Julie Lamb on How Her Lamb-Motif Jewelry Can Speak for Ewe

Julie Lamb embraced the whimsy of her last name long ago. “I’ve had fun with my name my whole life and got used to different nicknames in school,” the New York City–based jewelry designer recollects. By the time she enrolled in art school, she started using a lamb silhouette as her logo, and as she designed lines for brands like Nine West, Avon, and most recently Honora Pearls, she kept sketching out a little lamb line on the side for herself. Finally last year, Lamb took a big step in an independent direction when she unveiled her Be Ewe collection of sterling silver and 14k and 18k gold jewelry. “I’m infusing some fun into fine jewelry,” she explains.

The message behind the looks urges wearers to be comfortable in their skin by way of proudly standing out in a crowd or by embracing familial positions as proverbial black sheep of the family. A Bombay-style ring bears a repeating lamb pattern on the exterior and Be Herd stamped inside. Black and colorless diamond pave pieces offer more literal interpretations of ideas, and pieces are executed in specific metals to hit price points and looks. For example, Lamb likes the rosy tone of 14k pink gold as opposed to its 18k gold counterpart, and prefers the warm color of 18k yellow gold versus 14k yellow gold. (She also uses 14k white gold.)

Be Herd Bombay ring in 18k yellow gold with 0.0225 ct. t.w. diamonds, $2,950

Black Sheep ring in 14k white gold with 0.08 ct. t.w. black diamonds, $650

And through a local restaurant, Lamb was even able to score pics with a darling live black lamb. A representative named Mary (not making this up) of Violet Hill Farm in Herkimer County, N.Y., brought a three-week-old lamb named Joey to the Union Square farmers market over the summer, and Lamb was able to snap photos with it that she now uses on her website and in marketing materials.

“Joey was the size of a cat,” exclaims Lamb. “Mary brought him in the bottom of a stroller, and because he was so young I was able to hold him and put a necklace around him. He wasn’t squirmy at all.”

The photos are—no surprise—off-the-charts adorable and ended up going viral online, a joyful happenstance that reinforces the fun factor in Lamb’s lighthearted line.