Bridging Cultures
Like the site of its genesis on the ancient Silk Road, the house of Boghossian links East and West through its exceptional coloured gems and the work of its philanthropic foundation
The Geneva-based fine jewellery brand Boghossian was born more than a century ago on the ancient Silk Road, in the town of Mardin, an important trading centre in eastern Turkey on the slopes overlooking Syria, when an Armenian gem merchant by the name of Ovannes Boghossian set up shop there in 1868. Six generations later, his descendants are proud to be continuing the family business.
Ovannes and his son built a reputation for trading in pearls and diamonds of the finest quality, which they brought back by boat and horseback from Aleppo in northern Syria, Beirut and Cairo. The turmoil of World War I forced the family to leave Mardin, but a chance encounter between Ovannes’ grandson, Ohannes, and a family acquaintance in Aleppo saw the family settle again to practise their expertise. In 1919, Ohannes opened a jewellery boutique in the ancient Syrian city, which is also on a branch of the Silk Road, and he and his sons continued to develop the rich heritage and artistry for which Boghossian is so well known today.
Ohannes’ eldest son, Robert, visited China in 1950, and became the leading supplier of natural pearls to the Middle East. In 1960, the family moved again, to Beirut. By 1975, Robert’s eldest son, Jean, had become an expert in precious coloured gems after travelling extensively in India, Burma, Thailand and Colombia. Jean then moved to the Belgian diamond hub of Antwerp,
where he traded and built his reputation in emeralds, rubies and sapphires. In 1980, by which time the Boghossian family had acquired an impressive collection of rare stones and established relationships with some of the world’s most important collectors, Jean’s brother Albert joined the business, and the pair decided to set up a new headquarters in Geneva.
It was Albert who developed the brand’s sophisticated setting techniques, such as the art of inlay, where a stone is set within another gemstone, and kissing diamonds, where two stones are set on top of one another, like the swiftest contact between lips, hence the name of the setting.
Today, the next generation of the family, Jean and Albert’s own children, are carrying their heritage forward. Roberto, Ralph and Dalia Boghossian have consolidated the brand, opening stores on Rue du Rhône in Geneva and Old Bond Street in London, and adding retail space in the Fine Jewellery Room at Harrods, London, and at Landmark in Hong Kong.
As well as its contributions in the world of fine jewellery, the family makes an important philanthropic mark through the Boghossian Foundation, which it set up in 1992 following a devastating earthquake in Armenia, the birthplace of the original gem trader, Ovannes. The foundation began with humanitarian work in the country and also in Lebanon, funding social, educational and environmental projects to improve opportunities for young people. In 2006, it acquired Villa Empain, an art deco landmark in Brussels, and transformed it into an art centre with the goal of linking East and West, like the Silk Road itself. Artistic endeavour and appreciation have always been an essential part of the Boghossian story, and the centre enables the family to help improve cultural understanding through exhibitions and education programmes drawing East and West together to flourish side by side.
This ethos of drawing together different worlds has resulted in some of the most priceless gems from all corners of the globe being brought together under Boghossian’s roof. The house has become known for discovering the most exceptional gems around the world, be they in India, Burma, Colombia or elsewhere. Its pieces have broken world records at auction because of the exceptional rarity, quality and clarity of the stones. For example, the Palmette Necklace, designed by Edmond Chin as a series of 11 palm-like motifs each set with superb rectangular-cut emeralds, broke the auction record for an emerald necklace when it sold for $HK46.4 million at the Christie’s Magnificent Jewels sale in Hong Kong this year. The 11 Colombian emeralds in the necklace are exceptional for their clarity, cut and perfectly matching hues—and the fact that they have not been enhanced with oil.
Just as the Palmette Necklace needs no enhancement, so Boghossian remains a clear leader in fine jewellery in Hong Kong—and beyond.