About us

The Ichiban Story: Excellence, Vision, and the Art of Being Unique
Ichiban is more than just a jewelry brand; it is the result of a promise made in 2007 by two visionaries — Daniela Bordeanu, designer, and Alex Bordeanu, film screenwriter. We embarked on this journey with the desire to prove that manual perfection can be achieved in Romania without industrial compromises.
Today, the "Ichiban Excellency in Handmade by Daniela Bordeanu" trademark is protected at the European level through EUIPO Madrid, and our original designs are officially registered with OSIM, granting Ichiban creations an internationally recognized status of authenticity.

Blue Lagoon: Innovation Born from Challenge
Our international recognition was sealed by winning 2nd Place at the European Design Competition (France) with our emblematic piece, "Blue Lagoon." The competition began in October 2009 and went through several elimination stages. In early 2010, we received the news of entering the grand final, at which point the necklace was sent to France for physical judging. Following this direct evaluation, the work was officially designated the 2nd place winner.
The competition theme, "Ocean Treasure," required the use of 80% Swarovski materials, and Daniela's vision exceeded the material resources available at that moment. What followed was an absolute innovation: forced by material limitations, Daniela redesigned the entire structure of the necklace, creating a revolutionary three-dimensional piece with two distinct faces. Blue Lagoon evokes the duality of the sea: one side depicts the foamy waters under daylight, while the other captures the ocean's sunset hues.
Destiny ensured that the jury awarded exactly the prize Daniela had secretly hoped for: 2nd Place. While the first place offered a trip to Austria, the second prize consisted of a 1,000-euro voucher exclusively for creative materials. This fortunate coincidence between her artistic desire and the jury's decision defined our philosophy: continuous investment in elite resources to fuel innovation.

Technique at the Edge of the Impossible
Our jewelry is "constructed" wire by wire. A few years ago, experts from the Association of Jewelers in Spain viewed our creations with skepticism, convinced that such geometric precision could only be achieved through industrial processes. Seeing them handcrafted in the atelier, they admiringly called us "a phenomenon."
This rigor has allowed us to develop cold-working metal techniques, without welds or solders, transforming fine wire under 1 mm into wearable micro-sculptures.

Smart Luxury and Material Ethics
We are promoters of total transparency and uncompromising quality. We use noble metals purchased from elite suppliers in the UK, France, and the USA (the homeland of the Gold Filled standard):
14K Gold Filled: A technical innovation that offers the brilliance of solid gold at a price that honors the design, not just the weight of the metal.
Solid Gold (14K - 585): Reserved for collection pieces where precious metal meets diamonds and natural gemstones.
In our atelier, jewelry is not sold by the gram, but by its artistic value. Raw material is purchased by size (inch/cm), and the price reflects hundreds of hours of painstaking work, execution rigor, and the intellectual property of an award-winning design.

The Ichiban Community: A Selection of Values
With over 30,000 customers and a return rate of over 80%, Ichiban is a sanctuary for women seeking more than just an accessory. We address informed individuals who understand that a handcrafted piece is a living object that requires respect and care.
For us, every order is a dialogue. That is why we confirm every piece by telephone before it enters production. We do not seek quick transactions, but connections with people who appreciate the effort behind every weave.
Ichiban means "Number One" in Japanese. For us, this name does not represent arrogance, but a desideratum — an unattainable standard toward which we strive with every new creation or technical innovation. It is our promise never to stop evolving.

We invite you to wear not just a piece of jewelry, but a story of courage, precision, and an infinite love for beauty.

The Ichiban Team – Daniela & Alex Bordeanu
 
 Company: S.C. DB ATELIER DE PRODUCTION S.R.L.
 Registry of Commerce: J40/11041/14.09.2011
 CUI: RO29101062
 Social capital: 200 lei
 Social headquarters: Agricultori Street 37-39, Codecs Office Building ,  4th floor, room 404, sector 2
 E-mail: office@ichiban-bijuterii.ro
 Phone: 0743204298
 ANSPDPC registration (infochiosck) number: 815585562280