for JQ International Magazine
G. Force
By William M. Brandon III
Simon Ghanimian came to America with $200 in his pocket with the ambition of studying Civil Engineering. When tuition proved to be much more expensive, however, his family members in Lebanon encouraged him to turn to the activity that had been his hobby since the age of 14: making jewelry. A generation later, the name Simon G. has come to represent a beauty that is timeless.
Although he has decades of dedication behind him, Simon G. has spent only the last few years in the limelight. It was in 2005 that celebrity came calling, when Jerry McConnell purchased a 5 ct. fancy yellow oval mounting to propose to Rebecca Romijn. Soon after, Britney Spears and Toni Braxton asked the designer to provide jewelry for their live shows. In quick succession, Taraji P. Henson wore a pair of Simon G.’s onyx earrings (right/left) while promoting “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” His work was then spotted on the red carpet when Charles Bronson’s daughter, Keely, and Madeleine Martin both wore pieces from the line to the Golden Globes. Most recently, the collection was featured in David Alexander’s runway show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week - Los Angeles.
Last year, the Angeleno turned his attention to New York, partnering with Marie Claire to sponsor the opening night of the Broadway production of Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons” starring Dianne West and Katie Holmes. Their male co-stars, John Lithgow and Patrick Wilson, even wore Simon G., sporting the designer’s bracelets at the after-party.
Now, the company has set its sights on Las Vegas. This May, Simon G. will be holding a customer appreciation celebration, which will host celebrity guests Kim Kardashian and Matthew Perry. “Instead of using the traditional ballroom setting, we partnered with the Palazzo Hotel to put on a lively party,” explains Simon’s son, Zevan Ghanimian, who is deeply involved in the company’s operations.
The brand has just as much substance as style. Despite its A-list clients and celebrity connections, Simon G. is still very down-to-earth, favoring face-to-face meetings and personal contact. Utilizing a hands-on approach, the company does frequent trunk shows and offers one-on-one training for retailers. The caring company is also a sponsor of the Lili Claire Foundation, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to “helping children living with neurogenetic conditions, while providing hope and resources to the families who love them.”
The daughter of founders Keith and Leslie Litt-Resnick, Lili Claire, “lost her battle with Williams syndrome when she was only five-and-a-half months old.” The couple created the foundation to aid families in similar situations and to enrich the lives of the children stricken with neurogenetic conditions. As parents of a son living with Down Syndrome, Simon and his wife Sylvia have a personal attachment to the Foundation’s work.
Simon designed a unique 18K tri-tone gold pendant, set with white and fancy yellow diamonds—called “Lili’s Dream”—to symbolize the dreams that the Litt-Resnick family has for their little girl. The designer says that he is “honored to gift a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each pendant” to the foundation.
It is a cause that is clearly close to Hollywood’s heart, as well. Celebrities Jenny Garth, Angie Harmon, Rachael Leigh Cook, Kris Jenner, and her daughters (Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney Kardashian) show their support for the foundation and its cause by wearing pieces from the limited edition collection to “send a message through fashion.”
*PDF samples available upon request (wmbrandoniii@gmail.com)
