The deBebians Story
At deBebians, we believe every piece of jewelry should tell a story, be built to last a lifetime, and have the potential to become a treasured heirloom for generations to come. That belief connects the history that came before deBebians with everything Sam, Maggie, and the deBebians team are working to build for its future.
Two Different Paths Meet at GIA
Maggie and Sam met as classmates in GIA's Graduate Gemologist program and graduated in 2001. They did not immediately start a company together. After GIA, each built experience independently within the jewelry industry.
Maggie worked for a high-end jeweler in San Diego and later in a fast-paced custom jewelry environment, where she gained extensive experience working with fine jewelry and custom design. Sam's appreciation for objects, design, and craftsmanship developed through his father. Sam worked in his father's Beverly Hills antique store, European Fine Antiques, restoring and working around time-worn antiques and vintage jewelry. That experience reinforced a lesson that continues to influence his design work today: attention to detail matters.
At GIA, jewelry design coursework helped Sam turn that eye for detail toward fine jewelry. After graduating, he also worked for a high-end jewelry company in San Diego, where he continued refining his approach to design and adapting pieces around each client's needs. For Sam, a great piece of jewelry should not simply look impressive when it is new. It should be made to be worn every day and admired.
The Beginning of deBebians
The idea for deBebians began with Maggie. At a time when purchasing fine jewelry online was still new, she recognized the opportunity the internet could create and brought the idea to Sam.
In 2005, Sam and Maggie went into business together, establishing EFA Diamonds, Inc. and launching deBebians.com. The two names reflect both sides of the company's story: EFA comes from European Fine Antiques, Sam's father's antique business, while deBebians honors Maggie's great-grandfather and father.
With their GIA education, industry experience, knowledge of diamonds and gemstones, and understanding of jewelry design, they believed they could build a fine jewelry company centered on expertise, education, quality, and thoughtful design.
From the beginning, education has been fundamental. Sam and Maggie do not simply want to tell a client what to buy. They want clients to understand why: why one diamond or gemstone may be preferable to another, why proportions matter, why a particular setting works for one stone but not another, and why the structure of a ring matters just as much as its appearance.
Image courtesy of https://carlsbadlifeinaction.com/
Building the deBebians Legacy.
The ambition for deBebians is not simply to create beautiful jewelry. It is to create pieces that reflect the care, knowledge, and craftsmanship that go into every one.
Sam wants deBebians to be recognized for the things we believe matter most: thoughtful design, exceptional craftsmanship, quality materials, honest guidance, and a genuinely personal experience. Over the years, deBebians has built a reputation grounded in these qualities. Our goal is to continue strengthening that reputation, refining what we do, and ensuring that the deBebians name remains synonymous with the standards we have worked to establish.
Years from now, we hope someone can look at a piece of deBebians jewelry and recognize the care behind it. A piece that reflects the quality, attention to detail, and thoughtfulness we strive to put into everything we create.
That kind of reputation is earned over time. One piece, one client, and one relationship at a time.
Learn More Through Other Features!
deBebians and its founders have been featured in jewelry and business publications including INSTORE Magazine, JCK, and CEO Blog Nation / Hearpreneur.
INSTORE Magazine - Selling Moissanite: Seeing Is Believing
https://instoremag.com/selling-moissanite-seeing-is-believing/
JCK - Can-Do Gratitude
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/3002/0938/files/Oct-Feat-Appreciation-Baltazar.pdf
CEO Blog Nation / Hearpreneur - How Did You Come Up With Your Business Name?
https://hear.ceoblognation.com/2013/03/28/how-did-you-come-up-with-your-business-name-10/
Voyage LA - Meet Maggie Moore of deBebians in Jewelry District in Downtown LA
https://voyagela.com/interview/meet-maggie-moore-debebians-jewelry-district-downtown-los-angeles/
Did You Know This About deBebians?
Sam's design philosophy places durability alongside beauty. Proportions, metal weight, stone security, comfort, setting style, and long-term wear all matter. A piece should not merely photograph well or look beautiful on the day it is delivered. It should be thoughtfully designed for years of real life.
Discover What deBebians Stands For: