Ella Gafter Opera Length Pearl Necklace
About the Item
- Creator:
- Metal:
- Stone:
- Stone Cut:
- Dimensions:Length: 103 in (2,616.2 mm)
- Style:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:2019
- 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 Opera Length NecklaceBy Ella GafterLocated in New York, NYThe opera length triple pearl necklace set consists of 6 original strands of Japanese pearls of lovely nacre, lustre, and iridescence. The pearls...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Multi-Strand Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
- Ella Gafter Pearl Opera Length NecklaceBy Ella GafterLocated in New York, NYThe quadruple pearl necklace set consists of 9 original strands of Japanese pearls of lovely nacre, lustre, and iridescence. The pearls are homogeneous and measure 9/9.5mm in diamete...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Multi-Strand Necklaces
MaterialsPearl, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
- Ella Gafter Pearl NecklaceBy Ella GafterLocated in New York, NYThe 100” Japanese Akoya pearl necklace consists of 310 homogeneous round pearls (Pinctada Fucata) of 7.5/8mm diameter. The pearls display a lovely nacre, lustre, and iridescence. The...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Artist Multi-Strand Necklaces
MaterialsWhite Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
- Ella Gafter Pearl NecklaceBy Ella GafterLocated in New York, NYThe 75” Japanese Akoya pearl necklace consists of 205 round pearls (Pinctada Fucata) of 8.5/9mm diameter. The pearls display a lovely nacre, lustre, and iridescence. The necklace is ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Artist Multi-Strand Necklaces
MaterialsPearl, White Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
- Ella Gafter Japanese Pearl NecklaceBy Ella GafterLocated in New York, NYThe 85” Japanese Akoya pearl necklace consists of 252 homogeneous round Japanese Akoya pearls (Pinctada Fucata) of 8mm diameter. The pearls display a lovely nacre, lustre, and irides...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Artist Multi-Strand Necklaces
MaterialsWhite Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
- Ella Gafter Pearl Strand NecklaceBy Ella GafterLocated in New York, NYThe 84” Japanese Akoya pearl necklace consists of 222 homogeneous round pearls (Pinctada Fucata) of 9.5mm diameter. The pearls display a lovely nacre, lustre, and iridescence. The ne...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Artist Multi-Strand Necklaces
MaterialsPearl, White Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
- Opera Length South Sea Pearl NecklaceLocated in Saint Louis, MOExquisite mulit- colored (golden, grey, black ) south sea pearl necklace that can be worn long or double covered, The 60 pearls have beautiful luster and what makes them so stunning ...Category
20th Century Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsSouth Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
- Hirsh Opera Length Diamond NecklaceLocated in London, GBA stunning shimmering opera length necklace measuring 37 inches in total, made up of pretty daisy style clusters of collection quality diamonds. - 888 wh...Category
2010s British Artisan Multi-Strand Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
- Pearl and Diamond Double Opera Length Necklace in Yellow GoldLocated in Wailea, HIPearl and Diamond Double Opera Length Necklace in Yellow Gold Purchased From a Renowned Hollywood Family who wish to remain anonymous. 200 Round Cultured Peals 8 - 8.3 mm [Great Colo...Category
Mid-20th Century American Multi-Strand Necklaces
MaterialsWhite Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
- Three Strand Diamond Opera Length NecklaceLocated in New York, NYClassic and Elegant Three Strand diamond with over 29 Carats of G V S 2-S I 1 Carats Necklace is Made in Italy Full Cut Diamonds Please come and see our Entire Collection at 1050 ...Category
20th Century Italian Multi-Strand Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, 18k Gold
- Yoko London Freshwater Pearl Rope NecklaceBy Yoko LondonLocated in London, GBThis elegant necklace by Yoko London features two meters of lustrous freshwater pearls, each one selected by experts in our London atelier according to their size, lustre and shape t...Category
2010s British Modern Rope Necklaces
MaterialsPearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Other
- 1970s Natural Red Coral Gold Opera Length NecklaceLocated in Austin, TXThe long red coral necklace of opera length, with a total length of 34". The necklace is comprised of 20 strands of evenly matched natural red coral tube beads mixed with 18k gold be...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Multi-Strand Necklaces
MaterialsCoral, 18k Gold