Today we’d like to introduce you to Ronald Kuy.
Ronald, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
The Lim’s Jewelry Co., was founded in 1982. We started in the jewelry industry in 1976 as a small family business, importing precious and semi-precious colored stones from Asia. The founders of The Lim’s Jewelry Company, Eavhuot and Mouykea (my parents), then opened their own store front in 1982. They started in tiny store in Downtown LA and grew the business to their current larger storefront and two more stores in Fullerton, California. I grew up in this business. As a child, I would come help my parents at work on weekends and during the summer, learning everything there is to know about diamonds, colored stones, pearls, design and manufacturing.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It was never an easy road. Starting out in the business, with little broken English my parents had to quickly learn how to adapt in this country. They faced some racism and backlash from people but overcame that and established the business. The learning curve is difficult in this business and the mistakes can be very costly. While working on pieces I needed to develop a strong yet delicate touch as not to damage the expensive and sometime very unique stones being set. That and learning old world craftsmanship techniques and adapting them to the new age technologies made me think out of the box to blend the two worlds together. When the economic crisis of 2008 came it direly affected the business. Jewelry is a luxury item and it’s one of the first things to get cut when people have to tighten the belt. We waded the water and fought through the storm and are still surviving and producing quality jewelry for people of all economic incomes.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
The Lim’s Jewelry Co., specializes in all custom jewelry, including engagement rings, pendants, bracelets, necklaces, etc. We are known for our exquisite jewelry, solid craftsmanship, and terrific prices. With over 30 years in the business and countless hours of work creating unique pieces we have developed an unmatched expertise.
Jewelry is a very personal thing, whether it be your engagement ring or the minimalist ring you wear when you’re going out with your friends. It showcases your personality and your style. We build relationships with our customers often becoming friends and learning their specific jewelry tastes. Thus, creating unique pieces to each person. My favorite thing is that I love seeing the reaction of our customers when we create something special. To see them smile when I show them the piece I created for them, warms my heart. It’s something that never gets old. I have often repurposed inherited jewelry from our customers, taking an old ring that may have belonged their father and using all those old diamonds and gold to create something modern and special for them.
They know their dad used to wear the ring and now they can as well so it’s sentimental and beautiful. What sets us apart from others is our genuine care for our customers/friends and our customer service. Whether someone is spending $20 or $2000 you will still get the same service.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up I was always a creative kid. I loved The Electric Company, Sesame Street and The Muppets. I remember when I was about 4 or 5, I would set up the pots and pans in front of me and bang on them with chopsticks because Animal from The Muppets would do that on his drum kit. He was one of my favorite characters. I was and still am heavy into music and the arts. Growing up I played piano, trumpet, and drums. I grew up listening to a lot of hip hop and was involved in all 4 (actually 5 if you include beat boxing) elements of hip hop, MCing, DJing, breakdancing, and graffiti. All of which heavily influenced my aesthetic. When I reached high school, my parents finally started paying me to work so at the age of 16 and what seemed like endless weekends and summers, I finally saved up enough money to buy my first set of turntables. I was heavily influenced in scratching from DJ Melo-D, and was inspired by The Invisible Skratch Piklz. This showed me that with art the possibilities are only limited by one’s own self.
Contact Info:
- Address: 637 S. Hill St #B4 Los Angeles, CA 90014
1475 S. Harbor Blvd #A7 Fullerton, CA 92832 - Website: www.limsjewelry.com
- Phone: 213-622-7195
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/limsjewelry/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-lims-jewelry-co-los-angeles
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