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Los Angeles, CA—In 1890, an Armenian craftsman named Bali Karaguezian began creating one-of-a-kind heirloom jewelry pieces in his small workshop. Little did he know that more than a century later, his legacy would not only be alive, but stronger than ever.

In 2015, Kirk Kara celebrates its 125th anniversary by looking back on the landmarks of this remarkable family history. Current patriarch Kirk Karaguezian's grandfather launched the family's passion for jewelry by engraving stunning jewelry artworks inspired by old-world Armenian carvings. Tragically, Bali Karaguezian would become a victim of the 1915 Armenian genocide, but not before teaching his son, Artin, the craft of jewelry making.

Relocating to Beirut, Lebanon, Artin re-imagined the burgeoning family business, bringing a decidedly European aesthetic to it and flourishing as the go-to jeweler for high-end travelers. In fact, it was a beautiful hand-engraved wedding band that Artin made for his wife, Angel, that set the tone for all subsequent Kirk Kara designs.

From a very young age, Kirk Kara worked right alongside his father, and his talent for jewelry design soon became apparent. Again, politics intervened, and Artin Karaguezian's business was destroyed by civil war. But the family’s passion for jewelry remained powerful and resilient. Son Kirk Karaguezian opened a new shop, married his muse, Lucy, and they had two daughters, Angela and Grace. When civil war again disrupted the family members' lives in 1983, Kirk moved both his family and his prosperous business to the United States, firmly establishing Kirk Kara as the epitome of a family company.

Right to left: Kirk and Lucy Kara, Angela, and Grace.

Today, Kirk, Lucy, Angela, and Grace are at the helm of everything from operations to design, with their predecessors always lighting the way. Four generations, 125 years, and counting! Watch the company’s special commemorative video here.