Our Heritage
A family atelier in Yerevan — the bench since 1991, an atelier since 2001.
A bench of his own
Avagyans Jewelry was founded in 2001 by Karen Avagyan, when he left the Yerevan Jewelry Plant to open a bench of his own. His path began in 1991 — the year of Armenian independence — training at the plant and refining his craft alongside the best masters in Yerevan.
The tradition we were handed
Millennia of Armenian goldsmithing, carried up to a single Yerevan bench — and the hands that keep it now.
- c. 2500 BCE
Metsamor & Shengavit
Gold diadems, beads and spiral-worked ornaments from the workshops of Shengavit and Metsamor — among the oldest goldsmithing of the Armenian Highland.
- 1260 CE
Toros Roslin
The master illuminator of Hromkla. The Armenian interlace of his manuscripts still guides our ornament today.
- 18th–19th c.
Ottoman Master Jewelers
By a sultan's 1806 edict, sixteen of the seventeen master jewelers of the Ottoman court were Armenian — and the imperial mint itself was in Armenian hands.
- 1920s
Soviet Preservation
Sovietization swept private craft into state hands. The techniques survived — carried on in state workshops and, quietly, within families.
- 1991
Independence & Revival
Armenian artisans reclaim their craft. Workshops reopen. Heritage techniques meet modern training.
- 2001
Avagyans Founded
Karen Avagyan, at the bench since the year of independence, leaves the Yerevan Jewelry Plant to open an atelier of his own. The family line continues.
Where the work is held to one standard
A single warm lamp, the gold, and the hands. Every piece is shaped, set, and finished at this bench — nothing leaves until it is right.
The house named for Avag
At this bench, third-rate work is unacceptable.
Today the founder's brother, master goldsmith Armen Avagyan, keeps the bench; Karen leads the client side and still works the bench himself; and Karen's son Samvel — the second generation — leads the house. The house is named for Avag, the family's great-great-grandfather, who came to Armenia from Van after the Genocide.
From Vision to Heirloom
From sketch to gold
Design. Each piece begins as a hand-drawn sketch. Proportions, weight, and wearability refined before any metal is touched.
Cast. Lost-wax casting in 18K gold. Temperature controlled to 1064°C. Armenian hallmark applied at this stage.
Finished, and proven
Finish. Hand-polished to our signature satin texture. Stone setting by our master setter. Every edge inspected.
Quality. Thirteen-point inspection. Weight verified. Hallmark confirmed. Presented in our custom packaging from KBC Istanbul.
Made to be passed down
The finished piece in its Avagyans box — weighed, hallmarked, ready to become someone's heirloom.
Recognizable without a logo
The Elder's Stone Mark
The house glyph — nested triangular A-forms reading as the Avagyan family line, set quietly inside the band or clasp.
Green Enamel Accent
A deep-green enamel detail, set as a quiet signature on select pieces.
The Avag Edge
A signature facet along the edge, recognizable in macro — the line that catches the light.
Heritage Texture
A controlled satin finish, tactile and warm against polished gold.
The Avag Lock
Our proprietary clasp — security, comfort, and the mark of the house in one closure.
Speak with us, or visit the bench
For pieces above $1,000, a Heritage Advisor guides you — sizing, engraving, sourcing, and the meaning behind each design. Or visit the atelier in Yerevan, where the bench is a destination.
- Hallmarked 750 / 585 gold
- Complimentary insured delivery
- Complimentary lifetime resizing
- Considered returns
- Full weight transparency