Since every piece of jewelry has a story to tell, eminent, celebrity jewelry designer Rosalina Tran Lydster works behind the scenes to craft striking, vivid, and intricate jewelry that captivates one’s attention, evokes strong emotion, and leaves an everlasting impression.
As a child, Rosalina who was born and raised in Saigon, Vietnam had her first taste of glamour through her mother who expressed her signature style from head to toe. “I loved watching my mom dress up in perfect symmetry, never skimping on the fine details with a matching bag, shoes, and jewelry to complement her outfit,” she shares.
Rosalina’s parents owned top beauty salons and a prestigious couturier company where they would import fabric from France. To add more flavor to their businesses, Rosalina’s mother designed jewelry to exhibit the finishing touches in declaring a fashion statement. “My mother’s keen eye and exquisite taste for fashion garnered prominent clients like the first lady of Vietnam and top socialites in Saigon. Elegance, glamour, and sophistication are deeply rooted in my veins.” She smiles.
At a young age, Rosalina was trotting around the globe with her parents, and each time they would embark on a vacation, Rosalina would get all giddy on the plane admiring how the flight attendants were elegantly dressed. “Back then, people dressed up to travel, and seeing how glamorous these flight attendants looked made me want to be like them,” she relays.
Rosalina’s family migrated to San Francisco when she was twelve years old. Since traveling around the world had exposed Rosalina to different cultures, languages, and food, she adapted naturally to the American lifestyle. As they say, ‘the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree’, Rosalina started sketching jewelry designs at fourteen years old. Rosalina completed her Bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing at the San Francisco State University while taking classes at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising.
Shortly after graduating from college, Rosalina worked at a distinguished investment banking firm in San Francisco. While having a knack for numbers, Rosalina’s creative side haunted her, and this compelled Rosalina to explore her ultimate dream of becoming a jewelry designer. “I designed wedding bands, rings, and statement pieces for friends while still working in my day job. In 2002, I launched Jewelry by Rosalina,” she informs.
The attributes of Rosalina’s jewelry depict fashion from various eras with a touch of a European flair. She combines semi-precious and precious stones to create a unique piece of jewelry. “Since every closet displays a different style and design of clothing, why should jewelry be any different? I love integrating old and new―avant-garde, and art deco with a modern twist. The role of the jewelry designer is to make you shine,” she states.
Providing patronage to her Vietnamese heritage, Rosalina demonstrates her fondness for flowers and color. “My jewelry is simple but elegant, and I never replicate my pieces. I’m not fond of mass-produced jewelry. Every piece of jewelry I design is carefully crafted with love and truly resonates with me, since, I believe every woman deserves the right jewelry to complement her look,” she conveys.
As a creative artist, Rosalina draws inspiration from random moments and encounters. As the concept forms, she sketches the designs before choosing the right stones. Rosalina uses jewelry as a tool to express her creativity and passion. Each piece of jewelry represents a work of art, carefully molded to unleash beauty, charm, and vigor. “I believe jewelry should be big, bold, and colorful. I want to see a client step inside a room wearing a piece of jewelry that turns heads in their direction. Jewelry should stand out and bring out the best in you,” she declares.
As a husband and wife team, Rosalina manages the creative side of the business, while her husband is the CFO who oversees the operations. “I am so blessed to have an amazing and supportive husband who enables me to fulfill my vision and purpose. We work well together and share a universal goal of growth and success for the company while having fun. We work hard and play hard. I’m very fortunate to be doing something I love which never feels like a job and the rewards are endless.” She smiles.
Jewelry by Rosalina is sold at specialty boutiques and Neiman Marcus stores nationwide where she has been honored as the top jewelry vendor for two years in a row. Rosalina custom designs jewelry for special events and individuals around the world. Her unique statement pieces and sought-after cocktail rings have hailed her to be a notable jewelry designer for celebrities Paris Hilton, Tori Spelling, Tom Hanks, Pamela Anderson, Giselle Bundchen, Jessica Simpson, Paula Abdul, Demi Lovato, Danielle Steele, and many more. She was designated as the official jeweler of the 2006 Grammy Awards. The 2008 Miss Universe crown was co-designed by Rosalina and marks history as the first colored stone crown.
