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Studio City, CA—Michael Bogosian, the Turkish-born namesake founder of bridal jewelry brand Michael B., died of a heart attack on April 8. He was 64.

Bogosian, who transitioned from a retail jeweler to a wholesale designer under the name Michael B. in 1993, was among the first designers to wholly embrace platinum when the Platinum Guild International reopened its U.S. office in 1992. Bogosian was renowned for his delicate platinum wirework designs and, according to a release from the Armenian Jewellers Association, also was the first designer to incorporate micropavé into his work, sparking a major trend in bridal jewelry design that continues strong today.

The retail store he founded, Matthew’s, was named for his first son and is still in business as a retail operation in Studio City.

A member of the Armenian Jewellers Association and a familiar figure at industry tradeshows, Bogosian often favored brightly colored suits (left) that made him stand out in a crowd. His jewelry has won multiple industry awards, including the Town & Country Couture Conference Platinum Award; PGI’s Platinum Passion award; and Couture’s Designer of the Year Award in 2003. He also designed a Fabergé-style egg that is on display at the San Sylmar museum in California.

Bogosian is survived by his wife, Aida, and four sons: Matthew, Michael Jr., Brian, and Arthur. Says the Armenian Jewellers Association, “He was loved and admired by many. His infectious laugh and character will never be forgotten.”

Delicate platinum wirework was a signature of Bogosian's early work, left, while his later work is credited with sparking the enormous micropave trend, right.