Born in Geneva on 20 September 1930, Gilbert Albert is one of the most singular and most decorated jewellers of the 20th century. Trained at the École des Arts industriels in Geneva from 1945, he forged his vision at the greatest houses (Patek Philippe, then Omega) before opening his own atelier in 1962. His philosophy was radical : to bring into jewellery the materials that classical jewellers ignored or rejected : scarabs, meteorites, dinosaur bones, shells, fossils, feathers, petrified bark. Ten times winner of the Diamonds International Award (the world Oscar of jewellery) Gilbert Albert is the most decorated jeweller in the history of this prize. He was the first living jeweller since Fabergé in 1917 to be invited to exhibit at the Kremlin. The Fondation Gilbert Albert donated around one hundred pieces to the Musée d'art et d'histoire de Genève in 2016. Since his death in 2019, his jewels are highly sought after by collectors and achieve growing auction results. At The Swiss Collector, our selection of Gilbert Albert pieces is constantly evolving, with every piece being unique.

Training and the Patek Philippe Years (1945–1962)

Gilbert Albert began his training at the École des Arts industriels in Geneva in 1945, influenced by the works of European abstract artists such as Piet Mondrian and Constantin Brâncusi. Patek Philippe, having noticed his talent, engaged him as designer and head of atelier. Over seven years, he created the most daring designs in the manufacture's history (notably the asymmetrical watches of the celebrated Ricochet series) and designed the chain of the Rector of the University of Geneva in 1958, for the institution's 400th anniversary. Patek Philippe won three Diamonds International Awards for his creations. He subsequently collaborated with Omega, for whom he designed a series of jewel-watches that earned him two further Oscars.

The Independent Atelier and the Invention of Nature Jewellery (1962–2000)

In 1962, Gilbert Albert opened his own atelier in Geneva and developed a unique method for integrating natural materials into fine jewellery. His approach was entirely original : rather than domesticating nature to fit the codes of classical jewellery, he integrated it as found : scarabs with their natural iridescent brilliance, meteorites with their ferrous texture, fossils with their ancient forms. He was the first jeweller to set meteorite fragments in fine jewellery. His baroque compositions combined 18k gold, diamonds, pearls and "non-noble" materials in a synthesis where the precious and the raw spoke to one another. In 1973, he installed his gallery and workshops on the Corraterie, in the heart of Geneva. A boutique opened in 1983 on Zurich's Bahnhofstrasse, then in Paris (opposite the Élysée Palace), Moscow and Dubai. He won five further Diamonds International Awards under his own name : ten in total, a world record. In 1997, he became the first living jeweller since Fabergé to be invited to exhibit at the Kremlin.

Institutional Recognition and Legacy (2000–2019)

In 1999, Gilbert Albert founded the Musée des Cabinotiers de Genève, a tribute to Geneva's historic craft watchmakers. He created the mace of the Sautier of the Republic and the Cross of Pentecost for the 450th anniversary of the Reformation. In 2010, at the age of 80, he sold his company to an investor. The company subsequently encountered difficulties, leading to auction sales of his creations. The largest auction of his work ever held took place in November 2018, with 427 lots and 98% sold. In 2016, the Fondation Gilbert Albert donated around one hundred pieces to the Musée d'art et d'histoire de Genève. Gilbert Albert died on 1 October 2019 at the age of 89. In 2020, the MAH devoted a major tribute exhibition to his work. Since then, his pieces have achieved consistently rising auction results.