Ella Gafter Japanese Pearl Necklace
About the Item
- Creator:
- Metal:
- Stone:
- Stone Cut:
- Dimensions:Length: 85 in (2,159 mm)
- Style:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- 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 Japanese Long Multistrand Pearl NecklaceBy Ella GafterLocated in New York, NYThe 66” Japanese Akoya pearl necklace consists of 189 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
MaterialsCultured Pearl, Diamond, Pearl, White Diamond, 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 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 Long Multistrand Japanese Akoya Pearl NecklaceBy Ella GafterLocated in New York, NYThe 86” Japanese pearl necklace consists of 251 homogeneous round Japanese Akoya pearls (Pinctada Fucata) of 8mm diameter. The pearls display a...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Artist Multi-Strand Necklaces
MaterialsCultured Pearl, Pearl, White Diamond, 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
- Ella Gafter Long Pearl Multistrand NecklaceBy Ella GafterLocated in New York, NYThe 104” Japanese Akoya pearl necklace consists of 302 homogeneous round pearls (Pinctada Fucata) of 8mm diameter. The pearls display an attractive nacre, lustre, and iridescence. Th...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Artist Multi-Strand Necklaces
MaterialsPearl, White Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White 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
- Vintage Chanel Double Strand Pearl and Bow Station Necklace, 2006By ChanelLocated in London, GBChanel double strand faux pearl sautoir necklace with bow and CC logo stations, from Spring/Summer 2006. This classic Chanel necklace features ...Category
Early 2000s French Contemporary Multi-Strand Necklaces
MaterialsPearl, Gold Plate
- Round White Seed Pearls and Blue Sapphire Beads Seven Strand NecklaceBy Joon HanLocated in New York, NYA seven strand necklace of round white seed pearls and blue sapphire beads. This beautifully versatile one-of-a-kind pearl necklace can be worn in so many ways, depending on your mo...Category
2010s Contemporary Rope Necklaces
MaterialsPearl, Blue Sapphire
- Yoko London Japanese Akoya Pearl Necklace in 18 Karat White GoldBy Yoko LondonLocated in London, GBThis timeless necklace by Yoko London features premium 8-8.5mm Japanese Akoya pearls, finished with a simple 18K white gold clasp. Crafted in our London atelier by the world’s leadin...Category
2010s British Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsPearl, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
- Handcraft Japan Pearls 18 Karat White Gold Strand Rope NecklaceLocated in Marcianise, ITFor any problems related to some materials contained in the items that do not allow shipping and require specific documents that require a particular period, please contact the selle...Category
Vintage 1970s Artisan Rope Necklaces
MaterialsPearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
- Natural Japanese Pearls Endless Necklace / Double WrapLocated in New York, NY7.3mm Natural Japanese Pearls Necklace AAA Quality Endless necklace / can be worn as double wrap Necklace: 34 inch long.Category
2010s American Multi-Strand Necklaces
MaterialsPearl