Sparks Fly
Gübelin lends new meaning to sparks of fire through a dazzling encounter with coloured gemstones
In a world that pursues muses in the form of modern and spotless new things, it’s easy to forget that inspiration is embedded in the most organic and natural wonders. For more than half a century, the House of Gübelin has been continuously fascinated with the mysterious, inner world of coloured gemstones, and intrigued by the individual structures of each gem, a unique character manifested by inclusions. Numerous discoveries have culminated in collections inspired by the inclusions found within the gem, that bring to mind the beauty of nature. In the words of Raphael Gübelin (the sixth generation who runs Gübelin) it’s like “a sparkling rainbow.” To define Gübelin’s brand philosophy, the Swiss jeweller showcased its profound aesthetics to the world through the Deeply Inspired collection, introduced in the fall of 2015. “Deeply Inspired is about the whole company and not just one part as you know it. We have always been fascinated by the inside (of gemstones) and that names the essence of our brand,” Raphael describes. Falling under this title are the Gübelin Gem Lab where gemstones are scrutinised for certification, the Gübelin Academy, and of course, its jewellery brand. Luxury, to Gübelin, is to appreciate and understand both external and internal qualities of a fine object, through a discovery of its evolution, and how it relates to us today. As a celebration of gemstones and their inner beauty, Deeply Inspired has launched creations delighting in the big three: rubies, emeralds and sapphires. Its latest line, Sparks of Fire, is based on the inclusions of the ruby, described as a colourful display of rainbows, as discovered by Raphael’s great-granduncle, Eduard Josef Gübelin. Plucked from this sparkling rainbow is a myriad of delicate and colourful balls of gems, namely the fire opal, yellow beryl, morganite, rubellite, amethyst, tanzanite, aquamarine and green tourmaline. Each rounded stone is the centrepiece on its own pink gold ring, allowing the wearer to mix and match coloured gems to her liking. “Sparks of Fire is easy to wear; the different colours complement each other despite having their own characteristics. It’s about the fun and the playing around,” explains Raphael. Pink gold was chosen for its elegant versatility but there were also some bands