Text: Evgenia Savchenko
Almost two centuries ago, the printer Behar Tabba lived in the Lebanese resort town of Zahl, always famous for its silks. The caravans plowing the Silk Road always carried away from here to the grand bazaars of Damascus, Mosul, Beirut and Baghdad full chests of the finest precious materials, covered with unique Zahlesky patterns, which he carved with his son Joseph on Behar's wooden seals, so that they could be filled paint, print on a jet fabric. Accurate and meticulous work, ingenuity in an elegant ornament, work with color: having realized all his obvious skills, the matured Joseph decides to raise his father’s skills to a new level and begins to master the profession of a jeweler. In addition to skill, the boy clearly had a talent: his jewelry immediately began to be in great demand, despite the high price.
Tabbah was one of the first to create conceptual jewelry. In 1970, the famous Phoenician line was released, the design of which dates back to the motifs of jewelry from the Ancient East. Already in 1862, the whole newly opened Tabba jewelry shop was spoken by the whole Son of Joseph Nayef successfully expanding by bringing from frequent wanderings around the world a love of classical European jewelry. The collection of the House contained bracelets and rings in the art style, which was fashionable in the twenties of the last century, until that time completely unknown in the Middle East.
By the middle of the 20th century, Nayef’s son Najib opens a grand in Beirut, in the cellars of which the 50 best jewelers of the country work without rest, engaging, among other things, cutting diamonds. Highly artistic designs of the family win the hearts of connoisseurs of jewelry and soon the royal family of Saudi Arabia and Hollywood stars become regular customers of the house, and some works of the House even go to world famous museums. Tabbah's exclusive products are becoming popular with collectors and are successfully sold at world-class auctions Christie's and Sotheby's. Exquisite jewelry brought the brand recognition of many eminent and royal figures of the Middle East. And on the occasion of the wedding of His Highness Prince of Monaco Albert II and his lover Charlene, the then-famous jewelry house created another masterpiece - a unique Infinite Cascade necklace.
The necklace is designed to be flexible in design: waves of pink gold in diamond splashes wrap around the neck and cascade large white pearls resembling sea foam. Tabbah House also provided jewelry for mom and bride witness.
Nabil Tabba, the son of Najib Sr., opened his first two boutiques outside Lebanon: in Geneva and in Monaco. The lucky merchant Nabil received the best stones of the world in the ownership of the House: the 100-carat amber diamond “Ashberg”, the 200-carat red Cross, the 30-carat blue diamond “Blue Lily”, the 125-carat “Jonker” and many other treasures worthy of kings. Since then, luck has always been behind Nabil and his son Najib Jr.
By the way, Najib Tabba is particularly romantic in nature, therefore, in his works there is always a theme of nature and love. The Supernature collection consists of several thematic subcollections: Garden of Eden, Eve in Love, Kiss Me, Love Bite, Daisy Love, and Divine Serpent. Collectors are particularly impressive
unique mobility of precious products, giving them a unique charm. The items are made in white and yellow gold of 18 carats, encrusted with exquisite diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds.
And, of course, Tabbah jewelry house could not pass by the beautiful lines of Islamic geometry. It is this design that is the culmination of the desire to achieve perfection in the shape of the products of the Arabesque collection, made in delicate mother of pearl and bright green malachite, in the decoration of luxurious diamonds.
Today, with the beautiful works of the Jewelry House, which celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2012, you can also find it at The Dubai Mall, in the Tabbah boutique.
