The passion of Tigren Dorian, Dorian & Rose’s fearless leader (pictured), oozes through our email exchange. If you talk to any designer long enough you’ll find out quickly that it’s a jewelry love affair, but I’d like to say that Dorian takes it to the next level. He is busy building what I like to call modern heirlooms.The DeBeers campaign, A Diamond Is Forever, isn’t just a well-executed marketing ploy. Jewelry travels through time, and I Dorian & Rose is adding its own works of art to the time capsule.

Can you tell us more about your cultural history with jewelry?

There is a lot of Armenian pride when reflecting upon previous generations. For a country with such a rich history, mixed with both good and bad, what we evolved to today is a monumental feat. Hailing from the first Armenian traders in Venice, Italy, mixed with the resilience that we showed under Ottoman rule and the concomitant genocide, the Armenian culture remains strong. Pride is borne by the ability to stand next to and relish in the success of a country and a people that have come up against insurmountable odds.

Ceres, goddess of fertility and harvest, pendant in 18k yellow gold with 0.26 ct. t.w. diamonds

How would you describe the essence of your culture?

Jewelry is an ancient branch of Armenian culture. We have been making jewelry since the second millennium B.C. I, myself, am a third-generation metalsmith, and creating jewelry is part of my culture. I believe that all jewelry tells a story. Each piece has its own unique characteristics.

Cognac eye rings in 18k yellow gold, 0.69 ct. cognac diamond as center stone and 0.12 ct. t.w. cognac melee

Your father has more than 40 years of experience on the bench, and you have learned from one of the best! Do you have any formal jewelry education or is it all from a master apprenticeship?

My education was a traditional apprenticeship, in which I was taught by a master goldsmith. I grew up next to my father’s workbench. Watching how he worked raw metals into the beautiful jewelry was astonishing to me. My mother taught me how to bring harmony to my pieces to make them unique. She showed me the importance of aesthetics and how to make each piece cohesive.

Eternity eye ring in 18k yellow gold with 0.7 ct. marquise diamond center and 0.74 ct. t.w. diamond melee

All of your work is handmade in Los Angeles. Why is this important to your company?

It is important that our jewelry is handmade because it reflects on us as designers. I believe when you create a piece by hand a part of you brings life to the jewelry. Making intricate pieces by hand gives your jewelry a personal touch. I want our customers to feel a connection with our pieces.

Do you incorporate CAD into your process? Or are all the models built by hand?

We do not use CAD at all. All of our models are handmade. CAD 3-D models are too perfect. I like the perfect imperfection we achieve when we create with our hands.

Husk pendant in 18k yellow gold with diamond accents

If you weren’t making jewelry what would you be doing with your life?

I would still love to be a designer. I want to create in some shape or form. I enjoy being creative and using my inspiration to create art that connects with my audience.

Why are you excited for JCK Tucson?

I love the energy and atmosphere of JCK. The Tucson show presents the opportunity to work with clients on a much more personal level, as it’s a much smaller show than Vegas.

Lady Fortuna coin pendant in 18k yellow gold with 0.4 ct. t.w. bezel-set diamonds

 

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