A Singaporean luxury jewelry brand has made heirlooms for royals. It’s B.P. de Silva!

They’re known for their beautiful bespoke and fine jewelry and have been around for more than 150 years.

But their success didn’t happen overnight. B.P. de Silva started as a small family business, and they worked their way up to become the iconic jewelry house it is today.

Now, everyone from the Thai royal family to celebrities like Grammy-winning singer Laufey are proud to have B.P. de Silva pieces in their collections.

This is the story of B.P. de Silva, the jewelry brand that has been passed down through generations.

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🇸🇬 Humble beginnings

In 1872, the 19-year-old man Balage Porolis de Silva left his hometown in Galle, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and came to Singapore.

He didn’t have much of an education. But he wanted to try his luck!

He started a small business selling gemstones from Sri Lanka. At first, he would sell his gemstones from door to door.

People loved his high-quality stones, especially his Ceylonese sapphires. Eventually, he made enough money to rent his own shop for $20 a month!

He also traded and sold tea before selling luxury watches like Omega and Tissot.

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💎 Royal seal of approval

As the business grew, B.P. de Silva didn’t just focus on gemstones. They started making beautiful jewelry by hand.

By the early 1900s, they had their own workshops. There, skilled artisans created mixed European and Asian styles.

B.P. had big dreams for his company. He wrote many letters to members of the royal family all over the world. His first royal client was the Duke of Connaught.

After that, B.P. de Silva became a favorite jeweler for both royals and tourists!

It wasn’t an easy journey.

People tried to copy B.P. de Silva’s business, but the quality of his gemstones was unlike any other.

“B.P. de Silva left behind his good reputation for honesty and integrity. The name de Silva is trusted by royalty,” said Managing Director Sonny de Silva.

In 1928, B.P. de Silva became a jeweler to the Royal Family of Siam (now Thailand)! This royal approval made them one of the top luxury jewelers in Southeast Asia.

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👪 A family tradition

150 years later, B.P. de Silva is still managed by the same family!

As a child, Shanya Amarasuriya watched her father work at the jewelry shop. She was amazed at how they brought the drawings to life!

Still, she saw how much he struggled with the company. When her grandfather, the third-generation owner, got a stroke, her father Sunil Amarasuriya had to keep the company afloat.

He steered B.P. de Silva through different financial challenges and even the Sri Lankan Civil War.

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🤩 A new generation

Shanya was amazed at how much her father fought to keep the family brand going.

And now, she’s the creative director of the company. This makes her the fifth generation to look after B.P. de Silva.  

“Whether it was during the time of the founder or today, there’s a soulfulness to the brand. Jewelry could carry our stories and remind us of the beauty in life,” she said.

The most important thing? Keeping the human connection alive. Shanya still sends handwritten notes to customers.

And when she can, she invites them over to the shop for some tea.

“We can have a magical moment with something as simple as that,” she said.

“The business doesn’t need to be the biggest in the world. I want it to stand proud as a homegrown international brand that challenges industry norms and inspires positive change.”

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🌟 Here and now

Even with their long history, B.P. de Silva keeps up with the times.

Now, they’ve also expanded to owning other brands like RISIS and The 1872 Clipper Tea Co..

Today, B.P. de Silva has stores in Singapore and are expanding to cities like London, Tokyo, and New York.

But even with their global reach, they still craft each piece with the same care that started their business over 150 years ago.

B.P. de Silva isn’t just a jewelry brand. It’s a family legacy that keeps the past alive through their bright future.