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.
Sapphire Emerald Bracelet Leather Strap Design by Ella Gafter
By Ella Gafter
Located in New York, NY
The sapphire and emerald bracelet features a geometric 18 carat gold design set with top quality calibrated square-cut emeralds and calibrated square-cut pink and blue sapphires. The...
Emerald, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Ruby and Diamond Bracelet Leather Strap Design by Ella Gafter
By Ella Gafter
Located in New York, NY
The ruby and diamond bracelet features an oval 18 carat gold design set with 2 oval cabochon rubies and top quality round diamonds set en pavé (1.34 carats, F/VVS). The center is set...
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
Diamond Bracelet Caoutchouc Design by Ella Gafter
By Ella Gafter
Located in New York, NY
The diamond and caoutchouc bracelet features an 18 carat gold plaque decorated with extremely detailed symbolic designs and set with diamonds of top quality (F/G-VVS). It is connecte...
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Sapphire Ruby Diamond Bracelet Leather Strap Design by Ella Gafter
By Ella Gafter
Located in New York, NY
The sapphire, ruby and diamond bracelet features a geometric 18 carat gold design set with custom cut calibrated baguette diamonds, rubies, and b...
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Diamond Bracelet Caoutchouc Design by Ella Gafter
By Ella Gafter
Located in New York, NY
The diamond and caoutchouc bracelet features an 18 carat gold plaque decorated with extremely detailed symbolic designs and set with diamonds of top quality (F/G-VVS). It is connecte...
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
18k Gold Five Diamonds Bracelet Diamond Solitaire Bracelet
By Oshi Jewels
Located in Bangkok, TH
Diamond Solitaire Bracelet is made of 18k solid gold. Available in three colors of gold: White Gold / Rose Gold / Yellow Gold. Natural genuine round cut diamond each diamond is hand...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Sapphire and Diamond Bracelet
Located in New York, NY
A Sapphire and Diamond 14k White Gold Bracelet that features 5 Oval shaped Natural Sapphires, with each stone measuring 8 x 6 mm and weigh 9.77 cts. in total. These 5 interspersed ov...
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
$3,097Sale Price|20% Off
W 0.4 in D 0.28 in L 7.49 in
Art Nouveau Diamond Ruby Emerald Sapphire Pearl Yellow Gold Flowers Bracelet
By Luigi Ferrara
Located in Naples, IT
For any problems related to some materials contained in the items that do not allow shipping, please contact the seller with a private message to solve the problem. We can ship every...
Agate, Amethyst, Carnelian, Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ga...
$3,135 / item
W 0.16 in L 7.25 in
Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire Tennis Bracelet with Diamonds in 18K White Gold
By VR Jewels
Located in New York, NY
ERS bracelet in 18K Gold. It has a perfect oval cut gemstone studded with diamonds to make you stand out on any occasion or an event. A tennis bracelet is an essential piece of jewe...
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Diamonds Rubies Blue Sapphires Flowers White Gold Contemporary Link Bracelet
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
Contemporary link bracelet in 14K white gold composed of diamonds and blue sapphires flowers altetnating with diamonds and rubies flowers. Diamonds 5.04 ct(big diamonds 0,20 small d...
White Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
Rare Hans Hansen Sapphire Ruby Diamond and Gold Bracelet circa 1965
By Hans Hansen
Located in New York, NY
A rare, vintage, cabochon sapphire, ruby, diamond, and 18 karat gold bracelet, by Hans Hansen, c. 1965. A collectors bracelet, a gem set design from the iconic Danish silvermsithy Hans Hansen. Begun by his father Hans Hansen, the company started making jewelry in 1932 under Karl Gustav Hansen. Between 1936-1938 Karl Gustav studied at the Academy of Fine Arts' sculpture school and took over the firm at the age of twenty five. He designed the first line of jewelry, called ‘Future’ featuring brooches, earrings, and rings, which sold very successfully. Hansen also employed other Danish modernist designers, who were to become famous in their own right, cementing the firm’s place among mid-century Scandinavian silver and jewelry producers. Bent Gabrielsen Pedersen worked there between 1953 and 1969 and was artistic director from 1962 until he left the company in 1969. Gabrielsen won the prestigious Lunning prize and a gold medal for design at the Milan Triennial while at Hans Hansen. In 1991 the company merged with Georg Jensen. Generally, Hansen made jewelry in silver and adopted the functionalist and Art Deco styles as inspirations. This bracelet, however, is a one-of-a-kind jewel, with the cabochon gemstones cupped...
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
18KT Roberto coin bracelet woven design with ruby and diamond accent
By Roberto Coin
Located in New York, NY
Diana M. 18KT Roberto coin bracelet woven design 87.26 grams with ruby and diamond accent Diana M. is a leading supplier of top-quality fine jewelry for over 35 years. Diana M is ...
$1,742Sale Price|20% Off
W 0.4 in D 0.28 in L 7.49 in
Art Nouveau Diamond Ruby Emerald Blue Sapphire White Gold Plate Flowers Bracelet
By Luigi Ferrara
Located in Naples, IT
For any problems related to some materials contained in the items that do not allow shipping, please contact the seller with a private message to solve the problem. We can ship every...
Agate, Amethyst, Carnelian, Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ga...
$5,279Sale Price|20% Off
Magnificent Emerald Blue Sapphire Diamond White Gold Tennis Bracelet for Her
By Natkina
Located in Genève, GE
Bracelet White Gold 14K Weight - 6,22 grams Size 18 cm Diamond 11-RND 57-0,33 ct Blue Sapphire 6-0,94 ct Blue Sapphire 23-1,35 ct Emerald 22--0,71 ct With a heritage of ancient f...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Emerald, 14k Gold, White Gold
Diamond Ruby Emerald Gold Bracelet
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A delightful bracelet featuring just under 10 carats of fancy pear shape and full-cut diamonds, complemented by 1 carat of ruby and 1.25 carats of emerald, all set in 18K white gold....
Agate, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold
18k Gold Dainty Cross Bracelet Tiny Cross Diamond Bracelet
By Oshi Jewels
Located in Bangkok, TH
Dainty Cross Bracelet is made of 18k solid gold. Available in three colors of gold: White Gold / Rose Gold / Yellow Gold. Natural genuine round cut diamond each diamond is hand sele...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage French Wide Diamond Sapphire Emerald Gold Bracelet
Located in Miami, FL
his French-made Diamond, Emerald , and Sapphire bracelet is sure to make a Statement in any room. Wide throughout and flexible bangle bracelet, this 18k yellow gold bracelet has man...
Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, Gold
Sold
W 0.44 in D 0.22 in L 6.82 in
Ella Gafter Golden and Pink Sapphire and Diamonds Gold Flower Tennis Bracelet
By Ella Gafter
Located in Wailea, HI
Ella Gafter Golden and Pink Sapphire and Diamonds Gold Flower Tennis Bracelet Thirty Six French Cut Golden Sapphires weighing 18.00 car...
Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold