Our Story

In 1917 Isadore Schach left Poland with his two cousins to follow their dream of a new life in America. Sons of jewelry merchants in Warsaw and Krakow, the young men arrived at Ellis Island carrying very little luggage and speaking no English.

As was often the case with new immigrants, their names were altered as their papers were processed. Isadore became Isidor. Schach became Shah. His name may have changed, but his dream did not.

Isidor Shah traveled on to Washington D.C. where his uncle owned a jewelry store. Pawning a single gem that he had carried from Poland, he purchased new clothes. With each day he learned the jewelry trade and acclimated himself to his new home.

In 1925, he and one of his cousins opened Oppenheimer and Shah jewelry store.

When Isidor married Emily in 1927 and adopted her young son Frank, and with his new wife opened the first Shah and Shah jewelry store at 921 F Street.

Twenty years later their son, Frank, opened their second store six blocks away, at 615 15th Street. At one point three Shahs were operating successful businesses within the same block.

Michael is the third generation of Shah & Shah jewelers who, with his wife Faith, continues to build the family business based on the Old World values of his father and grandfather.  Michael's son, Colin, now represents the fourth generation of Shah & Shah jewelers in Washington, DC.  Sebastian, is pictured with his grandparents below.

Read more about Michael, Faith and Colin.