I’m always game to know more about jewelers I’ve never heard of, and when I learned that Latvia-born Rafka Koblence was a former Olympic wrestler—a distinction he earned in Israel, soon after his family immigrated there in 1966—I was instantly drawn in. My first cousin once removed (who is more...

Life, often the mistress of inexplicable whimsy, rarely unfolds as one would expect, yet somehow, puzzling so, we actually end up exactly where we are meant to be. For Rafka Koblence, former Israeli National Wrestling Champion and Olympian in training, this could not be more true. Deciding not to join...

Handcrafting Timeless Bespoke Jewellery Masterpieces In the heart of the Diamond District, New York City, a master jeweller practices his craft, creating incredibly complex yet irresistibly beautiful jewellery pieces for a select group of private clients. Jewellery designer and maker, Rafael (or Rafka, to his friends ) Koblence, founder of Rafka...

The Victorian era lasted from 1837 to 1901 and got its name from the British monarch, Alexandrina Victoria, the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Governing the country for over six decades, Queen Victoria set many trends and traditions, with exclusive jewelry production being one of...