It’s been a great year for Roussel’s Fine Jewelry and Gifts.
For Jess Roussel, his unique engagement ring won the design competition at the 2015 Jewelers of Louisiana Convention and in a show that was honoring its 70th anniversary. Even more impressive is this was the first time he entered a piece in the competition, impressing 88 judges and beating 16 other entries. His work goes on to compete in the National Jewelers of America contest in New York City.
The design, a 14K rose gold ring with a 2.5-carat pear-shaped diamond surrounded by cascading black diamonds, reflects his inspiration from nature. He is an outdoorsman who loves to hunt and fish with his brother, Rene. Jess, who manages the Roussel store in Gramercy, carries on the equally prestigious award-winning work of his father, Chris, a seven-time winner of the award his son just won.
Jess has earned this distinction at age 25, well ahead of his seven-time winner father who won his first convention design award at age 34. His work is drawing attention, having recently designed a pendant for a wildlife and fisheries group that gave it to their members as a gift. The work reflects his intrigue in how diamonds are created by Mother Nature. A graduate of the University of Southeastern, Jess has a business degree and also graduated from GIA Institute in New York City, where he studied jewelry design and diamonds.
Since, Jess has designed numerous rings, including his own line of engagement rings to be unveiled in 2016.
Chris, along with his wife, Amber, owns the chain of stores. Anthony Lucia has been their partner in the Boutte site for the last 15 years.
For the Roussel chain of jewelry and gift stores, the success builds on the 40-year history of a family-owned business that has grown into four locations in the River Parish area. The chain includes locations in LaPlace, Boutte and Pontchatoula, as well as Gramercy.
“We are now in our third generation of family,” said Earl Rodrigue, brother-in-law with the Roussels who has been with the business 27 years. “When we go to market, it’s a family market. Both Jess, his brother Rene, Earl and Amber, Chris and Anthony – all go to market together. Coming to work is truly a privilege because we love what we do.”
Overall, the family expertise in fine jewelry is the foundation that makes Roussel’s Fine Jewelry and Gifts home to master jeweler Dennis Sprague (among a handful of them in Louisiana) and jeweler Mitchell Heutin. They both do custom work and are among Roussel’s longtime employees, most of which have been with the family’s business more than 17 years.
“Walking into Roussel’s is walking into an eclectic atmosphere,” Rodrigue said. “It’s like a treasure hunt. The store consists of fine, custom and fashion jewelry all surrounded by the intoxicating scents of candles with a plethora of gifts.”
Roussel’s concept, two-story store in Pontchatoula includes musical instruments, including new and vintage guitars upstairs, along with jewelry and gifts. The building itself is vintage, dating back to 1868, and continues to serve as a music school upstairs.
“We have concerts at that location twice a year, as well as many different jam sessions,” he said of the store where Jess’ brother, Rene, works.
Overall, Roussel’s family stores are a mix of family and friends.
It’s not only a business, but also a cultural experience that has served the River Parishes for 40 years where every effort is made to please the customer. But also comes the anticipation of watching yet another generation of Roussels taking the stores into a new direction, but always remembering where it started.
“Who would have ever thought it?” Rodrigue said. “This was the original dream of Jackie and Jessie Roussel. The stores we have today come from humble beginnings in a garage in Norco.”
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