About GABY GASSNER JEWELLERY
Gaby Gassner’s early career revolved around photography – first as photographic printer and later as shoot producer. She left her native Germany when she was 20 years old, after completing training in photographic printing, to move to London and started working with renowned printer Roy Snell.
Gaby quickly made a name for herself and worked with high profile fashion and portrait photographers and was appointed to collaborate with David Bailey on printing his retrospective 60’s exhibition and book “Birth of the Cool.”
With the advance of digital photography, making a living with traditional B&W printing became increasingly difficult and she moved into shoot production.
Although she enjoyed pulling shoots together, Gaby missed being creative and the craftsmanship she had enjoyed as a printer.
It was really through an accident that she got into jewellery making. A beloved French vintage necklace given by a friend had broken and she set about mending it and before she knew it she was hooked and was buying beads by the hundreds to make her own jewellery. Friends and family took notice and loved her work. Seizing the chance to make a career change that would take her away from office life and into her own workshop, she approached local shops to see what they thought. The response could not have been better and encouraged her to pursue jewellery making full time.
After having bent grey scales to perfection for years in photographic dark rooms, it is only understandable that Gaby’s own preference is for a restrained colour palette reflecting simplicity and harmony. Her aim is to translate this into the design, and she found that the colours of Czech glass beads and semi precious stones are perfectly suited. Her mission is to make good quality, fashion based handcrafted jewellery that is both affordable and long lasting. In addition to using Czech glass beads and semi-precious stones, Gaby hand makes each piece with sterling silver, vermeil or gold filled clasps.
Gaby says: ‘There is something very satisfying making something from scratch and seeing it become a beautiful necklace or bracelet to bring joy to the wearer.’