Roman Malakov 0.50 Carat Round Diamond Cross Pendant Necklace

Renowned for its boutique — a New York City Diamond District mainstay — as well as for its handcrafted, world-class engagement rings, the Roman Malakov jewelry company actually began an ocean away from Midtown Manhattan.

At the end of World War II in 1945, the eldest of the three Malakov brothers began studying with some of the leading watchmakers in Europe, eventually becoming a master watchmaker himself. He soon joined forces with his younger brothers, sourcing and dealing rare watches and gems, and eventually shifting focus to the latter. Soon, the family would master the art of the “Russian cut,” an art form they brought to their diamond cutting stateside, establishing their Diamond District location in the mid-20th century. As a wholesaler, manufacturer and retailer, the company oversees each step of the jewelry-making process for vibrant pieces of exceptional quality.

In the United States, the company continued its hands-on approach to sourcing, with the family and later, its employees working directly with mines around the world, from Lesotho to Siberia, for stones that are hand-inspected and certified as natural and conflict-free. This process results in a wide variety of stones — from pink sapphires to yellow diamonds in a range of cuts, with white diamonds joining these vibrant stones on almost every piece. Blue sapphires from Kashmir and rare Tanzanian rubies, for instance, are encircled with diamonds for lustrous halo rings.

Roman Malakov is well-known for its engagement rings and wedding bands, but it also produces bracelets, necklaces, earrings and cocktail rings in a rainbow of colors and styles ranging from traditional to Art Deco. Always, though, the centerpieces are the stones, which the company also sells loose, each a luminous gem embodying both natural beauty and fine craftsmanship.

Find a collection of Roman Malakov jewelry on 1stDibs today.