Assael

One of the world’s leading pearl houses, Assael is a jewelry company that specializes in ‘haute joaillerie’ and precious stones. Assael pearls have been carried by some of the world’s best-known jewelers, including Tiffany & Company and Cartier. Diamond dealer James Assael first established the brand, and passed the family business down to his son Salvador in 1972. In 1976, Salvador introduced the Tahitian Natural Color Black pearl to New York after returning from his pearl farms in Tahiti with a selection of exquisite black pearls. He constructed the perfect necklace and challenged his friend and the legendary Fifth Avenue jeweler Harry Winston, to sell it, which he did. After passing away in 2011, Salvador left his second wife, Christina Lang Assael, to helm the jewelry brand.