Rising Star

Marisa Goebel La Belle – Creativity in Motion

Described as “celestial in design, sophisticated in concept…utterly feminine,” the designs of Marisa Goebel La Belle combine the traditional beauty of pearls with innovative uses of motion

>>Sarah Siegel, Contributing Writer

Since studying at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Marisa Goebel La Belle, of Atelier Marisa, has been fascinated by pearls, especially Tahitian pearls. “The Tahitian pearl, with its rich black color and green or blue overtones, has always been my favorite,” she explains. A recognized expert in Tahitian, South Sea, Natural, and Cultured Akoya pearls, she strives to transform these natural elements into jewelry designs that are innovative, unique, and timeless.

Marisa launched her latest collection, Orbit8, in Fall 2006. Like many of her designs, the Orbit8 earring is a combination of innovative construction and elegant composition. As she describes, “My collection features a new concept that combines lustrous South Sea Pearls with a choice of vivid coral, vibrant turquoise, or midnight onyx, all highlighted by a rainbow of brilliant diamond accents.”

The inspiration for her Orbit8 earring line came when a large Tahitian pearl rolled into the center of her diamond ring. Seeing the luminous pearl float inside an arc of diamonds, Marisa quickly began to draw up designs. The celestial result, a solitary pearl surrounded by a semicircle of glittering pavé diamonds, won the American Gem Trade Association’s Spectrum Award and is now patent-pending.

Since 1987, Marisa has run Atelier Marisa, a successful wholesale business that specializes in the design, manufacturing, and sale of pearls, along with other custom gold and platinum pieces. In addition, Marisa has contributed to the body of literature on Tahitian pearls, publishing an article entitled “Polynesian Black Pearls” in the Fall 1989 issue of Gems & Gemology.

Growing up in Mexico surrounded by famous artists and local craft markets, Marisa was introduced to fine art at a very early age. She discovered her passion for jewelry design in high school when she took a jewelry-making class, and she knows that the pre-Columbian art she grew up with has had a defining influence on her work.

Marisa received a Graduate Gemologist Certificate from the GIA, as well as certificates in Jewelry Manufacturing Arts and Jewelry Design. While living in Germany, she trained as a goldsmith apprentice and guest student in jewelry design and manufacturing at the world-famous Fachhochschule Für Gestalturs in Pforzheim.

For Marisa, the most rewarding part of jewelry design is the process of taking a creative idea and bringing it to life. Because she loves movement and many of her designs require some degree of it, the construction of her pieces is frequently a challenge – one that she never hesitates to take on. Not surprisingly, she is quick to note that “imagination is crucial in design.” Marisa’s commitment to innovation and beautiful pearls ensure that she will continue to design striking pieces of jewelry that fuse creative styling with classic beauty.