Collectors’ corner: Albert Boghossian

Having produced jewellery for several renowned houses, Albert Boghossian established the eponymous high jewellery house with his brother Jean and nephews Roberto and Ralph in Geneva in 2007, becoming its CEO. Sixth-generation Armenian jewellers, the brothers moved from Syria to Lebanon, and then to Europe in the 1970s during the Lebanese Civil War. They established business bases in Geneva and Antwerp in the 1970s and created the Boghossian Foundation in Brussels in 1992. It is housed in the now fully restored Villa Empain, an art deco architectural masterpiece by Swiss architect Michel Polak. Here, Albert lifts the lid on his personal treasure-trove of jewelled objects:

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Albert Boghossian in his Geneva office

(Image credit: Gabby Laurent)

Albert Boghossian in his Geneva office, with pieces from his collection, including an Egyptian turquoise pendant, eggshell boxes by French artist Jean Dunand, and a 17th-century English gold and silver purse.

A version of this article originally appeared in the Precious Index, our watches and jewellery supplement (see W*230) Photography: Gabby Laurent

Antique sewing set in gold and pearls

(Image credit: Jessica Ruch)

‘My family and its generations have forever been on the move. We come from a merchant industry – always buying, selling, adding, reducing. I grew up watching my grandfather and father collecting – in silver, jade and gold.' – Albert Boghossian 

Antique sewing set in gold and pearls, circa 1850. Photography: Jessica Ruch

Etui in amber, coral, enamel and diamonds


(Image credit: Cartier)

'Not everything I collect is beautiful – but the workmanship is exceptional.’  – AB

Etui in amber, coral, enamel and diamonds, circa 1920, by Cartier

Small gold box with mother of pearl


(Image credit: Janesich)

‘My desire to collect is linked to the history and nature of Armenian culture, of being on the move and becoming integrated with other cultures.’  – AB

Small gold box with mother of pearl, 1925, by Janesich

Chinese box in silver, with mother of pearl


(Image credit: Press)

‘My collection is a voyage. Collecting is my own way of travelling. It takes me around the civilisation of where a piece originated from.’  – AB

Chinese box in silver, with mother of pearl, circa 1940

Antique bow brooch in 14 ct-gold and silver


(Image credit: Press)

‘Our very long family history of artisanship makes us very sensitive to handwork of the artisan.’  – AB

Antique bow brooch in 14 ct-gold and silver with turquoise and split pearls, circa 1880

Lacquered metal compact inlaid with mother-of-pearl and eggshell

(Image credit: Jean Dunand)

‘I collect these little boxes decorated with crushed eggshells from the 1930s and 1940s. I was thrilled and fascinated when I first saw them.’  – AB

Lacquered metal compact inlaid with mother-of-pearl and eggshell, the reverse entirely inlaid with eggshell, circa 1925, by Jean Dunand

Eggshell circular compact in lacquered metal

(Image credit: Jean Dunand)

‘It takes unbelievable energy to carefully crush the shell then stick the tiny pieces one by one to create a pattern. The materials are poor but they are executed with great taste.’  – AB

Eggshell circular compact in lacquered metal, inlaid with eggshell, mirror-lined on the inside, by Jean Dunand

Tiara in gold, enamel and pearls


(Image credit: Photography: Maxime Legrand)

‘I have a decision-making process when I buy. I seek beauty, intricacy and difficulty.’  – AB

Tiara in gold, enamel and pearls, by Lalique. Photography: Maxime Legrand

Caragh McKay

Caragh McKay is a contributing editor at Wallpaper* and was watches & jewellery director at the magazine between 2011 and 2019. Caragh’s current remit is cross-cultural and her recent stories include the curious tale of how Muhammad Ali met his poetic match in Robert Burns and how a Martin Scorsese Martin film revived a forgotten Osage art.

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