Ella Gafter Pearl Bee Pin Brooch
About the Item
- Creator:
- Metal:18k Gold,White Gold,Yellow Gold
- Stone:White Diamond,Black Pearl,Blue Sapphire,Pink Sapphire,Pearl
- Stone Cut:Round Cut
- Weight:17 g
- Dimensions:Width: 1.25 in (31.75 mm)Length: 1.5 in (38.1 mm)
- Style:Artist
- Place of Origin:Italy
- Period:21st Century
- Date of Manufacture:Unknown
- Condition:
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:
Ella Gafter
Even before Ella Gafter founded her namesake jewelry collection in 1982, she was a formidable presence in the jewelry industry.
As a Rome-based gem dealer, Gafter sold pearls and precious stones to retailers and jewelers but was often dissatisfied with how they made use of the rare materials she worked so hard to source. Instead of grousing, she decided to design jewels that would do them justice, focusing primarily on pearls — akoya, Tahitian and South Sea. She explains her fascination with the lustrous marine treasures simply: “Every woman looks better with pearls than without.”
Her daughter Talila Gafter, then an undergrad at Harvard, was her ally in getting the project off the ground. Together, they made the rounds to stores with Ella’s first efforts. “We had a little pouch with eight pieces and we sold everything,” Talila tells 1stDibs. After graduation, she “was involved one hundred percent” in building the company, whose pieces are handmade by master jewelers in Naples.
The designer insists that her unwavering focus is the source of her success. “There’s no compromising for me,” she says. She’s been known to replace the pearls in a single piece time after time until she’s certain she’s achieved her ideal result. “A pearl you have to respect,” she explains. “You have to put it where it wants to sit.”
Ella describes the collaboration with her daughter as a “partnership,” with each having her own domain. “I’m all fantasy; Talila is the concrete one,” she says. The company is now based in New York City, with Talila as its president while Ella is firmly at the helm of creative decisions. “I’ve never made a design suggestion to Ella,” says Talila. “Nobody does.”
That forbearance has been earned, says Talila. “I admire that Ella doesn’t take no for an answer, her tenacity, her extraordinary ambition. She believes as long as there is life, there is a lot of beauty to create. She’s a force of nature.”
Find Ella Gafter earrings, rings, necklaces and other jewelry on 1stDibs.
Ella Gafter
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: New York, NY
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Ella Gafter Pearl Bee Sapphire Brooch PinBy Ella GafterLocated in New York, NYThis pearl and diamond bee brooch features a South Sea pearl of 17.5mm diameter. The wings are set with custom cut frosted crystal, lending the jewel a distinctly art déco look. The ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Brooches
MaterialsWhite Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Pearl, Sap...
- Ella Gafter Bee Pearl Diamonds Pin BroochBy Ella GafterLocated in New York, NYThis golden pearl and diamond bee brooch features a pearl of 17.5mm diameter. The flexible wings are set with custom cut yellow quartz. The design is complete with an oval faceted ye...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, Pearl, Sapphire, White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Yellow Sapphir...
- Ella Gafter Bee Brooch PearlBy Ella GafterLocated in New York, NYThis South Sea pearl and diamond bee brooch features a pearl of 17.5mm diameter. The wings are set with custom cut tinted paua shell topped by transparent crystal, lending the jewel ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Brooches
MaterialsPearl, Sapphire, White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Crystal,...
- Ella Gafter Bee Pearl Diamond Sapphire Pin BroochBy Ella GafterLocated in New York, NYThis pearl and diamond bee brooch features a South Sea pearl of 17.5mm diameter. The flexible wings are set with custom cut tinted paua shell topped by transparent crystal, lending t...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, White Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, Ruby, Blue Sap...
- Ella Gafter Bee Brooch Pin 17mm PearlBy Ella GafterLocated in New York, NYThis bee brooch features a golden pearl of 17mm diameter. The flexible wings are set with custom cut yellow quartz. The design is complete with 0.90 carats of fancy color diamonds w...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Brooches
MaterialsYellow Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
- Ella Gafter Spider Pearl Diamond Brooch PinBy Ella GafterLocated in New York, NYThe spider brooch features a large South Sea pearl of 17.5mm diameter. The pearl is untreated. It displays fine quality nacre and its natural color and luster have not been enhanced ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Brooches
MaterialsCrystal, White Diamond, Pearl, Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold,...
- Pearl and Diamond Brooch PinLocated in Beverly Hills, CALarge pearl and diamond brooch in 18-karat white gold. Gracefully spread over the bee's wings are 0.71 carats of diamonds. This timeless brooch featuring a lustrous pearl body is set...Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Retro Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
- Two-Tone Diamond Bee Brooch PinLocated in Palm Desert, CA18 Karat Two-Tone Diamond Bee Brooch Pin. Very pretty white and yellow gold with pave-set round diamonds on the body. There are thirty-five 1.6mm round diamonds with a carat total we...Category
1990s American Retro Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
- Novelty Bee Pin w Cultured Pearl & Diamonds Bumble Bee Brooch in 14 Karat GoldBy Five Star JewelryLocated in Austin, TXThis novelty bee brooch has two genuine cultured pearls with diamonds in the eyes. It is created out of 14 karat yellow gold and was handmade. There is only one of these and it could...Category
2010s American Contemporary Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Sabbadini Diamond & Emerald 18k Gold Bee Pin BroochBy SabbadiniLocated in Boca Raton, FLThis eye-catching authentic bee brooch is by Italian designer Sabbadini, it is crafted from 18k white gold with yellow gold accent. The body and wings of the bee is fully decorated with diamonds, the eyes are two small cabochon emeralds. On the back of the bee are 3 flowers with emeralds in yellow gold...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Brooches
MaterialsEmerald, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
- Sabbadini Diamond & Ruby 18k Gold Bee Pin BroochBy SabbadiniLocated in Boca Raton, FLThis eye-catching authentic bee brooch is by Italian designer Sabbadini, it is crafted from 18k white gold with yellow gold accent. The body and wings of the bee is fully decorated with diamonds, the eyes are two small cabochon rubies. On the back of the bee are 3 flowers with rubies in yellow gold...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
- Vintage Tahitian South Sea Pearl and Diamond Bumble Bee Gold Brooch PinLocated in Montreal, QCSimply Beautiful! Fabulous Vintage Bumble Bee Brooch, 1.00tcw Hand set Diamonds, enhancing the Wings and Body and featuring a Tahitian South ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold