Bathed in color: that’s how Doron Hakimian, president and chief designer of Doves by Doron Paloma, wants every piece he dreams up to emerge. When he’s pressed on the issue, he will tell you that every color holds an emotion for him, and designing is how he translates that emotion into a piece of jewelry. Born into a family of gemstone manufacturers, one could say jewelry design was in Doron Hakimian’s DNA; however, it wasn’t his first dream to become one. He first pursued a career in architecture.
It is his architectural background that helps him understand the tentative relationship between space and shape. From the moment he begins sketching, he is imagining where on the body the piece will fall, how it will lay, whether it moves with the wearer or remains stoically still. To this day, every piece is sketched by Hakimian and, depending on how labor-intensive the piece is, cast under his supervision.
It was 1979 when Doron’s family fled war-torn Iran for the United States. Upon arrival, they opened Doves as gemstone manufacturers. They chose the dove as their brand’s symbol as a reminder of where they had come and where they were headed; a symbol of peace and hope to guide them as they chased their dream of freedom and a bright future in their new home. Each Doves piece is hand-stamped with a tiny dove motif – a way to honor the legacy of the Hakimian family and celebrate their commitment to integrity and hard work. Decades later, the parents asked their son, Doron, to sketch a few jewelry designs as he was fresh out of architectural school and understood a thing or two about shapes and space. It wasn’t long after that that Doron decided to listen to the call of his inner talent, and Doves by Doron Paloma was born.
Doron’s background in architectural studies has had a great impact on his design philosophy. His attention to detail is unparalleled, and with every piece, one gets the sense that Doron is only concerned with perfection. He believes that color and emotion are inextricably linked; that specific colors conjure up different emotions, and how people don the color is their expression of that emotion. Doron also finds inspiration in his travels, combining colors and locations to dream up some of his most famous collections.
Some of Doron’s signature collections include St. Barth’s Blue, whose pieces are inspired by the serene cerulean waters and crystal seas of the Caribbean. This collection exudes tranquility, using Arizona turquoise amidst shimmering diamonds set in 18k white gold. Doron is very open about his love for the Art Deco period, and you see this in his Gatsby collection. Hearkening back to the Roaring ‘20s, this collection boasts geometric patterns, rich black onyx, and delicate diamond pavé details.
Doron tries to see every piece from sketchpad to craftsman’s table. He uses only 18k gold, precious gemstones, and innovative techniques, such as doublets and triplets, to ensure durability and achieve the exact hue he envisions that captures the emotion he feels the stone brings. This attention to detail is what gives Doves by Doron Paloma its heirloom quality and stand-alone artistry.
Visit Schwarzschild Jewelers at one of our Charlottesville, Carytown Exchange or Midlothian to explore our selection of Doves by Doron Paloma jewelry!