Gimel is the Japanese studio of Karuru Kei Akihara (born 1944), known for its exquisite craftsmanship in using fine and rare gemstones in a variety of exquisite jewelry pieces, from elegantly simple settings to beautifully crafted wonders.
She received an excellent education in jewelry design and painting. In addition, she studied the traditional Japanese art of ikebana and the laws of the tea ceremony. The latter clearly influenced the design of Gimel products.
According to Kaoru Kei Akihara, “There must be a story behind the jewelry.” Therefore, many of her works include the smallest details, such as a small snail crawling on the inside of a leaf of a brooch. These details make Gimel products unique and special.
Many of Gimel’s pieces are shaped like Japanese flora and fauna, such as turtles, crabs, and leaves.
The natural beauty of Japan is a source of inspiration for Kaoru and the small team of craftsmen at Gimel.
The Gimel Jewelry House workshop is located on the top of Mount Rokko, near Kobe, the capital of Hyogo Prefecture, and is distinguished by its extraordinary beauty.
The basis of Gimel jewelry is its pave technique. Pave, which means “tile” in French, is a setting that attaches precious stones to a metal frame of jewelry. In the past, this technique was used in Art Deco jewelry.
A wonderful, sweet, graceful world of jewelry…Japanese jewelers may be laconic and modest in their expression of beauty in the form of jewelry, but their “voice” is pure and fresh.
