Culture & Style
Gabriel & Co. on Designing Natural Diamond Jewelry with Heart: “We’re Artisans of Love”
By Shelley Brown, June 3, 2025
A conversation with co-founder Dominick Gabriel about the passion, artistry and philanthropy behind the bestselling brand.
Courtesy of Gabriel & Co.
With over 30 years in the jewelry industry, Dominick and Jack Gabriel, brothers and co-founders of Gabriel & Co., understand the importance of knowing their customers, predicting trends before they become mainstream and creating pieces with emotional significance. Sons of master jeweler Elias Gabriel, the brothers started designing jewelry in 1989 to fill a void in the industry; fine jewelry that was effortlessly luxe. Now a well-established category, some of Gabriel & Co.’s bestselling styles are those you’d wear as easily to a dinner date as you would to yoga: stacking bangles and bands, layered necklaces and sleek earrings.
Meet the Expert
- Dominick Gabriel is a second-generation jeweler and co-founder of Gabriel & Co., with over three decades of experience in designing fine jewelry that blends emotional storytelling with trend-driven design.
- He specializes in creating accessible luxury pieces—ranging from everyday diamond essentials to milestone jewelry—that reflect the evolving tastes of modern consumers while honoring artisanal craftsmanship.
Over the years, the Gabriel brothers and team have helped define the everyday pieces, milestone jewelry and engagement rings of generations. Only Natural Diamonds sat down with Dominick Gabriel to discuss the enduring values behind their collections, why natural diamonds are crucial to their designs, as well as the philanthropic mission driving their work through the Gabriel Love Foundation and partnerships like Jewelers for Children.
Only Natural Diamonds: Gabriel & Co. is known for its evolving design language. How do you introduce fresh elements to collections like Bujukan, Punk, Serpentina, and Lumiere while staying true to the brand’s DNA?
Dominick Gabriel: The original DNA of Gabriel & Co. comes down to three words: stylish, sophisticated, and sexy—but sexy in a good way. Because let’s be honest, everyone wants to feel sexy. That feeling, that confidence, is universal. So when we’re designing, we always come back to that core.
Gabriel is a brand that reflects the times we live in. If we existed in the 1500s, we would’ve made jewelry that women back then felt amazing in. And 200 years from now, if we’re still around, we’ll be designing pieces that reflect that future moment—what’s going on in art, in culture, in the world. That’s why we say Gabriel is an “artisan of love.” We’re not focused on dominating; we’re focused on interpreting the beauty around us and turning it into jewelry that people can wear and express themselves with.
That’s also why we’ve been successful for over 30 years—we truly understand that people want something that reflects their style, and we work hard to design collections that inspire them to wear it. It’s like a tango: it’s not just us, the brand, doing the work—it’s a dance between us and the customer. We bring them on the journey with us, because we are very consumer-centric in our design approach.
OND: The Serpentina collection is both bold and symbolic. What inspired it, and what does the snake motif represent to Gabriel & Co.?
DG: I was on vacation in Pompeii, and I noticed snake motifs everywhere—on the walls, on columns, in homes. I asked our guide why, and she explained that the Romans believed the snake symbolized rebirth, regeneration, renewal. And I thought, wow—that’s such a beautiful, positive message. Most people don’t associate those things with snakes, but to me, that symbolism of shedding skin and evolving was so powerful.
I’ve always loved using symbolism in our designs. We’ve used butterflies, we’ve used other motifs, but the snake really spoke to me as a symbol of personal transformation. It felt very aligned with what we do, especially designing mostly for women—who are always growing, always changing. They keep me on my toes!
Funny enough, I didn’t even realize at first that it was going to be the Chinese Year of the Snake when I designed it last summer. It just happened that way. But it felt like it fit perfectly into the Gabriel & Co. story—bringing meaningful symbolism to life every few years in a way that speaks to our audience.
OND: The Lumiere collection highlights the artistry of diamond cutting. Why are natural diamonds essential to Gabriel & Co.?
DG: Natural diamonds are unique. It takes millions of years to create them, and no two are the same. That’s what makes them so special. I’m not trying to be negative, but when something is made in a lab, it’s not the same. It’s like buying an original Picasso versus a copy—you can have a replica that looks similar, but it’s not the real thing. The original is what carries the soul and value.
As artisans of love, we want to work with materials that are rare, precious, and lasting. Natural diamonds and gold hold value over time, and that matters. The word “precious” really means something to us. Precious means it’s not mass-produced, not easy to duplicate, and that’s why we choose it.
OND: Are there any diamond-forward collections or updates coming soon?
DG: Yes! As I’ve said, we reflect the times we live in—and right now, color is a big influence. If you look around, the ‘80s and ‘90s are back in fashion and culture, and when that era comes back, it doesn’t just come and go. It tends to stick around for five to ten years.
I was recently in London at Windsor Castle, and I was really inspired by the color and design elements there. That’s what sparked the idea for a new collection we’re planning for 2026. It’s on paper right now—still in the early design phase—but it’s coming.
This isn’t an addition to an existing collection like Punk; it’s a new concept. It won’t feature colored diamonds specifically, but it will incorporate color through gemstones and other design choices—with diamond accents that give it that Gabriel & Co. signature.
OND: Gabriel & Co. recently introduced a certificate of authenticity and GIA certification. Why was that an important step, and how does it enhance customer trust?
DG: Thank you for asking that. Our father always said, “Your reputation will travel before you.” That’s something we’ve carried with us from day one.
As the brand grew, we needed to make sure that everyone—our associates, our artisans—were operating at the Gabriel standard. My brother has an engineering background, and he’s meticulous about systems and quality control. So, we implemented unique serial numbers on every piece. That way, we know exactly who worked on it and when it was made.
But once lab-grown diamonds came onto the scene, that wasn’t enough. We realized there was potential for confusion in the market. We decided to partner with GIA and create something that would give consumers complete confidence. Every diamond is GIA-verified from source to setting, and we now provide a certificate of authenticity that shows exactly which parcel the diamond came from and when it was verified.
It’s about protecting our brand, our retailers, and most importantly, the consumer. You don’t want a mix—you want to know exactly what you’re buying. That’s where integrity comes in. And honestly, I’m surprised more retailers aren’t demanding this. If something happens, their reputation is on the line too. That’s why we made it a priority.
OND: How do customers receive the certificate—physically, digitally, or both?
DG: Both. We thought about it a lot because today’s consumer is digital, but there’s still something special about tradition. So we created a beautiful little certificate holder—it’s not big, fits in a woman’s purse—and it includes a unique number and physical certificate. But all the information is also available digitally. It’s the best of both worlds.
OND: Philanthropy is a big part of Gabriel & Co. Through the Gabriel Love Foundation and partnerships like Jewelers for Children, what drives your commitment to giving back?
DG: It all comes back to love and passion. We believe that God is love, and we’re here on this Earth for a short time—so why not spend it doing something meaningful?
Children are pure. They forgive easily, they love without hesitation. If everyone had the heart of a child, the world would be a better place. That’s why we support causes that serve children—because they represent everything good.
That’s how our partnership with Jewelers for Children (JFC) came about. During the pandemic, we created the “91 is greater than 19” bracelet to raise funds and awareness, and we raised $91,000 just from that. That led to the creation of the Stronger Together Collection, which features a braided motif—two silver strands twisted together to symbolize unity. It shows that we’re all stronger together, and all the profits from those pieces go to directly JFC.
Every year, we highlight one of the Jewelers for Children Legacy Charities and dedicate a Gabriel Love Foundation Stronger Together® Collection fine jewelry piece to each of those charities – this year’s it’s Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. We do this because most consumers don’t even know what JFC stands for or who they are, so we try to bring that to the forefront. Our retailers get involved too, using the jewelry for Giving Tuesday, holiday gifts and thank you gifts to those who service their own communities – Gifts that Give Back. It’s really become a rallying point.
OND: How do you decide which causes to support?
DG: We rotate annually, shining a spotlight on one organization at a time but collectively as part of Jewelers for Children. Every year, we create a new silver piece with that braided twist motif for the Stronger Together Collection, and we donate all the profits for that year’s charity to JFC. We add that new piece to our growing GLF Stronger Together® Collection and continue to offer all of the collection pieces. It’s about making a difference, one cause at a time.
OND: With such a wide range of collections and initiatives, how would you define the Gabriel & Co. customer today?
DG: Our customer is someone who appreciates the finest things in life—not necessarily someone with a big budget, but someone who values art, craftsmanship, quality and meaning.
My father, when he first started out, didn’t have much money. But he saved up and bought my mother a beautiful piece of jewelry. That story always stayed with me. It’s not income that defines you—it’s appreciation.
We’re not a mass brand. Every piece has a serial number. Every diamond is GIA-verified. We use the best artisans. That comes with a premium, yes—but it’s worth it. If you appreciate that level of care, we’re the brand for you.
OND: This is a big question, but looking ahead, what are you most excited about—in terms of design, innovation, community, or legacy?
DG: Our legacy is about bringing joy and love into people’s lives. When someone puts on one of our pieces and smiles—whether they bought it for themselves or received it from someone they love—that’s what makes it all worth it.
Design and innovation go hand in hand with legacy. If we can create something that brings beauty, love, and joy to someone’s everyday life, then we’ve done our job. It’s not about Dominick or Jack. It’s about how much love we can put into the world through our work.
And our three guiding values—humility, integrity, and compassion—those are the pillars of Gabriel. That’s what we live by, and that’s what we want to be remembered for.
