Belcourt.
The Gilded Age mansion in Newport, Rhode Island with a rich history dating back to the 19th century.
It’s now owned by Carolyn Rafaelian, one of America’s iconic entrepreneurs, with a mission to bring the captivating stories of art, history, and culture to the masses.
Her vision is for Belcourt to enrich lives through immersive galleries of exhibitions, mesmerizing concerts, engaging social gatherings, enlightening speaker series, and more.
Carolyn Rafaelian is the founder of Alex and Ani, a brand she built from her family’s Rhode Island factory into a nationally recognized symbol of meaningful design and American craftsmanship. After closing her chapter with the company, she launched &Livy and founded Metal Alchemist, a precious-metals atelier and the exclusive manufacturer of the Liberty Copper collection. Carolyn also restored Belcourt of Newport, where she now preserves and stewards original Statue of Liberty copper and armature as part of the Liberty Belcourt Project.
Carolyn Rafaelian founded Alex and Ani in 2004 inside her father’s jewelry factory. What began as a heartfelt idea—creating jewelry with meaning—grew into a brand that resonated with millions. She developed the expandable bangle and a symbolic design language that helped define a new category in American jewelry. Alex and Ani became known for its intention-based products, support of local artisans, and philanthropic partnerships that benefited causes nationwide. After many years of leading the company, Carolyn’s chapter with Alex and Ani came to a close. She evolved her design into &Livy, a brand that continues the spirit of meaningful design, and Metal Alchemist, a precious-metals company dedicated to craftsmanship, innovation, and American-made production. Metal Alchemist now serves as the exclusive manufacturer for Liberty Copper, transforming historic Statue of Liberty materials into artifacts honoring America’s ideals.
During this time, Carolyn also undertook the restoration of Belcourt of Newport, bringing the 1895 architectural landmark back to its original integrity and transforming it into a cultural home for creativity, preservation, and heritage. Today, Carolyn leads the Liberty Belcourt Project, stewarding original Statue of Liberty copper and Eiffel-engineered armature bars housed at Belcourt. Through all of this, she continues her lifelong commitment to meaningful creation, American craftsmanship, and preserving stories that endure.
Carolyn Rafaelian
Metal Alchemist is Carolyn Rafaelian’s dedicated metals company, focused on the art and science of working with precious metals. It represents her commitment to blending traditional metalwork with innovative processes. Metal Alchemist is the exclusive manufacturer of Liberty Copper artifacts, transforming the original Statue of Liberty copper into lasting pieces that honor American heritage. For Carolyn, this company is about alchemy in the truest sense—turning raw materials into meaningful creations through both craft and ingenuity.
&Livy is where Carolyn Rafaelian continues the journey she began with Alex and Ani, still made in the original Rhode Island factories. Within &Livy comes the next evolution of her iconic bangle design. The sentiment and meaningful messages are now engraved directly onto the metal, offering a new way to wear and share personal meaning. In essence, &Livy; is a natural extension of Carolyn’s original vision: timeless design, crafted with the same dedication to quality and meaning.