The LeVian family began making jewelry around 1500, and their fame grew through Persia in the ensuing centuries.

The family was known originally for hand-carving, hand-painting, beading, engraving, enameling, goldsmithing and silversmithing.

The jewels shown here are from the earliest days in business.

By the 1700s, the family had become a trusted jeweler to royalty and began to work with gems the conquering Persians could now obtain.

In 1746, the infamous Nadir Shah asked the LeVians to guard his richest plunder, the Kooh-i-noor Diamond, which he found hidden in the turban of the Mogul emperor when he invaded India.

The gem weighed a cool 186 carats at the time.

After being plundered again by the English a century later, the Kooh-i-noor was presented to Queen Victoria, who had it cut down to 108 carats; it now resides in the Tower of London among the Crown Jewels of England.

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