Alexandre Reza (November 1, 1922 – January 15, 2016) was a Paris-based jeweler known for his diverse and rare collection of precious gemstones. He is lauded as the greatest gem collector of modern times.The Financial Times: How To Spend It."The New Stone Age", 20 November 2012.
Biography Alexandre Reza was born Alexandre Elishev () on November 1, 1922 in Moscow, to Bukharan Jews parents from ancient Samarkand heritage who left in 1908. The son of a jeweler, he moved to Paris with his family when he was a child. He set out on his own at the age of eighteen, the same time as the onset of World War II.
Career After the war, he began his career as a diamond expert, traveling extensively to source each stone, which served as the key design inspiration for his work.Tourbillon International."Alexandre Reza", Jewelry International: Volume I, 17 June 2008 Early on, he supplied gems to jewelry brands such as Boucheron, Bulgari, Cartier, Chaumet, Harry Winston, Louis Gérard, and Van Cleef & Arpels.Sotheby's. "Magnificent Jewels & Noble Jewels Catalogue Note", Sale GE1002, Lot 425, 11 May 2010
After more than three decades of acquiring and selectively selling fine diamonds, he founded his eponymous jewelry house in 1981 on the Place Vendôme in Paris. He also established retail presence in Geneva, Cannes and Monaco to offer Haute Joaillerie: suites of necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, and objets d'art made from rare diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires.Tourbillon International."Alexandre Reza", Jewelry International: Volume I, 17 June 2008 Alexandre Reza’s creations are known for their opulence, splendor, extravagance, and extraordinary craftsmanship. According to auction house Sotheby's, "movement, lightness, composition, and harmony are the key words of his designs."Sotheby's. "Magnificent Jewels & Noble Jewels Catalogue Note", Sale GE1002, Lot 425, 11 May 2010 In 1997, The Mirror described him as "probably the top jeweller in the world for the rich, famous and royalty."Oliver, Ted, and Mackay, Don. "Diana had his ring; Dodi's last token of love found in wreck.", The Mirror, London, 4 September 1997. Previously, he has been a target of high-stakes theft. In June 2001, a necklace worth EUR 1.8M was stolen from the brand's salon in Cannes."Diamond thieves pull off 100-million-dollar Paris heist.", Agence France-Presse, 5 December 2008. In 1994, armed robbers stole approximately $21 million in gems from the jeweler's salon in Paris.Bennhold, Katrin. "French Say Thieves Took $28.4 Million in Jewelry From Paris Store.", The New York Times, 12 October 2007.
In May 2010, Sotheby's sold a 5.02-carat fancy vivid blue diamond set in a toi-et-moi (me and you) ring alongside a white 5.42-carat diamond for US$6.3 million, establishing an auction record price for a jewel by Alexandre Reza."Sotheby's blue diamonds set another color record." , National Jeweler, 12 May 2010. In November 2010, a pair of fancy blue diamond and diamond pendant ear clips "soared to $1.79 million, tripling the low end of its pre-sale estimate."Nebehay, Stephanie. "Pink diamond record price shows market strength.", Reuters, 16 November 2010.
Legacy His work has been featured in books such as Alexandre Reza: Dreams of Yesterday, Realities of Today (1985)Seta, Arlette. Alexandre Reza: Reves d'hier, réalités d'aujourd'hui, 1985. and Alexandre Reza: Stones of Light (1991).Seta, Arlette. Alexandre Reza: Pierres de lumiere, 1991. The first, whose introduction was penned by director of the Jacquemart-Andre Museum Rene Huygue, was compiled to document an exhibition at the Paris-based Museum. As part of the Ultimate Collection, Assouline published a monumental edition in 2012 entitled Alexandre Reza, presenting more than one hundred rare pieces of Reza's creations, and a history of the famed gem house in archival documents and vintage photography.Becker, Vivienne. Alexandre Reza , 2012. In June 1988, his private collection of fine jewelry and gems was showcased at the Cooper Hewitt Museum in New York."Paris Opera On Stage Exhibition.", New York Magazine, 13 June 1988.
In early 2008, Olivier Reza, the son of Alexandre Reza who frequently traveled with his father to examine and acquire rare stones, returned to lead the company following a successful career in international banking.Vogue. 'Romancing the Stones'] 11 July 2012. He downsized the Paris salon, as well as sold all European stores.The Financial Times. 'A Family Story: 'I had to learn a great deal quickly about hard luxury’'] 7 September 2012. In June 2012, he re-opened a salon on the Place Vendome, and recently completed his first jewelry pieces with an eye towards continuing the family’s legacy and expanding the Alexandre Reza collection.The Wall Street Journal. 'The New Color of Luxury: Yellow' 18 October 2012.
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