For brothers Vartan and Levon Bakalian, being jewellers is an identity that's as strong as their Armenian heritage.
Owner and blacksmith Vartan first realised a future in his passion on the school playground.
“We used to play marbles, and to make a quick quid I used to get key rings, put a marble in it and sell it,” he said.
His creations became so popular, the school decided to ban it.
When he turned 14, he gave his parents a proposition: “I said, ‘I want to be a jeweler’, so they set me up with a mentor but my dad would tell him, 'listen, make sure my son doesn’t like it because this industry isn’t for him’.”
“But each time my father would check-in with my mentor, he’d tell him, ‘your son has got a gift’, and my dad would squinch," Vartan said.
Their parents have played a large role in supporting and encouraging Vartan in his business. (Supplied.) Source: Supplied
His parents soon realised there was no stopping him, a diamond in the rough. And after he finished a four-year apprenticeship at the age of 21, BB Designer Jewellers was born.
“We started quite small, probably about two to three cabinets worth with no more than $10,000 worth of stock,” Vartan said.
Difficulties presented themselves early though as he tried to gain the trust of customers as a "baby-faced" young business owner.
“So we formed a concept for our workshop to be quite open and because they wanted to see whose hands were touching their jewellery, soon realised it was mine,” Vartan said.
It took six years for him to stabilise the business and make a moderate living.
Vartan and Levon base their workstations behind a glass so customers can see exactly how they work. (Supplied.) Source: Supplied
He said most people think jewellery is an easy ticket to big business but concedes diamonds have become lost leaders.
“The money that’s being made in jewellery is predominantly on the rings, where people pay for someone’s workmanship,” he said.
In 2010 his younger brother, Levon, joined the business and now manages a second store that's opened up in Sydney's CBD.
For him, the passion goes beyond, “marrying the diamonds and gemstones to the piece of jewellery”.
“It’s the final product, the polishing and then delivering it to the client where you can actually see the glow in the customers’ eyes when they see the piece,” he said.
Vartan said the jewellery he and his brother make are an extension of themselves.
He credits the successful business to maintaining three attitudes: “It’s having tenacity, humility and ambition, and without those elements, a business won’t survive.”
“For a small business, I personally believe one of the most important factors is to find your niche and identify your place in the market, especially in retail where you need to make sure you’re displaying something that’s part of who you are.”
Vartan Bakalian trains as a jeweller. (Supplied.) Source: Supplied
Finding their niche was something that runs in the blood.
“There’s a saying overseas that goes: ‘How the Swiss are to watches, Armenians are to jewellery'," Vartan said.
“But at the end of the day, we’re here still to serve, and my customers are always my bosses.”
In order to start your own business, he said you have to think big but be willing to start small.
“A lot of people don’t start because they are scared to start small, but if you start small, you can always make sure your roots are strong in your soil.”
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