There’s probably no other jewelry maker that has as long and deep a history associated with jewels as Le Vian. The Le Vian family’s correlation with jewelry craftsmanship dates back more than 500 years — long before most prominent fashion houses. Like a miner digging for precious gemstones in the dark crevices of the rock, we are digging up the past of Le Vian to highlight their astounding achievements in fine goldsmithing and silversmithing. We figure you’d like to know what lies behind the surface of our alluring Le Vian jewelry selection.
History of LeVian Jewelry
Le Vian is the true definition of family-owned. The Le Vian family first began creating jewelry around the year 1500 in Persia. Their ancestors (believed to be the Levites, one of the 12 tribes of Israel) were savvy in engraving, beading, hand-painting, and jewelry making, which led them to be successful in the early days of their business.
The family had become a trusted jeweler to royalty by the 1700’s, and were commissioned by the powerful Iranian ruler, Nadir Shah, to guard his most prized possessions, which included the Kooh-i-noor Diamond – a valuable jewel that was found hidden in the turban of the Mogul emperor following the invasion of India. In the 19th century, years of persecution forced the family to lay low until the 20th century, when they appeared again, producing jewels in all styles popular during that period.
In 1950, 28-year-old Abdulrahim Ephraim LeVian immigrated from Persia to the U.S. to debut the family’s extraordinary jewelry designs, founding the American division of Le Vian. Since then, the brand has gone from ancient royalty to the red carpet – with a worldwide following. Kate Hudson, Kate Beckinsale, Janelle Monae, Natasha Bedingfield, and Chrissy Teigen have all walked the red carpet donning LeVian jewelry.
Le Vian Design
Le Vian jewelry is known for its bold, vibrant gemstones, which are brightened using various enhancement methods.
Their collections boast distinctive Persian influence and innovative construction, uniting high fashion style with glamorous, handmade design. LeVian paved the way for the use of natural, high-quality brown diamonds in jewelry design. In 2000, they initiated the delectable Chocolate Diamonds® collection.
The brand continues to create the world’s most desirable pieces using concepts they invented, such as their gemstone cutting technique. The technique cuts the gemstones to create never-before-seen facet shapes for a hypnotizing effect. Their unique gemstone cutting is demonstrated in the design of the stunning Women’s 14K Rose Gold Diamond & Amethyst Pendant Necklace pictured below.
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