Pavé was started by jewelry designer and goldsmith Michael Endlich and designer/artist wife, Donna, as a wholesale business fifteen years ago. Originally, the company was known as Pavé Rose and specialized in various customer creations as well as Michael's designs, all in the Pavé style.

Pavé is French for cobblestone and is the terminology used when setting diamonds as to look like a cobblestone road. Both Michael and Donna enjoyed working with clients in helping them realize their personal jewelry ideas and turning them into workable pieces of art. As their business grew they decided to on the customer point of the business so that Michael could have more direct interaction with the people who were wearing his jewelry designs.

Michael and Donna wanted a location for Pavé that was near their home and in a friendly neighborhood that boasted other sophisticated shops. Hence, in 1988 on College Avenue in the Rockridge section of Oakland Pavé was born in the perfect, intimate, space where it still stands today. Their goal was to create beautiful and original jewelry designs in an elegant interior with the finest customer service - much like the unique shops scattered throughout Europe.

Donna designed the store's space and Michael designed and created the jewelry. In 10 years, Pavé has grown from 1 employee to 10, while still retaining its original goals.