And for that, Robert credits his father with steering him in the right direction - towards a returned-soldier mate who ran a jewellery business.
Up until then, Robert did not know what he wanted, other than a vague desire to join the Air Force to follow in his father’s footsteps.
But his dad, a Lancashire bombadier during World War II, was having nothing of it.
“He wanted me to work with this mate, Ken, who had been a tailor before retraining as a jeweller after the war,” Robert said.
“The only subjects I was good at at school was metalwork and technical drawing, so my father thought jewellery making would suit me.”
But it would be a while before Robert would progress beyond the drudgery of the workroom, initially surprised that there was more grime than glitter.
After his four year apprenticeship, Robert stayed with the company, Wedding Ring Productions for another two.
By then, he was keen to learn more about all aspects of the jewellery business, from design through to customer relations and employing staff.
Diamond Traders believed in him enough to put him on as their first trainee manager.
There he honed his designing skills, under the tutelage of Diamond Traders owner John Allison, until he was confident to call himself a jeweller.
Seven years later, Diamond Traders was sold and it was time for Robert to move on.
He had married his long-term girlfriend Sue and they had a young daughter. They decided it was time for Robert, then 32, to start his own business.
Even the surprise birth of their twin sons did not stop this dynamic duo in their tracks as they opened their first store in Parramatta 30 years ago.
With family and business friends pitching in during those early days, Robert and Sue built up their business and reputation, later opening a second outlet in Castle Hill.
Challenges continued with the Castle Hill store closing due to Castle Towers renovations. For 10 years, Robert Cliff Jewellers was in Beecroft, as well as their original Parramatta store.
But Castle Hill was where their heart was and 14 years ago, they moved into their present store in the new-look Towers.
The Parramatta store was sold, with all of their resources going into Castle Hill, where they have continued to be successful.
“Most of our jewellery is custom-made for people who don’t want mass-produced jewellery,” Robert said. “Unfortunately, custom jewellery making is a dying art.”
However, at Robert Cliff, it is booming, with five full-time jewellers, including one of those twins James. The other boy Daniel works in stock control and administration.
Robert said he can hardly believe that 30 years has passed in a job he has loved.
“It is the customers who have kept us going - seeing the joy on their faces when we make them their special piece of jewellery is priceless,” he said.
The Cliffs celebrated their 30 years in business with a glittering cocktail party outside their Castle Hill store on November 26.
