On January 15, renowned Paris jeweller and gem collector Alexandre Reza passed away at the age of 93.
Born in Moscow in 1922 to a Persian family, Reza was relocated to Paris at the age of three. At age 18, he took over his father’s stone trading business, and soon became a leading stone provider to Place Vendôme jewellers.
In 1950, Reza began designing jewelry, and by 1984, his Place Vendôme salon took up two floors. Eventually, he opened additional salons in Cannes, Monte Carlo and Geneva.
Throughout his career, his clientele included celebrities and royalty alike—his most notable claim to fame is the diamond ring Princess Diana was wearing when she died.
In 2013, auction house Sotheby’s described Reza as “the greatest gem merchant in a generation.” CJ
