The House · · 2 min read
Since 1963: Edward Swoboda, Nate Waxman and a Los Angeles Workshop
How Nate Waxman became Edward Swoboda’s partner in 1963, led Swoboda Jewelry through its greatest expansion — and earned a key to the city of Louisville.
There is a snapshot in Nate Waxman’s archive of three young people squinting into the Los Angeles sun under a wooden pergola. It is Nate’s wedding day. Beside him stands Edward Swoboda — the jeweler whose name is on every piece — and Kumja.
The partnership
Edward Swoboda built a Los Angeles workshop around an unusual idea: intricate jewelry set with genuine gemstones, sold at costume-jewelry prices. In 1963 Nate Waxman became his partner. As chief designer and the architect behind the brand’s success, Nate oversaw Swoboda through its greatest period of expansion.
The two men were close. Another faded snapshot shows them knee-deep in a river, holding a baby between them, all three laughing.
What made Swoboda different
- Real stones. Amethyst, aventurine, carnelian, chrysoprase, citrine, coral, emerald, garnet, jade, moonstone, onyx, opal, freshwater pearl, peridot, rhodonite, rose quartz, ruby, sapphire, sodalite, tiger’s eye, tourmaline, turquoise — never glass.
- 24k gold plate, warm and rich, over a base-metal setting.
- Hand-set, made in the USA. Clusters of tiny cabochons, leaves of carved jade, pearls nested between gems.
- Signed “Swoboda” — or, where a design left no room, sold with an original signed tag.
When Jewel Collect magazine put SWOBODA on its cover, it showed six of the house’s signature brooches — a flower basket, a peacock, a jeweled tree, a pearl spray, a gemstone wreath, an ornate cartouche — above a photograph of Nate in black tie among friends.
A key to the city
On May 2, 2006, Louisville, Kentucky gave Nate its key to the city. The framed photograph of Nate shaking hands with Mayor Jerry Abramson is signed: “Nathan — great to have you in Louisville. Best wishes.”
The family
The house is a family. Dina Waxman wears a Swoboda garnet necklace in a garden; the pieces you buy here come from the same workshop, set by the same hands, and are backed by the same promise: if a piece ever needs repair, send it back — Nate will fix it and pay the return shipping.
Read more about the house or learn how to identify authentic Swoboda.
Photographs from the private collection of Nate Waxman.
