Valentyna Alb: An Alchemy of Love and Gems

November 16, 2020

By Katerina Perez

8 min read

Valentyna Alb, the founder of the eponymous Valentyna Alb jewellery brand, claims that creating the perfect piece of jewellery is in fact easier than it might sound: all one needs is that magic formula that transforms a passionate ardour and the best gems into masterpieces of fine jewellery. Jewellery with which owners will never part is only born when such strong emotions are deeply intertwined with the beauty of the jewellery itself.

Have you ever felt a love that was absolutely pure and deep? Much like the platonic ideal of a relationship between lovers, the Valentyna Alb team is able to make jewellery that possesses tenderness, awe and passion in equal measure. From inception to realisation, each piece, as well as the relationship between the pieces, adopts a unique path and exists in a singular, inimitable version. It is for exactly this reason that the brand’s slogan is: “We care about your feelings.”

Valentyna Alb Luxury of Tanzania tanzanite and diamond ring and earrings

Valentyna Alb Luxury of Tanzania tanzanite and diamond ring and earrings

 The Luxury of Tanzania earrings are set with delicate diamonds and two cushion cut tanzanites totalling more than 8 carats

The Luxury of Tanzania earrings are set with delicate diamonds and two cushion cut tanzanites totalling more than 8 carats

 At the centre of the Luxury of Tanzania ring is a 15.54 carat cushion cut tanzanite

At the centre of the Luxury of Tanzania ring is a 15.54 carat cushion cut tanzanite

 The tanzanite was sourced by Valentyna Alb for its intensely saturated blue, with violet undertones

The tanzanite was sourced by Valentyna Alb for its intensely saturated blue, with violet undertones

“Three years ago, the power and energy of my love were transformed into creativity, an interest in gemmology and also a desire to make jewellery, every detail of which must be thought out with love and awe,” says Valentyna, as she details the foundation of her brand.

Valentyna Alb

Valentyna Alb

In order to fully immerse herself in the creative and technical process of creating jewellery, the young designer studied at the Gemmological Center of Moscow State University, the Asian Gemmological Institute as well as the IGI, where she specialised in the field of coloured stones, diamonds, jewellery design and 3D modelling. She also became a member of the National Gemmological Association of Russia. In this sense, it is perhaps not at all surprising that she won’t defer to anyone when it comes to the selection of precious stones for her jewellery designs. For Valentyna Alb, jewellery and the search for tanzanites, aquamarines, kunzites, emeralds and other stones takes place not in a cosy armchair by the fireplace, but firmly by herself and exclusively in the field.

Valentyna Alb's enchanting jewels include these aquamarine and diamond Soul of the Ocean earrings and ring

Valentyna Alb's enchanting jewels include these aquamarine and diamond Soul of the Ocean earrings and ring

I regularly go on expeditions in order to visit deposits of various stones from around the world and also go down into the mines themselves. I make a special effort to plan trips in order to visit the largest and most famous stone markets in the world, meet with dealers and personally select precious pieces for my future jewellery in accordance with my understanding of beauty and gemmological quality. – Valentyna Alb

Valentyna Alb Soul of the  Ocean aqumarine, diamond and sapphire earrings and ring

Valentyna Alb Soul of the Ocean aqumarine, diamond and sapphire earrings and ring

 The earrings are set with two beautifully matched round aquamarines weighing 8.39 carats

The earrings are set with two beautifully matched round aquamarines weighing 8.39 carats

 Tendrils of diamonds wrap around the radiant aquamarine

Tendrils of diamonds wrap around the radiant aquamarine

 A row of blue sapphires decorates the underside of this exquisitely feminine ring

A row of blue sapphires decorates the underside of this exquisitely feminine ring

 Valentyna Alb's passion for precious stones is evident in everything she creates

Valentyna Alb's passion for precious stones is evident in everything she creates

Valentyna’s passionate love of this world of precious stones really does deliver results. At times, it is almost as if minerals are drawn to her. On a recent trip to Myanmar (formerly Burma) she bought top samples of Burmese spinels, and while at the Baw Mar deposit in Sri Lanka she personally participated in the process of sapphire mining from the bottom of a river. Valentyna is also known for her fuse of Yadanar Gaday Gadar sapphires, Baw Lone Gyi spinels and Pyaung Gaung peridots.

The Tulips set captures the beautiful femininity of Valentyna Alb's designs

The Tulips set captures the beautiful femininity of Valentyna Alb's designs

 Valentyna Alb The Tulips earrings, set with pink sapphires and white and black diamonds

Valentyna Alb The Tulips earrings, set with pink sapphires and white and black diamonds

 Valentyna Alb interprets the delicacy of petals in yellow gold and precious stones

Valentyna Alb interprets the delicacy of petals in yellow gold and precious stones

 The ring recreates that fleeting moment when the tulip flower is in full bloom

The ring recreates that fleeting moment when the tulip flower is in full bloom

“I am always convinced that the extraction of minerals is a painstaking task that combines the labour of both Mother Nature and the human hand. I feel that it is my responsibility both as a jeweller and a person to take into account the interests of not only my clients but also anyone who is a part of this process,” Valentyna tells me.

Valentyna Alb Emeralds “Exclusive” earrings, set with two rare and unusual pear shape emeralds that originate from Russia’s Ural Mountains

Valentyna Alb Emeralds “Exclusive” earrings, set with two rare and unusual pear shape emeralds that originate from Russia’s Ural Mountains

Valentyna will not pass up an opportunity to visit a gem deposit in her native Russia. During a recent trip to the Ural emerald mines of Malyshev, Valentyna found two collectable striped specimens with zonal colour weighing more than 85 carats. “Zonal colouration is common in emeralds, but uniform zoning – a ‘sandwich’ effect –with clearly defined borders in large crystals, is a truly unique thing. In 10 years of work, the miner who sold the stones to me had seen such specimens only once, and it seems that it is almost impossible to get a pair of stones like these. These finds have already taken their rightful place, becoming part of an exclusive pair of earrings,” Valentyna shares with me, failing to hide her enthusiasm.

Valentyna Alb's Cherry Blossom ring and earrings feature a beautiful confection of coloured stones

Valentyna Alb's Cherry Blossom ring and earrings feature a beautiful confection of coloured stones

 Valentyna's Cherry Blossom earrings feature almost 10 carats of princess cut morganites

Valentyna's Cherry Blossom earrings feature almost 10 carats of princess cut morganites

 The most feminine of all Valentyna Alb's designs, the morganites are complemented by vibrant violet sapphires

The most feminine of all Valentyna Alb's designs, the morganites are complemented by vibrant violet sapphires

 Valentyna Alb's Cherry Blossom earrings are transformable and can be worn in two ways

Valentyna Alb's Cherry Blossom earrings are transformable and can be worn in two ways

 The princess cut morganite in the centre of the ring is a beautiful shade of purplish pink

The princess cut morganite in the centre of the ring is a beautiful shade of purplish pink

 Valentyna Alb's Cherry Blossom ring features tiny gold flowers nestled among the diamond-set branches

Valentyna Alb's Cherry Blossom ring features tiny gold flowers nestled among the diamond-set branches

 Valentyna Alb's Cherry Blossom set was inspired by the land of the rising sun

Valentyna Alb's Cherry Blossom set was inspired by the land of the rising sun

 The ring features intricate detailing from every angle

The ring features intricate detailing from every angle

Throughout the process of our communication, Velntyna illustrates her every word with colourful photographs of her finds, and I understand why there is truly no other jewellery like that which is made by her house. The centre of each piece she produces is a stone selected for its uniqueness and originality. “Like all gemmologists, I simply cannot choose a single favourite stone from the vast spectrum of precious minerals. That being said, I can say with certainty that I like asymmetrical and unconventional shapes when it comes to jewellery design. I also look for smooth, natural curves.”

Valentyna Alb

Valentyna Alb

If you already have a specific and unique dream that possesses a special emotional resonance, be it a Padparadscha sapphire, Mansin spinel or incredibly sized Paraiba tourmaline, Valentyna is ready to search in order to find the “heart”, so to speak, of your future jewellery, and to draw it out of the ground almost with her own hands. Valentyna’s searches can be quite lengthy, so prospective buyers will have plenty of time to think over the concept of the piece together with Valentyna Alb herself.

Valentyna Alb's Sweet Life jewels feature a captivating combination of multi-coloured sapphires

Valentyna Alb's Sweet Life jewels feature a captivating combination of multi-coloured sapphires

 The jewels call to mind the colours of summer flowers

The jewels call to mind the colours of summer flowers

 The bracelet and earrings feature an array of pink, blue, yellow and white sapphires

The bracelet and earrings feature an array of pink, blue, yellow and white sapphires

 Valentyna Alb The Citrine pendant. The centre stone has been cut and polished into the precise shape of a cross

Valentyna Alb The Citrine pendant. The centre stone has been cut and polished into the precise shape of a cross

 Valentyna Alb The Topaz cross pendant

Valentyna Alb The Topaz cross pendant

 Valentyna Alb The Amethyst cross pendant

Valentyna Alb The Amethyst cross pendant

There is a widely held belief that happy people live longer. This is perhaps why Valentyna truly believes that Valentyna Alb jewellery is able to prolong the life of its owners!

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