The Gilbert Albert bead ring
Gilbert Albert, a Geneva-based jeweller who passed away in 2019, designed a ring whose setting can accommodate different gemstone beads in turn – a concept that became his signature style. This pre-owned Gilbert Albert ring in 18-carat yellow gold comes with two interchangeable beads. The first is a purple corundum – the mineral found in rubies and sapphires – with a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale. The second is a ruby zoisite, also known as anyolite, in which purple crystals and black patches of hornblende dot a green matrix. Changing the bead is like changing the ring itself, from deep purple to speckled green.
Architecture and jewellery craftsmanship
The setting echoes the House’s signature organic design language. Plant-like branches wind around an oval opening and end in drops of gold; those at the edge form a crown of claws that holds the bead in place. The stems and drops are polished, whilst the recesses retain a grainy texture that catches the light in subtle flashes. The body of the ring, undulating and irregular like a branch, remains smooth on the inside for comfort on the finger. Beneath the bead, the openwork structure allows light to pass through and lightens the ring’s appearance when viewed in profile. On the finger, the sphere rests above the hand, held in place by the textured gold that surrounds it.
Why choose this second-hand ring
A Gilbert Albert ring is a signature piece from Geneva, recognisable by its sculpted setting and interchangeable beads – a design feature found in the collections of the Geneva Museum of Art and History. This second-hand piece offers access to this signature style for far less than the current cost of a jeweller’s creation in 18-carat gold. The beads supplied are also out of the ordinary, as corundum belongs to the same family as rubies and sapphires, whereas many of the brand’s sets feature haematite, agate or rock crystal. The setting can accommodate other Gilbert Albert beads of the same size to expand the collection.
Contents and condition
The ring bears the Gilbert Albert signature and the 750 hallmark on the inside of the band. It is size 52. Our artisan jeweller has refurbished, polished and inspected it. It is supplied with its two beads – one in corundum, the other in ruby zoisite – in a The Swiss Collector box.
Warranty and delivery
The Swiss Collector guarantees the authenticity of this ring, which is covered by a 12-month warranty. We accept returns within 10 days in accordance with our terms and conditions. As Switzerland’s leading second-hand retailer, backed by the largest network of shops, we offer online booking for a fitting and in-store collection, or fully secure international delivery.
* Refurbished – The piece has been polished and inspected by our master jeweller, who has restored it to its original lustre.
