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 From Paris: In the location "26 rue Lamartine Paris, 9th arrondissement", both residence and retailer (studio, factory) were located from the turn of the century until the Second World War. In front of the entrance of 26. The retailer employed about fifteen jewelers, some of whom lived on the premises. The business was strictly high end, made to order jewelry pieces, for an exclusive private international clientele. The clients often were friends and work was conducted over cocktails or during dinner parties.
1965, Sacha's father wins the first New York cultured pearl award. Sacha's father took over the family business and moved it later to "5 rue Mayran." That location was a few streets away in an art deco building. The retailer remained there until the late fifties. The store had a very special guest one afternoon in the mid-1950's, a lady customer came to Arsene's office escorted by a friend from the United States. The two spent most of the afternoon having tea and playing a game later identified as "tic tac toe." Arsene did not pay them much attention as he was busy sketching. Much later when the incident was told to Sacha, he enthusiastically identified the gentleman as Gene Kelly, spending time out with his friends during the shooting of "An American in Paris". Society in those days was split between the theater-goers and film-goers who each made a point of ignoring each other, therefore Sacha's father was unaware of whom the gentleman in his office was.
To New York: Sacha was born in France in June 1940. Graduated from the Paris jewelry and design school "rue du Louvre" called "La Chambre Syndicale de la Bijouterie, Joaillerie et Orfevrerie" (the same school his grandfather won his medals eighty two years earlier), he designed a short time for Hermes before beginning his career in the United States. He opened his own firm, Alwand Vahan Jewelry Ltd. at 604 Fifth Avenue in 1968 after having worked for David Webb and other prestigious firms. By then Sacha had served in the US armed forces during the Cuban missile crises and been member of the Art Students League where he studied anatomy with his friend Herve Villecheze, "Tattoo", under the sculptors Nathaniel Kas, Hovannes, and Marshal Glaser.
Early on: Alwand Vahan showed his creations at Bergdorf Goodman. He was one of the first jewelry designers represented there exclusively. Eventualy Alwand went on to design and manufacture for Cartier, Bloomingdale's, Neiman Marcus, Mayor's and others. In 1983 Alwand moved his factories to larger facilities out of New York and expanded its line in 1995 from earrings to full signature collections, including the successful Moire', Montage , and the romantic Blanc de Blanc as seen in Town and Country, Luster, In Style and other publications.
Famous celebrities have worn Sacha's designs such as Bette Midler, Linda Evens, Hillary Clinton. Today, Sacha's collections are found in the finest jewelry stores throughout the country, his creations dazzling today's woman with an eye for style, quality, and comfort. Sacha says: "I create jewelry like I would a film set: with mood, drama, and my customers wear the jewelry like actresses. When I design jewelry, I think of women as film stars. I want them to be observed, envied, and admired."
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