Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/692589
"WE'RE NOT JUST SELLING RINGS, WE'RE CREATING THEM." —DAVID LAMPERT 98 MICHIGANAVEMAG.COM PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID LAMPERT (SKETCH); COURTESY OF LESTER LAMPERT (RENDERING; JEWELRY) CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: A sketch of the exterior of the new Lester Lampert store at 7 E. Huron St.; diamond VoiLLa earrings, a Lester Lampert signature design, in platinum (from $4,400); a ring sketched by David Lampert; a mother's custom-designed rings featuring her children's birthstones (price on request). LUXURY JEWELER LESTER LAMPERT MAKES A MAJOR MOVE TO AN EXPANSIVE SPACE IN RIVER NORTH. BY LAUREN EPSTEIN SHINY AND NEW Diamonds are forever, and they've been in Lester Lampert's family almost as long. His luxury jewelry company is rooted in 100 years of sparkling history, trailing a long line of successful Chicago-based jewelers. But that's not to say the business is static: A prominent figure on Oak Street for 23 years, Lester Lampert, Inc. is relocating to a vast 5,000-square-foot site on East Huron Street with a two-level showroom, watch gallery, and more, all wrapped in a glistening new package for the River North crowd. "People are shopping differently. They're buying engagement rings online," says co-owner and gemologist David Lampert, Lester's son. But he hopes the state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and design room at the new space will transform this experience. "We're not just selling rings, we're creating them," he explains. "We sketch them with the customer, create renderings, and print 3D models. It's a high-tech process that allows for complete customiza- tion"—an approach that will appeal to the area's clientele. "It's a young neighbor- hood, and I think that will influence our designs going forward," Lampert says of the River North location. Evidence of this can be found in the company's latest collection, CasueLL, a fun, lightweight daily wear line for the modern buyer. Says Lampert, "We're excited about the chance to present a fresh new look in our quality of merchandise." 7 E. Huron St. , 312-944- 6888; lesterlampert.com . STYLE OPENING