Meet Erik Lopez of By Design Jewelers in Coral Gables

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erik Lopez.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Originally from New York, my grandfather Frank Lopez, a lapidary, moved to Miami Beach in the early 80’s and used my parents’ garage as his gemstone cutting work-space. I was able to watch him craft a faceted gem from rough material straight from the mine. And, in 1985 my mother, Gaye Luaces, began operating By Design Jewelers. Since the day we opened our first location I began to help out around the shop after school. After a while, I began apprenticing under our master jeweler and learned the technical aspects of crafting a piece of jewelry.

When I went off to college, I wasn’t sure that taking over the family business was right for me, but I was certain my career needed to be in the arts. I balanced work, swim practice, studying and countless hours in my studio drawing, painting and developing photos but, I never had a firm idea of what I’d do upon graduation. By chance, one of my mother’s clients noticed some of my artwork in the jewelry store, and offered me a job at her ad agency while I was still finishing up my senior year at Wooster. I accepted a position under the condition that I could start after I graduated. She gave me 2 days to drive from Ohio to Miami upon my graduation, to begin my tenure at the agency.

I taught myself computer-aided graphic design, in my down-time, while working at the ad agency. And, after I left the agency I began working in the graphic arts for a few different companies over the next decade while working weekends at the jewelry store.

I eventually decided to apply my inner entrepreneur: I began doing freelance design and I opened up an art gallery in the Gables. My mom began pursuing her life-long dream of becoming an innkeeper full time, so she started building a luxury inn in the mountains of North Carolina. I was offered the opportunity to purchase the jewelry business from her, and I jumped at the chance. I had always loved jewelry design, I appreciated the good will that we had developed in the community over the previous decades and I cherished the idea of passing a legacy business down from one generation to the next.

The plan was to have a nice six month long, smooth transition, while I assumed the helm, but only two weeks into my new full-time leadership at the jewelry store, my mother was hit by a car, was very seriously injured and was recovering a thousand miles away. It was the start of a trial by fire for me at the shop, and it was the beginning of seemingly endless months of recovery for my mother. 2008 was both a difficult and educational year as I assumed the Creative Director and CEO position at By Design Jewelers without my mentor and mother to help navigate the waters with me.

Fortunately, my mother has fully recovered, and operates the most beautiful bed and breakfast in the mountains. And, I’ve been able to settle into leadership at By Design Jewelers quite comfortably. We opened our new flagship location on Ponce de Leon Boulevard three years ago, and have established at satellite location at The Inn at Little Pond Farm.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The luxury goods business brings with it a host of fiscal concerns. The biggest of which is that when there is a downturn in the economy, the first thing people stop spending money on is jewelry. So, we’ve felt the economic ups and downs just like our colleagues in the industry, to some degree. Fortunately, we’ve always been able to run a very successful business with a comparatively small inventory. Most jewelry stores have very large inventories, often many employees, and have extended credit with banks and diamond suppliers. In our unique niche, we keep our inventory low, we’re self owned and operated, and because 85% of our business is custom design, we have been able avoid any truly turbulent economic struggles.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about By Design Jewelers – what should we know?
By Design Jewelers specializes in custom designed fine jewelry made in platinum, white, yellow and rose gold. Each piece of jewelry uses the highest quality in diamond, pearl, precious and semi-precious gemstones.

Our jewelry is a product of good design, quality materials and excellent workmanship. Each piece is a labor of love with scrupulous attention given to every element. Hours are spent deciding on the appropriate scale and proportions. Every gem is carefully selected and matched. Every surface is meticulously finished, every stone is perfectly set.

We are considered the premier custom design jeweler in South Florida because of our attention to detail, the time we spend with our clients helping to turn their dreams into a reality and the superior quality of the finished product.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My mother, Gaye Luaces, deserves the credit for creating a business that has been able to thrive for over three decades. My model maker, Ivan Franco, has helped me create the most well curated and crafted wax-models in the industry. My setter, Johann Tabata, is the most superb diamond setter in Miami. Graduate Gemologist and Appraiser, Dave Levison, has taught me everything I know about diamonds.

Contact Info:

• Address: 1607 Ponce de Leon Blvd.,
  Suite 106
  Coral Gables, FL 33134
• Website: www.bydesignjewelers.com
• Phone: 305-441-9347
• Email: bydesignjewelers@gmail.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/bydesignjewelers
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/ByDesignJewelers
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/ByDesignJwlrs
• Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/by-design-jewelers-coral-gables

Image Credit:
Erik Lopez

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