Levian
The LeVian family began making jewelry around 1500 in Persia. Starting in hand-carving, hand-painting, beading, they quickly learned engraving, enameling, goldsmithing and silversmithing. By the 1700s LeVian began creating pieces for gems as the they were brought back from recent conquered territories. In 1746 Nadir Shah requested the LeVian family guard the jewels which included the Kooh-i-noor Diamond which was discovered in the turban of the Mogul emperor in India. A century later the Kooh-i-noor was presented to Queen Victoria, who cut the stone and put it in the Crown Jewels of England. Years of persecution in Persia meant the family had to go into hiding until the 20th century when they began again in jewelry. In 1950 Abdulrahim Ephraim LeVian immigrated, at just 28, from Persia to the U.S. Here he founding the United States division of LeVian. The business grew and changed focus a few time before focusing on designs that sold well in the United States building a national brand in the US.
