KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY
Boghossian’s managing partner, ROBERTO BOGHOSSIAN, tells SHEENA KHEMANEY about his family’s exquisite jewellery house
FROM THE SIXTH generation of the family to be a part of Boghossian
Jewels, Roberto Boghossian has been in the jewellery business from a young age. After graduating from New
York University and the prestigious Gemological Institute of America, he began working in various departments of Boghossian.
The Geneva-based brand is slowly but surely making waves in the haute joaillerie industry with its precious designs and cutting- edge jewellery techniques – in particular, the Art of Inlay (this ancient decorative technique is done by using contrasting materials to create various patterns), Kissing ( placing two contrasting stones with each other as they appear to slightly touch) and Merveilles (showcasing the purest light reflection of diamonds and allowing precious stones to sit next to one another so it looks like they’re floating).
Standout pieces include a pear-shaped diamond ring (kissing technique) and an oval-shaped paraiba tourmaline ring (Merveilles technique). Both pieces, like many of the other Boghossian jewellery creations, are true showstoppers.
In the last year or so, Boghossian has been extremely active. It has collaborated with acclaimed fashion designer Stéphane Rolland on two of his haute couture shows during Paris Fashion Week and chose model-of-the-moment Bella Hadid to be the face of its stunning campaigns – twice. Recently, the brand held an elegant event at Banqueting House in London to launch its Silk collection. For a brief handful of minutes, I had to the chance to sit down with Roberto Boghossian at Landmark Prince’s in his family’s first-ever Asia flagship store.
Did you always know you were going to join the family business?
Yes, from a very young age, because we’ve always been nurtured into my father’s business. We’ve been going to his office and travelling with him, whether it was for holidays or for work. We were always with him.
Were there any challenges?
I think there are challenges, as with any other company. They might be different, but I wouldn’t say that there are more or less challenges when working in a family company.
Describe the woman who wears Boghossian.
Sophisticated, refined, well-rounded, cultured. One who appreciates and understands jewellery.
What do you want potential clients to know about the brand?
Three things: First, we’re quite selective in the way we select gems. We select the best that we can find. That’s why people come to us. We’ve fetched a couple of worldrecord prices at various auction houses. Second, we’re a family-owned business, so we build strong relationships with our clients. Third, the techniques we use. We have three Boghossian DNA techniques: the Art of Inlay, Kissing and Merveilles – the latest technique. If you look at a piece of jewellery, the way it’s set today is very classic. The way we set it is in a revolutionary way because what it does is makes a spectacular piece of jewellery extremely light and comfortable. So we’re quite forward in the way we make our jewellery.
Tell us about some the signature pieces.
Our signatures are the pieces that incorporate the Inlay, Kissing and Merveilles techniques. Also, we have the one-of-a-kind pigeon-blood Burmese rubies and a natural emerald with no indication of enhancement, which belongs to the same line of a necklace that we sold two years ago. That one fetched a world-record price for an emerald necklace. We also have a green diamond, so we have a couple of important pieces here. Last week, we launched our latest collection (11 sets) and it’s inspired by key places along the Silk Road. We started working with old and new stones. For example, one of the pieces is made with a micro-fabric of gold (Silk necklace). It’s quite spectacular. Another, is made with antique jade and rough diamonds (Seres set). Our Xian set is inspired by an image of a cloud in Chinese culture and our Tashkurgan set can be transformed into a tiara.
What’s a typical day at work like for you?
Every day is different, but usually we check what’s been happening the day before, plan ahead, look at the new pieces and plan our events. We always have a new event. Last January, we did a show with Stéphane Rolland – we collaborated with him and it was beautiful. We did a show with him last July as well; we did the jewellery for his dresses.
You currently operate stores in Geneva, London and Hong Kong. Do you plan to expand in the next few years?
We’re opening in Gstaad at the end of the year and we’re in the Fine Jewellery Room at Harrods.
What are your hopes for the business in the future?
To consolidate our position in the market. We believe that we truly propose stunning and unique high jewellery pieces. We also want to strengthen our techniques and develop new and revolutionary ways of setting jewellery. We want to continue selecting the most exquisite gems, cater to our clients and bring the business forward. We make beautiful pieces of jewellery – and we want to make people happy.