Recognizing your mistakes doesn’t make you inferior. That’s how you become stronger and better. The mistakes teach you how to be better. Learn from everyone.
Igal Dahan is a fifth generation French jeweler and a global citizen who has lived in France, Israel, Belgium and Thailand before moving to the United States. He is a master designer best known as the founder of the high-end Igal Dahan jewelry collection and i.d x-change jewelry lines that are sold in more than 25 countries worldwide.
Igal followed the traditions of his family including his father who began working for Cartier jewelry as an apprentice when he was 16. After Igal graduated from the Institut de Gemmologie at L’Ecole du Louvre in Paris, he earned a HRD Diamond Certification in Antwerp, Belgium and specialized the buying and selling of precious stones.
In 1992 he began buying and selling precious stones to Graff Diamonds, David Morris, Boucheron, Chaumet, and Van Cleef and Arpels. A year later, he moved to Bangkok, Thailand, with his family where he created an interchangeable ring, making it possible to change the center stone.
In 2003, Igal moved to Los Angeles, where he created the i.d x-change Cuffs Of Love collection, consisting of interlocking cuffs in yellow and white gold. The Cuffs Of Love have been worn by many celebrities including Elton John, Matt Damon, The Hilton Sisters, John Mayer, Kim Kardashian, Carrie Underwood and Kanye West.
In 2017, he returned to his love for precious stones and created Igal Dahan jewelry. His first collection, Saturnalia, is a collection of blue and pink sapphire rings named after Saturn’s many moons. The rings are a tribute to the strength of love and a toast to the beauty of blossoming relationships. Igal Dahan jewelry has also introduced the newest iteration of the popular Cuffs of Love series, The Eros Collection, named after the ancient Greek god of love. The collection features beautiful sets of necklaces, bracelets, pendants, earrings and rings in white or yellow gold and diamonds that sparkle with simple elegance.
Where did the idea for IGAL DAHAN Jewelry come from?
I am a fifth-generation jeweler so I knew from an early age that I always wanted to follow in my father and grandfather’s footsteps and to design jewelry. My dream was always to be Me. And now my dream has become reality.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
A typical day begins around 4 a.m. EST. Since I have an international business I have to wake up early to be able to communicate with all of the people around the world that I am working with. I typically go into the office around 9:00 a.m and have back-to-back meetings until lunch. Sometimes I am able to meet my father for lunch and to discuss new design ideas. After lunch I spend a lot of time designing and adding more creations to my concept’s designs. Around 6:00 p.m. I head home and sometimes stop at my parent’s house to visit with them. I make it a point to have dinner with my family every night because there is nothing more important than family.
How do you bring ideas to life?
The secret of design is that, first, you must have the vision. Second, you have to establish in your mind the way you can create it. Third, you bring it to the world. Fourth, you ask for the blessings.
What’s one trend that excites you?
A trend that excites me is to create jewelry designs that have meanings to connect people in love.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
It’s important to know the time of day in which you can do your best work. I’m at my best in the morning and, by starting the day so early, I can accomplish a deal in a shorter amount of time without distraction.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Recognizing your mistakes doesn’t make you inferior. That’s how you become stronger and better. The mistakes teach you how to be better. Learn from everyone.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.
If you want people to believe in you, first you have to believe in yourself.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
It’s important to always review what you do until you get to perfection.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
One strategy that has helped me grow my business is to give women a design that she can have in earrings, necklace, pendant, bracelet, and a ring – a complete matching set.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
I wish that I’d spent more time studying English before arriving in the USA. When I first arrived in the USA, I spoke very little of the language. However, submerging yourself in another culture is the best way to learn the language and I quickly made up for my shortcomings. When you are entirely immersed in another culture, everyone becomes your teacher.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
A business idea that I think would be a great concept is a company that comes to your house that helps you cook any international dish that you would like to learn how to make.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
The best $100 that I recently spent was on special desserts. Growing up in Paris, I’ve always had a great appreciation for extravagant desserts.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
3D design helps you to see all of the angles of a jewelry piece before you enter into production of the final model.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
If you want to understand something, you must understand its provenance. My latest line of precious-gemstone jewelry is inspired by the ancient Greek god and goddesses of love, so I have been reading books about ancient Greek jewelry, art and history.
What is your favorite quote?
“If you can capture the essence
of a good moment and realize
that it’s a good moment,
the pleasure is even greater.” – IGAL DAHAN
Key learnings:
- Know the time of day in which you are your most productive and use that time wisely to accomplish your most important items for the day.
- Recognizing your mistakes doesn’t make you inferior. That’s how you become stronger and better. The mistakes teach you how to be better. Learn from everyone.
- Always review what you do until it becomes perfection.
Connect:
www.IgalDahan.com
Carlyn runs the day-to-day publishing operation here at ideamensch and interacts with our awesome customers and entrepreneurs. She is likely editing this with a cat on her lap.