Piece of the Week: Gubelin Tanzanian Sunrise Necklace

Some jewelry pieces demand attention, while others quietly captivate, leaving you utterly spellbound. The Gubelin Tanzanian Sunrise necklace belongs to the latter. The moment I laid eyes on it, I was drawn to its mesmerizing red spinel, glowing like an ember suspended between day and night. But what made this necklace Sewelo’s Piece of the Week isn’t just the stone’s fiery beauty—it’s the story hidden within.

Gubelin Tanzanian Sunrise Necklace
Photo: Gubelin

Gubelin’s artisans didn’t merely set a gemstone; they unveiled a world within it. Under a microscope, the 22.08-carat Tanzanian spinel reveals delicate formations resembling the gossamer wings of a dragonfly at sunrise. Instead of simply admiring this rare natural phenomenon, Gubelin transformed it into art. This seamless blend of storytelling and craftsmanship makes the necklace impossible to ignore—a masterpiece of both nature and design.

The Gubelin Tanzanian Sunrise Necklace: A Dragonfly at Dawn

The dragonfly sketch
The dragonfly sketch/Photo: Gubelin

The Gubelin Tanzanian Sunrise necklace is a poetic masterpiece, born from nature’s quiet magic. Picture the early hours of dawn in the heart of Tanzania, where the first golden rays of sunlight kiss the land, illuminating the delicate wings of a dragonfly hovering over a still lake. This fleeting yet sacred moment became the inspiration for the House of Gubelin upon discovering a mesmerizing 22.08-carat red spinel from Tanzania.

Under microscopic examination, something extraordinary was revealed—intricate formations within the gem that mirrored the gossamer wings of a dragonfly, shimmering in the hues of dawn. Inspired by this serendipitous discovery, Gubelin’s master artisans set out to translate the essence of sunrise and flight into a sculptural high-jewelry creation. The result is a breathtaking necklace where gemstone-set wings unfurl around a glowing spinel, capturing the ephemeral beauty of nature in a piece destined to endure forever.

A Harmonious Symphony of Color and Light

Every element of the Gubelin Tanzanian Sunrise necklace tells a story of movement and radiance. At its heart lies a cushion-cut red spinel, renowned for its deep crimson fire and exceptional clarity. Encircling it is a cascade of marquise-shaped rose spinels, pink sapphires, and rubies, their arrangement carefully designed to echo the soft transition of colors in the morning sky.

To add a sculptural dimension, the necklace features organically curved red gold elements, evoking the outstretched wings of a dragonfly in flight. Platinum-set diamond baguettes, placed with meticulous precision, amplify the play of light, creating a brilliance that shifts with every movement. This seamless interplay of fluid form and radiant gemstones transforms the Gubelin Tanzanian Sunrise into a wearable work of art—where nature’s fleeting beauty is captured in an eternal masterpiece.

The Gubelin Signature: Mastery and Meaning

The making of the Tanzanian Sunrise necklace
Photo: Gubelin

Crafting this extraordinary piece demanded over 700 hours of meticulous artistry at Gubelin’s Lucerne atelier. Every gemstone was individually selected and set to achieve a flawless harmony of color and proportion. Yet, beyond its technical brilliance, the necklace carries a deeper meaning—a signature hallmark of the House of Gubelin.

A defining feature of the Tanzanian Sunrise necklace is the discreet yet symbolic presence of Gubelin’s signature ruby, nestled between the central spinel and the diamond baguettes. This cabochon-cut ruby is more than an ornamental touch; it embodies love, passion, and the house’s Deeply Inspired philosophy—a testament to Gubelin’s commitment to creating jewelry that transcends adornment to tell a profound and lasting story.

A Jewel with a Verifiable Legacy

tanzanian spinel
The 22.08-carat Tanzanian spinel/Photo: Gubelin

In an era where provenance is as prized as craftsmanship, Gubelin has elevated transparency to new heights. The Tanzanian Sunrise necklace integrates Provenance Proof blockchain technology, enabling collectors to trace the spinel’s journey—from its Tanzanian origins to its final setting in this extraordinary creation. Through a seamless blend of digital tracking and physical markers, Gubelin ensures that every aspect of the piece—its authenticity, ethical sourcing, and masterful craftsmanship—is meticulously documented, offering collectors absolute confidence in its legacy.

Gubelin Tanzanian Sunrise Necklace: A Timeless Tribute to Nature’s Beauty

Gubelin Tanzanian Sunrise Necklace
Tanzanian Sunrise/Photo: Gubelin

Few high-jewelry creations succeed in capturing both the ephemeral and the eternal. The Gubelin Tanzanian Sunrise necklace is one of those rare masterpieces—a jewel that seizes a fleeting moment, the iridescent shimmer of a dragonfly’s wings at dawn, and immortalizes it in breathtaking craftsmanship. With its radiant color palette, intricate design, and profound inspiration, this necklace stands as a testament to nature’s beauty, transformed into a treasure destined to endure for generations.


Featured image: Gubelin

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *