World of Reza
Editorial Content, 2022

Reza, the Paris-based maitre joaillier since the 1950s, is known for extraordinary gem expertise, spectacular design and incredible craftsmanship. The roots of the Reza heritage began 700 years BCE, when a group of Israelites were cast from the ancient settlement of Samaria to the cities of Medea and Persia in Modern Iran. In 1739, Nadir Shah Afshar, the Emperor of Persia, embarked on a conquest of India, returning with the luscious gemstone and jewelry of the neighboring Mughal Treasury. In need of trustworthy and loyal custodians, the Shah assigned 40 Mashhadi members of the Jewish Diaspora to look after his treasure, including the ancestors of Reza. In 1885, more than a century after beginning the practice, Agadjan Gadalia-Reza, the father of Alexandre Reza, was born, immersed by birthright into a life of gems. Alexandre continued to work with his father until becoming the sole owner of the family business. By 1958 he amassed enough stock to expand his business beyond Nice to Paris, opening up an office in the Parisian Diamond district and bring the first introduction of Reza and his penchant for gems to the wider jewelry world.

In 2020, Alexandre’s son, Olivier took the helm and control of his family’s business, now renamed Reza and officially relocated its headquarters from Paris to New York. Today, the legacy established by his father lives on. His own keen eye for curating gemstones and jewels and ability to forge a unique Parisian-New York aesthetic has afforded Olivier a clear vision for Reza’s future. Respect for its 90-year history, along with a fresh audacious new outlook, will ensure a seamless continuity of design,