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 Diamond Cocktail Ring Tutti Frutti Design by Ella Gafter
By Ella Gafter
Located in New York, NY
The sapphire and diamond tutti frutti ring features a cluster of multicolor sapphire briolettes of brilliant color (26.10 carats total) atop a crown of round diamonds of top quality ...
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
$6,240Sale Price|20% Off
Huge Tutti Frutti 18K Ring, Emeralds, Rubies, Sapphires and Diamonds
Located in North Hollywood, CA
This huge Tutti Frutti Ring is special due to its size and the gorgeous carved gemstone leaves. There are Rubies, Emeralds, Sapphires with Diamonds interspersed throughout. Tutti f...
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Tutti Frutti Inspired Art Deco Natural Amethyst Melon Carved Cocktail Ring
Located in Shanghai, CN
Bold, glamorous and unapologetically eye-catching, this statement cocktail ring is made for those who love to shine. At its core sits a resplendent loupe clean natural amethyst, sha...
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
$2,392Sale Price|20% Off
Tutti Frutti Ring, Emeralds, Rubies, Sapphires and Diamonds
Located in North Hollywood, CA
I just love this Tutti Frutti. So you know, Tutti Frutti refers to any piece of jewelry that is three colored gemstones of carved leaf design in Ruby Emerald and Sapphire. Most popular in the 1920's when Cartier found inspiration in Moghul jewelry...
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold
2.90 Carat Diamond Sapphire White Gold Cluster Cocktail Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
1960's Sapphire and diamond starburst cluster cocktail ring. Round brilliant cut center diamond with sprays of marquise shaped sapphires above and below with additional round brillia...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold, Gold
GIA Certified Natural Blue Sapphire Diamond Dome Cluster Cocktail Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
Original 1930's Art Deco 18k white gold sapphire and diamond cluster cocktail ring. The center stone is a 2.18ct GIA certified oval periwinkle sapphire which is mounted in a handmade...
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold
Sapphire and Diamond Estate Platinum Cocktail Ring
Located in Greenwich, CT
The word Twist was used to describe a popular dance in the early 1960s. Twist means writhing, pirouette, the same idea that inspired this ring, in a whirlwind of white gold and preci...
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
Marchak Carved Sapphire and Diamond Cocktail Ring
By Marchak
Located in London, GB
A yellow gold ring with heavy asymmetrical bezel composed of a drop shaped cluster of nineteen carved oval sapphires in claw settings with an approximate total weight of 20.00 carats...
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Cartier Tutti Frutti Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, Diamond Ring, 18K
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
A Cartier Tutti Frutti Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, Diamond Ring made in 18 Karat Yellow Gold. The ring size is US 8. The total weight of the ring is 6.49 gr...
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Tutti Frutti Inspired Natural Amethyst Melon Carved Cocktail Ring
Located in Shanghai, CN
Bold, glamorous and unapologetically eye-catching, this statement cocktail ring is made for those who love to shine. At its core sits a resplendent loupe clean natural amethyst, sha...
1930s Antique Sapphire and Diamond Platinum Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An impressive antique Art Deco 0.58 carat sapphire and 0.46 carat diamond, platinum cocktail ring; part of our diverse antique jewelry and estate jewelry collections. This stunning, fine and impressive antique sapphire and diamond ring has been crafted in platinum. The pierced decorated, Art Deco design is ornamented with a cluster of seven pavé and claw set eight-cut diamonds. Four individually claw set baguette cut sapphires emanate from the central cluster. A further eight individually four claw set eight-cut diamonds are displayed in pairs alternately between the sapphires. The multi-stranded ring shoulders are ornamented with a rope twist decoration and amalgamate to form the plain ring shank. This antique 1930's sapphire and diamond cocktail ring has been independently tested using state of the art technology (Niton XL2 Analyzer) and verified as platinum. The ring is supplied with an independent diamond grading report card. Images do not always reflect the true color and brilliance of gemstones and diamonds. The video however provides a truer representation of the actual color and showcases each stone. Condition This stunning antique Art Deco cocktail ring...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Platinum
Emerald Sapphire Diamond Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring
By Roshe Jewels
Located in Los Angeles, CA
9.04 Carat Emerald Diamond and Orange Sapphire Cocktail Ring! The most unique ring of all! A beautiful Cabochon Emerald sits in the cen...
Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
$32,000
David Webb Tutti Frutti Ring
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
David Webb Tutti Frutti Ring An 18 karat gold ring set with carved emeralds, sapphires, & ruby, accented with 12 round cut diamonds French ...
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum