John Rubel Co. | Turquoise, Ruby and Diamond 'Ballerina' Brooch

 The Rubel Fréres were perhaps best known for the iconic ballerina brooch creations on which they collaborated with Van Cleef & Arpels, yet every collection brought forth from their atelier embodied the same grace and effervescence that originally inspired their signature 'danseuses.' Before relocating to New York in 1939, Hungarian-born brothers John and Robert Rubel were based in a workshop on the Rue Vivienne where they built a reputation from the highest degree of craftsmanship, attracting an exclusive clientele that included many of Paris’ most esteemed jewelers. The brothers continued their partnership with Van Cleef & Arpels upon their transition to America, using the glamour and passion of Manhattan nightlife as creative stimulus for their midcentury collections. However, it was after their presence as John Rubel & Co. and cultivating an American following that the Rubels’ began to truly flourish as tastemakers. Their style was defined by richly colored gemstones, delicate features and sophisticated touches of Art Deco flair. They introduced a certain joie-de-vivre into their work by means of a tangibly playful and joyous aesthetic, so clearly evident in our ‘Ballerina’ on offer.