Talented jewelers create visual works of art which are also investments for their clients. However, very few rise to claim a stratospheric reputation. Sotitios Voulgaris, Harry Winston, Enri Cartier-Bresson, Mikimoto Kokichi, and Laurence Graff are five such jewelers. The next time you are on a trip – pleasure or business – stop by one of the original stores of these famous jewelers and pick up a bauble (or two) …
Harry Winston
701 5th Avenue, New York
Founded in New York City in 1932, Harry Winston was bestowed the moniker “King of Diamonds” by Cosmopolitan magazine in 1947. Of all the most famous jewelers in the world, the Harry Winston Jewelry Company is one the few whose fame and reputation were built by a single brilliant individual. Winston was one of the finest jewelry designers and craftsmen the world has ever seen. His instinct for gem quality was said to be inborn—legend has it that at the age of 12, Winston recognized a two-carat emerald being sold as a faux gemstone, purchased it for 25 cents, and resold it for $800 days later. He later developed a reputation for owning some of the world’s most famous diamonds, including the Hope Diamond, which he later donated to the Smithsonian Institute.
Bvlgari
Via dei Condotti 10, Rome
From its humble beginnings in a small Greek village, the Bvlgari jewelry company has risen to become one of the most famous jewelers in the world. Founded in the 1870s by Greek jeweler Sotirios Voulgaris, Bvlgari opened its first store in Rome in 1884. The company soon became known for its bold, distinctive designs, especially its architectural styles featuring heavy gold links and its creative use of colored stones such as sapphires.
Cartier
13 Rue de la Paix, Paris
Founded by Louis-Francois Cartier in Paris in 1847, the Cartier jewelry and wristwatch company is one of the world’s most famous jewelers and the only one that can truly claim to be “jeweler to the kings.” From the crown worn by King Edward VII at his 1904 coronation to the tiara worn by Kate Middleton at her 2010 wedding to Prince William, Cartier has outfitted literally dozens of royal family members from ten different countries.
Mikimoto
4-chōme-5-5 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo
Mikimoto has been designing pearl jewelry of the highest quality and design technique since 1899. It was started by a Japanese designer named Mikimoto Kokichi, who was the first to make cultured pearls.
Graff
6-8 New Bond Street. London
Laurence Graff started his career as a designer in England when he was just 15. He finished an apprenticeship and then started Graff Diamonds company – with his first store opening in 1962, and multiple stores soon after in London. Apart from designing exquisite diamond jewelry, he is known for buying infamous diamonds and resetting them. His best work includes working with a 600-carat diamond, which is a testimony to his talent and his command over techniques.
