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Gimel is the Japanese studio of Karuru Kei Akihara

Kaoru Kei Akihara.
Kaoru Kei Akihara.

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.

Gimel masters at work.
Gimel masters at work.

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.

Maple leaf brooches.
Maple leaf brooches.

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 set of animalistic and plant brooches.
A set of animalistic and plant brooches.

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.

Saturn ring with opal and diamonds.
Saturn ring with opal and diamonds.
Set of multi colored ear pins.
Set of multi colored ear pins.
Set of multi colored daisy pins.
Set of multi colored daisy pins.
Flower brooch with tourmalines.
Flower brooch with tourmalines.
Pair of titmouse brooches.
Pair of titmouse brooches.
Pair of frog brooches.
Pair of frog brooches.
Set of necklace and earrings with sapphires.
Set of necklace and earrings with sapphires.
Floral brooches with pink sapphires.
Floral brooches with pink sapphires.
Turtle brooch made of clear diamonds to pink diamonds and green demantoid garnets.
Turtle brooch made of clear diamonds to pink diamonds and green demantoid garnets.
Brooch emeralds and alexandrites.
Brooch emeralds and alexandrites.
Flower in pavé technique.
Flower in pavé technique.
Gimel Flower brooch with rhinestones.
Flower brooch with rhinestones.
Gimel Set of apple brooches with pearls.
Set of apple brooches with pearls.
Pin Sunflowers with rhinestones.
Pin Sunflowers with rhinestones.
Gimel Set of small brooches Raspberry and ants.
Set of small brooches Raspberry and ants.
Gimel Peacock brooch with transparent rhinestones.
Peacock brooch with transparent rhinestones.
View from the terrace and windows of the Gimel workshops.
View from the terrace and windows of the Gimel workshops.
Gimel Workshops.
Gimel Workshops.
Promotional poster for the Gimel exhibition at the Matsuzaka Museum of Art in China.
Promotional poster for the Gimel exhibition at the Matsuzaka Museum of Art in China.