The fine jewelry house of Janesich was founded in 1835 by Leopoldo Janesich, in Trieste, his native town. Janesich jewels were first coveted by the Austrian aristocracy, who made Trieste their favorite vacation destination, and later found great favor with the Italian bourgeoisie. At Leopoldo’s death in 1880, his son Giovanni assumed leadership of the firm opening a shop in Paris at 19 rue de la Paix. Subsequent salons were opened in Biarritz, London, Monte Carlo and Vichy drawing such eminent clients as the Archduke of Austria and King Nicholas of Montenegro.

After World War I, the Janesich style became decidedly Art Deco, in keeping with the great fashion of the 1920s and ‘30s. The firm continued to grow, but the onset of World War II mandated the closing of the Paris shop, as the family retreated to their native Italy. The sixth generation now continues the Janesich tradition in Trieste some 180 years later.