The story behind the legend.
If you've loved Lunch at The Ritz™ jewelry over the years, you may already know the name Esme Hecht — because I'm the one who started it all.
In 1982, as the original designer I co-founded Lunch at The Ritz™ alongside my former partner Alexis Watts. For thirty years, we built something truly special together: a beloved line of designer fashion jewelry that found its way into department stores, exclusive boutiques, and art galleries around the world. Our customers ranged from devoted collectors to some of the biggest names in entertainment and politics — Cher, Diana Ross, Dolly Parton, Hillary Clinton, and more.
After three decades of creative collaboration, Alexis and I came to a natural crossroads. With creative differences that had grown over thirty years, I made the decision to sell him my half of the business. It was bittersweet — but it was time.
I moved on to new chapters in the fashion jewelry world, and eventually took a leap of faith to create Ritzy Couture by Esme Hecht® — a line that carries the same passion, wit, and obsessive craftsmanship that defined Lunch at The Ritz™ from the very beginning.
Every piece in this collection comes from Esme's personal vault. These are the designs he lived with, obsessed over, and poured himself into across three decades at the helm of one of fashion jewelry's most celebrated brands. Cheerful, vibrant, and utterly one-of-a-kind — from wild west-themed earrings to stunning opal and emerald toggle bracelets — each piece is a little piece of history.
Now, Lunch Lovers and Ritzy Friends can find them all in one place, exclusively at Ritzy Couture.
I hope each piece brings you as much joy as it brought me to create it.
~Esme
