Gilbert Albert 5 Interchangeable Beads 18 Carats Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring

When it came to creating elegant jewelry out of unusual materials, Gilbert Albert was a master alchemist. Not only was he the first known jeweler to set meteorite fragments in fine jewelry, but he also crafted works from more earthly components such as sea-urchin skeletons, shark teeth, peacock feathers and fulgurites, which he placed in tubes of glass made from sand that had been struck by lightning.

Born in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1930, Albert began training in jewelry design at the age of 15 while attending the city’s School of Industrial Arts. There, he became influenced by European abstract artists such as Piet Mondrian and Constantin Brâncusi. A decade later, luxury watchmaker Patek Philippe spotted Albert’s talents, and for the next seven years, he worked at the company as a designer, developing Patek’s signature asymmetrical timepieces. 

In 1962, Albert opened his first atelier and pioneered a method for incorporating unconventional natural materials into his jewelry. Driven by a lifelong love of nature, Albert combined petrified plants, furs, feathers, dinosaur fossils and beetle exoskeletons with traditional precious metals and gemstones to make curious rings, brooches, bracelets and watches. Among his most well-known pieces are his sculptural gold clip-on earrings, pendant necklaces and interchangeable cocktail rings with removable beads.

Throughout his career, Albert’s creations have been exhibited at shows and fairs in Prague, Paris, London, Milan, Copenhagen, Antwerp, Brussels, New York, Vienna, Salzburg, Tokyo, Osaka, São Paulo, Lisbon and Dubai. He was also the first living artist since 1917 invited to display work at the Kremlin, in Moscow. 

In addition to receiving numerous accolades for his jewelry designs — he won the Diamonds International Award 10 times — Albert has been recognized for his talents as an artist. In 1999, the Swiss government hired him to design the “Mass” of the Republic of Geneva. He also received the Ramsar Wetlands Conservation Award, and Geneva’s International Museum of the Reformation has one of his sculptures on permanent display. 

Even after Albert’s death, in 2019, his artisanal jewelry remains highly coveted among collectors.

On 1stDibs, discover a range of Gilbert Albert rings, necklaces and earrings.

Pierres de Julie combines distinction, finesse and audacity in the search for exceptional jewelry and stones as precious as they are rare. Pierres de Julie is a boutique jeweler located in the heart of Paris, a stone's throw from the esplanade des Invalides, and knows how to find the brand name jewel that will suit you. Specialized in vintage jewelry, Pierres de Julie will help you make your choice. A ring for an engagement, a distinguished wedding band for a wedding, elegant earrings for a birthday, a refined bracelet, a luxury watch to give as a gift: you can trust Julie Mialet, an expert gemologist, always attentive to your desires and preferences. Pierres de Julie is also a creative workshop and offers a unique experience to each client, whether it is an original creation, a reinterpretation of a family jewel or a signed creation. Nourished by the potion of elegance, Julie Mialet began by studying exceptional gastronomy before embarking on a professional career in the luxury hotel industry in London. Raised in Paris, in the heart of the City of Light, Julie Mialet welcomes you in her antique shop in the exclusive setting of the Swiss Village in the 15th arrondissement, not far from the Eiffel Tower and the École Militaire. After graduating in 2004 from the National Institute of Gemology, Julie decided to offer jewelry lovers a rare and demanding selection of original gems and unique creations.