelry-making skills and keeping up with fast-paced industry trends.”

He took over the jewelry store located on Rankin Road in Glastonbury in 1988 and today he and his three children Christina Baribault Ortiz, Raeann Baribault-Schwartz and Lewis Baribault III have kept this a family-owned business after almost 75 years since its establishment.

As he reflects on his long career, some of the biggest changes he has witnessed in the industry are the effects of companies selling jewelry online and the birth of lab created diamonds.

As for the future, he said, “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.”