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GEORGE HAKIM'S STORY THROUGH The centuries
HISTORICAL ROOTS
Silk Road artisans in 15th to 18th centuries were unmatched masters of jewellery, blending Persian-Byzantine techniques to craft opulent works for sultans and tsars. Outshining European guilds in finesse and skill, they set the standard in high jewellery.
1875
George Hakim, born in Mardin to a line of silversmiths, leaves home at 17 and sets up his first stall in Constantinople's gold souk.
1888
George Hakim's name shines in the gold souks of Constantinople, his exquisite craft earns him outsanding acclaim as one of the market's finest jewellers.
1915
On a visit to Rome, George gifts the Vatican a silver reproduction of the Church of Mardin, handcrafted in his workshop.
1916
Behind every great achievement is a dreamer of great dreams. For his part, George Hakim pursued his dream of reaching larger markets by opening a branch in the famous gold souks of Aleppo, which was at the time a major Middle East trading center. This paved the way for son and successor, Elias Hakim, to join the business and build upon the bequeathed legacy. Elias capitalized on his father’s success and started trading finely crafted jewels to major traders in the Levant region.
1939
Encouraged by his Beirut business partners who admired his professionalism and friendship, Elias and his family moved the jewellery house to Beirut, the city where the company’s headquarters are still located today. Thereupon, with their support, he secured a prime and highly sought-after location to establish the jewellery house in its new home, at the heart of Beirut’s gold souks.
1940
With the jewellery house established in Beirut’s gold souks, Elias channeled his skill and passion into creating exquisite pieces that gained renown for their craftsmanship. His dedication and trusted ties with the souk’s merchants and clients fueled the business’s growth, solidifying its place in Beirut’s vibrant jewellery trade and setting the stage for a lasting legacy.
1948
At the age of 14, George Hakim II, grandson of the original founder, becomes the third generation of jewellers to join the business. A few years later, pursuing his father and grandfather’s global vision, George traveled the world in search of new sources of quality gemstones.
1955
George's passion and ambition takes him all over the world. Pictured on his second trip to Liberia, where a difficult journey rewarded him with a quality of gemstones not seen before in Beirut's souks.
1969
Just like his predecessors, George becomes a source of trust and loyalty, both to suppliers and clients, driven by his passion for jewellery, his drive for success, and his respect for others. His travels to Africa and the Far East is a new beginning to the family business, as new inspirations shape its identity.
1991
The fourth generation of the George Hakim house joins the business. Elias, Karim, Nabil and Alain, pursued college education, then, received gemology degrees from the Gemological Institute of America, bringing in to their family business innovative minds, modern management skills and technical expertise. Visionary merchants with a passion for the rarest and most extraordinary gemstones, the Hakim family set out to establish their brand as a reference standard in quality and a synonym of luxury and style.
1994
Opening of George Hakim’s modern workshop in Beirut, with over 70 highly skilled artisans equipped with the latest innovations in machinery and tools. This milestone, along with the longstanding legacy of exploration and discovery, established the company as a world-renowned jeweller.
1996
Driven by the same passion and determination which characterized hitherto their success and eventual rise to prominence, George Hakim re-launch retail business operations, an upscale boutique located in Achrafieh, a trendy district of Beirut. This glamorously elegant boutique exhibits splendid jewellery masterworks admired and coveted by connoisseurs and collectors from all around the Middle East.
2009
George Hakim inaugurate their flagship boutique at the heart of Beirut Central District, where the group’s management and manufacturing teams were also relocated. The boutique features designs conceived to emphasize and promote the magnificence of the displayed jewels.
2013
Opening of the first boutique in Geneva, Switzerland, at the Kempinski Grand Hotel. The boutique was later relocated to Rue du Rhône 90, Geneva. This entry into the European market constitutes a significant landmark which underscores the company’s desire to attend to its growing Europe-based clientele.
2015
George Hakim's clientele grows to reach elite royal families of the Gulf countries and starts a regional expansion, enhancing quality of service to the GCC region by providing a physical presence and local boutiques in the key jewellery markets of the Arab peninsula, namely, UAE, Qatar, KSA and Kuwait.
2023
The new Kuwait boutique opens its doors at the Salhia Complex. The vast space and new interior style gives clients a sense of home and comfort, and allows the clients to find their perfect jewel.
