For six generations, diamonds, precious stones and fine jewelry have been synonymous with the name Mozaffarian. It all started during the Qajar dynasty in Persia, what is now Iran, when Shapur Mozaffarian’s great grandfather, the first in a long line of fine jewelry experts, worked as the personal watchmaker and jeweler for the King. Fast forward to the mid-1800s in Grand Bazaar, Tehran, a bustling commercial hub, a network of open-air shops and businesses that even today, remains the largest market of its kind in the world. In the center sits a beautiful, spacious store, the first of many shops to bear the name Mozaffarian, a name that was and remains a household name throughout the country and the jewelry industry worldwide.
My Father at the Mozaffarian Jewelry Boutique in Darband
Six Generations
Among the store’s many patrons was the late Reza Shah, who was so impressed by the store that he had Shapur’s grandfather open another location across the street from Saadabad, the newly constructed palace in the district of Darband. A generation later, Shapur’s father opened his own business in the upscale commercial area of Lalezar, the Persian equivalent of the Champs Elysee. It was at this store Shapur began learning the trade at the age of fifteen, and by nineteen, he had joined his father as a partner in the family business. With the expertise of five generations, years of experience and endless plans and ambitions, Shapur wanted to carve out his own place in the world of fine jewelry. His vision was to open a new fine jewelry boutique that would honor the generations before him and breathe fresh life into the ancient trade.
In order to distinguish his business, Shapur left the commercial center of Lalazar and moved uptown to the northern part of Tehran, across the street from the entrance to the U.S. Embassy. Shapur himself designed the ambitious new store, a 5,000 square-foot space featuring an elegant, hand-crafted wooden interior with Old Persian style influences. Shapur called the new store Partieh after an historical area in Persia. Everything from the name of the business, its new location and unique design reflected Shapur’s own distinct personality and he went on to apply this sense of innovation to the design of his jewelry. The result was an entirely new and expanded collection of precious stones, handcrafted sculpture pieces and silver enamel pieces commissioned by famous people all over the world.
My Father at the Mozaffarian Jewelry Boutique in Darband
A View of the Partieh Boutique
Grand Opening of the Partieh Boutique
San Francisco
In the mid 1960s, Shapur opened a branch office in downtown San Francisco and began working with trade, manufacturing and auction houses. After the revolution broke out, Shapur permanently moved his business to San Francisco. The first of many stores opened on Grant Avenue.
In 1981, he opened a store off the 200 block of Post Street and at the same time, he opened three very elegant shops in the lobby of the St. Francis Hotel on Union Square: a fine jewelry store in the hotel’s main lobby, the St. Francis Boutique charm store and the Carrera y Carrera boutique.
The Mozaffarian Jewelry, Shapur on Post Street Opening in 1981
Grand Opening of the Carrera Y Carrera Boutique in 1997, at the Lobby of the St. Francis Hotel
Mr. Carrera at the Grand Opening of the Carrera Y Carrera Boutique
A View of the Mozaffarian Jewelry, Shapur in the Lobby of the St Francis Hotel, Opened in 1991
Another View of the Shapur Mozaffarian Jewelry Boutique, in the Lobby of the St. Francis Hotel
Union Square
It is here, in the heart of the city he loves that Shapur, his wife Narcis and their son Arya Shapur continue the legacy for which their family has long been famous.
