Olivier Reza was inspired by his father to create unique jewellery
Jacqueline Tsang
OCCUPATION
Head of Parisian jeweller Alexandre Reza House
DEFINING MOMENT
I have had several; they always had the same [theme]: creation. A child, the choice of the woman who shares my life, an original design.
WORDS OF ADVICE
Take the time to learn and research the world of gems, art and jewellery. Not only will this allow you to make educated decisions, it will allow you to be a smarter collector. Visit ateliers, museums, galleries, major architectural cities, and take the time to understand the exquisite craftsmanship behind what you see. It's important to understand the creation process so you can influence it in the right way.
Olivier Reza is full of surprises. Not only did he make the controversial decision to consolidate the boutiques of his father's Alexandre Reza House into just one salon, but the head of the prestigious jeweller wasn't always an expert in the business - it was only seven years ago that he was enjoying a successful career in international banking.
"I was a partner of Lazard's M&A team in New York until the summer of 2008. At that point, my father fell ill and I was left to handle our family's affairs," Reza recalls. It was when he started to really research his father's work that he began learning about the business to which Alexandre Reza dedicated his life.
"He became my main source of inspiration - he had an unrivalled eye for quality and magnificence," he says. "He was a relentless man and would sometimes wait years until he could create the perfect piece. His level of passion and commitment really drew me into his work."
Reza remembers watching his father in the atelier when he was younger. "He was always moving stones around, playing with them until he found a match that could be constructed into a perfect suite," he says. It was ultimately this meticulous care and patience that Reza came to admire most about his father, and it set the standard by which he would measure his success as the head of the jewellery house.
Even with the bar set so high, it's clear that the son is continuing his father's tradition of aiming for perfection and pushing the limits of what is possible in the industry. Alexandre Reza House will be participating in The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) this month, and the 10-day event is generally considered to be one of the world's most important art fairs.
"To be inducted into TEFAF is a very rigorous process, and there's an extremely long wait list," Reza says. "Even after you're accepted, each piece on show has to be vetted beforehand by 29 specialist vetting committees, made up of around 170 international experts who assess them in terms of quality, authenticity and condition."