Brazilian, of Armenian origin, Ara Vartanian was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and moved to Brazil with his family when he was just 1 year old. The passion for stones is in hisblood: upon settling in São Paulo, her father became one of the most prominent suppliers of diamonds and other precious gems in Brazil, as well as jewelry created by important European designers and Ara's mother. Initially, he tried to deny his vocation: he studied economics at Boston University and, after graduating, worked for four years in New York as a trader specializing in Nasdaq. But his destiny already seemed set and, in 2000, Ara returned to Brazil and took his first steps in the area, working in his father's company. In parallel, in 2002 he began to sign his own jewelry. An instant success, his pieces began to be sold internationally that same year.
In 2005, Ara took off solo and opened the atelier of the brand that bears his name. With in-depth knowledge of classical jewelry, Ara challenged the dominant logic in the use of stones, a line of thought that became the epicenter of her work. It consolidated itself with timeless pieces that carry a touch of subversion and a lot of emotion. They are beautiful jewels to see, from all sides and angles – a constant concern in Ara’s career, as well as comfort and originality. !What brings creativity is emotion. I have always been very honest with my feelings in this relationship that involves me, the stone and design”, says the jeweler.
Brazilian model Sabrina Gasperin is the inspiring muse, in every sense, of Ara's work. Together since 2006, they have co-written many chapters in the brand's trajectory: it was Sabrina who starred in the first campaign – and many others that have defined these 20 years of history. She also developed pieces in a line bearing her name, such as the Bone earring, one of the jewelry company's best sellers. "The campaigns we run are a love story, a very genuine love between two people. One day, we will look back and see that this creative trajectory blends into a family book”, believes Ara.
Always open to dialogue with other creative minds and encourage the exchange of ideas, the jeweler has developed partnerships with great contemporary artists, such as a collection with Janaina Tschäpe and a work of art with Ernesto Neto. With supermodel Kate Moss, Ara launched, in 2017, a collab with 27 pieces created by four hands, including mandala rings and pendants.