eep within, the 4.88 ct sapphire from Burma (Myanmar) reveals spectacular structures as unique as any fingerprint. This fascinating inner world reminded Gübelin designers of the elegance of a butterfly. Their creation reflects this inspiration at several different levels.
Raphael Gübelin, President of the House of Gübelin, expounds: “In Vibrant Wings we use titanium to convey both the splendid colours as well as the weightlessness of butterflies in this piece of jewellery. This impressive jewel can be worn either as a cocktail ring or as a brooch. And even the various ways of wearing this haute joaillerie are a homage to the metamorphosis of a butterfly. Colourful sapphires and diamonds in an exciting mix of cuts reflect the light and remind us of the shimmering wings of a butterfly as it floats past.”
Titanium combines strength with lightness. Its strength and durability are reflected in the very name of the material, discovered in 1791 and referring to the Titans of Greek mythology. Titanium is considerably lighter than gold or platinum and has another advantage in that the metal also displays fascinating colour effects depending on how it is treated. This material is of growing significance especially in high jewellery.
Working with titanium is very demanding because of its hardness, requiring the highest level of artisanship, specialised tools and extensive expert knowledge. These unique characteristics make the creation of this spectacular jewellery piece a complex challenge along with setting the stones. More than 500 hours of work went into creating the sculptural jewel.
The organic design of this poetic jewellery piece is based on the wings of a butterfly, set with gemstones in a sophisticated mix of cuts and colours, bringing forth lively refractions of light. Drawing on their gemmological competence and expertise in working with coloured stones, Gübelin hand-picked 260 select gemstones totalling over 22 ct, meticulously arranged with a refined aesthetic sense and feel for artisanship in order to give rise to spectacular colour gradations.
Crafted from titanium and platinum, this creation reveals an interplay of iridescent colours while also serving as a homage to the lightness, elegance and magic of butterflies.
This impressive jewellery piece can be worn both as a cocktail ring as well as a brooch. The transformation of the jewel is a further homage to haute joaillerie and reminiscent of the metamorphosis of a butterfly.
This statement piece also allows free range to your own creativity and imagination, and can be styled in a number of ways: as an impressive cocktail ring or as a classic lapel pin, on the shoulder, waist or back. The sculptural jewellery piece combines style, design and artisanship.
The iconic Gübelin ruby lends the jewel a glittering red accent and is prominently set next to the centre stone and a multi-facetted arrangement of baguette-cut sapphires and pear-shaped diamonds. The cabochon-cut ruby also enhances the sophisticated mix of cuts, allowing Vibrant Wings to generate exciting light refractions.
For centuries, rubies have been associated with love and passion. The ruby has a very special significance for the House of Gübelin. It symbolises the company’s Deeply Inspired philosophy. Every piece of Gübelin’s jewellery is thus set with a ruby and incorporates the Gübelin family’s passion for coloured gemstones.
The House of Gübelin’s Deeply Inspired philosophy pervades all aspects of the company’s activities. It is based on a unique combination of beauty, knowledge and expertise, always pursuing a deeper understanding of the profession, in tribute to the family’s pioneering spirit.
