Michael Bogosian, the Armenian designer behind the Michael B. jewelry brand, has died at the age of 64, Jewelers Circular Keystone reported.

Born in Istanbul, Bogosian told the blog for CIRCA that he started working at a jeweler’s bench at age 12. By 13, he was designing his own jewelry. In 1967, while still a teen, he headed to the United States with just $75 in his pocket, according to an online obit.

In 1993, he founded jewelry store Matthew’s, and a year later, he founded bridal brand Michael B. Bogosian “lived the American dream and took great pride in keeping the company operations and manufacturing in Studio City, Calif.,” said the obit.

Bogosian’s passion for the jewelry industry can be seen in a 1996 interview on the merits of platinum.

“Platinum has a magic touch, a magic feel, a certain elegance,” he told JCK. “When you have it in your hand, it feels beautiful. If a jeweler holds a piece of white metal jewelry, the first thing he's going to ask is, ‘Is it platinum?’ When it’s in platinum, it’s special. It has mystique.”

He later told CIRCA: “Jewelry represents true beauty—the earthy metals, the natural stones, but most importantly, what happens when we combine the two to make wearable art. Jewelry represents the wearer, who she is, as well as myself, my passion, my passion for jewelry.”

Bogosian is survived by his wife Aida and sons Matthew, Brian, Michael, and Arthur.