Since 1967, the second generation of the Gellner family business from the Pforzheim area has been all about cultured pearls. Mr. Jörg Gellner shows his enthusiasm for pearls at the trade fair stand. They are a very special jewel for him, as he appreciates pearls as a living material and likes to feel the flattering spirit of pearls in his hand. He admires the almost magical quality of the pearl, which is born perfect in an oyster without any polish.
Very special, rare pearls from the Marutea atoll in French Polynesia shimmer in a prominent position on the exhibition stand. The unusual purity of the atoll produces the most beautiful pearls with a unique luster in natural colors. Mr. Gellner presents a unique ring as the highlight of the Marutea collection. The beautiful pearl with a diameter of 19mm is rarer than a 100 carat diamond of good quality. Such pearls are discovered perhaps 1 to 2 times a year. The price for an exclusive pearl necklace from French Polynesia, as presented at the trade fair stand, is around 20,000 euros. The principle is that the larger the pearls, the higher the price. Just 1mm more in diameter would increase the cost by around 30%. The purely handcrafted ring with its 4 carats of diamonds, which elevate the rare pearl, amounts to 65,000 euros.
Nowadays, it is difficult to pinpoint the love of pearls to an age group. It's a matter of the mind, says Mr. Gellner. Anyone who is open to the jewel and is modern has no problem adorning themselves with pearls in everyday life and feeling comfortable with them. Pearls live by being worn; it would be a shame to only show them off on special occasions such as a visit to the opera.
An elegant, modern-looking, long double-row necklace in a combination of black diamonds and Marutea pearls, finely interspersed with gold elements and white diamonds, proves its suitability for everyday wear. Twenty years ago, this timeless collection was the first in which diamonds could be drilled with a laser, a technique that allowed pearls to be combined with diamonds without the need for a gold setting. Castaway is still the most successful Gellner jewelry collection. The interplay between the cut, sparkling rough diamonds and the shimmering pearls in the long necklace is simply captivating, even at a price of 24,000 euros.
Pearls are often pushed into a more traditional, not to say dusty, corner. Gellner proves the opposite with its collections. The company has always interpreted pearls in a young and cosmopolitan way for self-confident women of all ages. Not just for women, by the way - in 2010, a collection for men was created with the model Markus Schenkenberg as ambassador. Interestingly, a recently redesigned masculine line called "Bold" is equally popular with men and women.