Ella Gafter Pearl Sapphire Diamond Turtle Pin Brooch
About the Item
- Creator:
- Metal:18k Gold,White Gold
- Stone:White Diamond,Pearl,Diamond,Sapphire,South Sea Pearl,Pink Sapphire
- Stone Cut:Oval Cut
- Dimensions:Width: 2 in (50.8 mm)Length: 3.75 in (95.25 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 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 Turtle Brooch Diamond SapphireBy Ella GafterLocated in New York, NYThe carapace of the turtle brooch is decorated with tinted New Zealand paua shell (abalone) topped by transparent crystal, lending the jewel a distinctly art déco look. It is circums...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Brooches
MaterialsWhite Diamond, Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
- 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 Dragonfly Brooch Pin Sapphire DiamondsBy Ella GafterLocated in New York, NYThis dragonfly brooch features a voluminous Australian South Sea Pearl of 18.5mm diameter. The pearl is untreated. It displays a splendid nacre and its natural color and luster have ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Brooches
MaterialsWhite Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Pink Sapphire, Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Go...
- 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 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,...
- Cartier Paris Diamond Sapphire Gold Platinum Turtle Brooch PinBy CartierLocated in New York, NYCartier Paris turtle brooch, set in 18k gold and platinum, adorned with sapphire cabochon eyes and approx. 0.60ctw in diamonds. Brooch measures 45mm x 30mm. Marked: Cartier Paris, Fr...Category
20th Century French Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, Sapphire, Gold, Platinum
- Antique Victorian Sapphire Diamond Pearl Gold Brooch PinLocated in New York, NYVictorian 18k gold brooch, with three blue sapphires and one old mine diamond, as well as 5 pearls. Brooch is 35mm x 30mm. Weight - 14 gra...Category
Antique 19th Century Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Gold
- Tsavorite Garnet Diamond Gold Turtle Pendant Pin BroochLocated in Beverly Hills, CAA sweet and friendly turtle with a gem-set shell! Its shell is set with 2.40 carats of vibrant green tsavorite garnet with rhodium finish on its prongs for a metallic contrasting sty...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, Garnet, Tsavorite, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
- Victorian Turtle Scatter Pin BroochLocated in London, GBA Victorian turtle scatter pin brooch, the brooch comprising a pair of turtles, each turtle embellished with alternating lines of half pearls and cabochon...Category
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Brooches
MaterialsPearl, Natural Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, Yellow Gold
- Pearl Bee and Diamond Brooch PinLocated in Beverly Hills, CALarge pearl Bee and diamond brooch in 18-karat white gold. Gracefully spread over the wings are 0.71 carats of diamonds. This timeless brooch featuring a lustrous pearl body is set i...Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Retro Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
- Vintage Diamond Enamel 18k Gold Turtle Brooch PinLocated in Miami, FLBeautifully crafted in solid 18K Yellow Gold, this Turtle Gem Brooch is finely encrusted with brilliant Natural Diamonds approx. 0.86 carats, G-h color, VS clarity. The turtle she...Category
Vintage 1980s American Modern Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, 18k Gold, Enamel