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a gold ring with pearls and diamonds on a white background
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125 - Gilbert ALBERT (1930–2019). Baroque ring in 18K yellow and w…
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Estimate €2,800 - €3,000
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Description
Gilbert ALBERT (1930–2019). Baroque ring in 18K yellow and white gold 750°/°°, hallmarked 750, featuring a textured design of gold beads and embellished with pear-shaped and small round cultured pearls, set with small diamonds. Signed and numbered. Ring size 59. Gross weight 14.1g. One small diamond is missing. Gilbert Albert, the alchemist of rare materials... Few names in the world of high jewellery inspire as much fascination as that of Gilbert Albert. Born in Geneva in 1930, the Swiss designer established himself as one of the most distinctive artisans of the 20th century, challenging the conventions of luxury with an approach in which nature and art are in constant dialogue. Going against the grain of dazzling gemstones and uniformly polished metals, he chose to explore raw, often overlooked materials: fossilised wood, coral, meteorites, shells, bone and volcanic rock. These were fragments of the world that he fashioned into unique, almost sculptural pieces. A graduate of the Geneva School of Industrial Arts, Gilbert Albert joined Patek Philippe’s fine jewellery workshop in 1955, where he quickly rose to become artistic director. His work marked a departure from the norm: he brought organic lines, deliberate asymmetries and a formal boldness rarely seen in traditional watchmaking to jewellery watches. He continued this approach at Omega, before founding his own workshop in 1962, convinced that creative freedom only had meaning within independence. His approach was not merely aesthetic. It stemmed from a philosophy: to give a second life to materials that the ordinary eye does not consider precious. ‘Nature is the greatest of artists,’ he liked to say, championing the craftsman’s hand as a sensitive extension of life itself. Each piece was thus a meeting of organic chance and meticulous craftsmanship. Internationally renowned, Gilbert Albert was awarded the City of Geneva Prize on three occasions and was one of the few jewellers to have his work exhibited at the Louvre. Yet, despite this recognition, his name remains less well-known than that of many luxury houses. No doubt because he always favoured the intimacy of the craft over the glitz of prestige. Gilbert Albert passed away in 2019, but his legacy lives on: that of a designer who redefined the very concept of preciousness. By revealing the beauty of raw materials, he reminded us that luxury lies not in glamour, but in the way we view the world.
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About the sale Coins, Jewellery and Watches, Fashion and Luxury Accessories
Auction location
Auction time 10/01/2026 at 10:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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