To add another feather to her cap, Rosalina stumbled upon the entertainment industry with her new role as an Executive Producer of Lionsgate for the acclaimed Reality TV show, House of Ho. “Lionsgate initially approached me to help cast an ideal family for their reality TV show which would depict a Crazy Rich Asians concept. I was so excited because this would be the first Vietnamese reality docuseries and we made sure to exhibit the Vietnamese traditions in a fun and respectful manner. This happened during the midst of the pandemic when everybody was indoors and glued to the TV. My jewelry business was facing challenging times and this opportunity fell right into my lap. House of Ho’s first season debuted last 2020 on HBO Max and the second season should launch on August 25, 2022, with ten episodes. I cast, consulted with the contracts, and executively produced the show with Wallin Chambers Entertainment for Lionsgate. Lionsgate then sold the pilot to HBO Max. ” She beams with pride.
Rosalina spearheaded Rosalina Entertainment LLC and is also the president of IDES Entertainment where they produce and distribute film/TV series. They will be establishing a talent agency soon. She is currently producing a reality TV show and game show. Rosalina also owns a consulting company that helps new businesses achieve their goals and success. “Hard-working people truly inspire me. I always advise them, that if they really want something, they have to work hard for it and do their part. It’s important to always do something you love and not get a job for the sake of making money. When you are involved in something you love, the money will unfold naturally. I believe I was sent into this world to be a connector of entrepreneurs, to shape their dreams and help them become a reality. One important factor is you have to believe in yourself, so people will believe in you,” she affirms.
Rosalina is as enchanting as the jewelry she designs, as animated as the reality docuseries she produces, and professional in her consulting business. Rosalina has been consistently supporting the San Francisco Ballet, The Raphael House of San Francisco, the Banyan Society, The American Cancer Society, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Nevada. “I realize how blessed my life has been, having a wonderful husband, amazing kids, and an incredible career, and in return, I wish to bless and take care of people,” she imparts.
When she’s not working, this dynamic woman spends time with her husband and two children traveling the globe, hanging out with friends, raising money for charities, and entertaining guests at home. “I love to cook and decorate my home with colorful flowers. I believe in living life to the fullest and spending time with the people you love,” she expresses.
Rosalina introduced her travel jewelry line called, Diamanté Collection before the pandemic and sold at various Four Seasons Resorts and Hotels. The jewelry line uses lab-created environmental stones to produce fine jewelry sustainably. Last December 2021, Rosalina recommenced Diamanté Collection with Chieu Anh Nguyen and Jasmine Nguyen, her business partners from Houston. “Diamanté Collection has been very well received. We partnered up with different foundations like Friendly Faces and Stopping Trafficking as a way of giving back to the community,” she defines.
Making headway, Rosalina hopes to collaborate with events, businesses, and beauty pageants to create memorable jewelry pieces for every occasion. “Jewelry empowers us to spell some magic,” she describes.
As Rosalina continues to push the envelope in her career, she expresses gratitude for everything she has achieved and for the people who have been instrumental in forging her path. “When I look back at how my life has evolved to where I am now, every bit and pieces fit the puzzle. Each encounter, experience, and moment has been meant to be. The foundation had been constructed from the very start taking me on this amazing journey and leading me to where I’m supposed to be. There’s still so much to learn and I’m committed to sharing my wisdom and giving back to the community,” she concludes.
Whether she’s designing her upcoming collection, producing her next Reality TV series, or providing consultation for her clients, Rosalina Tran Lydster practices what she does best which is to spread some sparkle to everyone she meets and in everything she does.