The story of gold in Lebanon is one tainted with war, bloodshed and massive population exodus. According to Boghos Kurdian, president of the Lebanese Syndicate of Goldsmiths and Jewelers, jewelry production was historically limited to traditional pieces in gold, including bracelets, necklaces and earrings. During the First World War, the systematic deportation and annihilation of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire forced the population away from its hometowns and into Syria and Lebanon. Many Armenians, known to be skilled craftsmen, chose Lebanon as their new home and introduced the art of jewelry, altering the face of local production. “The metamorphosis of the jewelry industry was nonetheless gradual and witnessed another phase in its evolution after the 1950s,” added Kurdian. “The Syrian state nationalization [in the 1860s] of all industries forced Syrian jewelers to immigrate to Lebanon and today many families dominating the sector share Syrian roots,” said the head of the
