Articles by or About HDG
PG Free Press - The Master's Touch Special piece for PGSO
Apr 4, 2012
The Master’s Touch
Special Piece for PGSO
Darrell Hubbell creates red gold violin pendant
Transcription of the Article:
March 30 2012
~Teresa Mallam
The storefront display at Hubbell Designer Goldsmiths shop sparkles, stunning handcrafted jewellery pieces shine in their showcases; a corner water feature glistens in the sunlight.
Business owner Darrell Hubbell has a smile that is even brighter. He talked with the Free Press on Wednesday about one of his most recent unique creations; an exquisite rose gold pendant that he’s donated to the Prince George Symphony Orchestra for their fund raising raffle.
Called The Master’s Touch, the captivating pendant is a tiny replica of a very important red violin played by concert violinist Elizabeth Pitcairn.
“We (Hubbell and apprentice goldsmith Kim Bonnell) looked online for a picture of the artist’s red ‘Mendelssohn’ Stradivarius and we worked from it to get the detail,” he said. “And that (he points to his pendant) is the red violin.” The body of the violin is made of red (also known as rose) gold, the chin rest and neck end strings are white gold with diamonds.
“If you turn the pendant to the side, you can see a bow motif.”
Hubbell said the pendant which is valued at just of $3,000, took about 20 hours to complete – not counting research and design time. The hand formed violin is made of 14 carat rose and palladium white gold with a “string” of diamonds. It is suspended on a 20-inch 14 carat “round wheat” chain.
Like all Hubbell’s pieces that he’s donated over the years of various fundraisers and special events, this one has special meaning for him.
“I really worked at getting the violin to look just right,” he said. “When we got the posters (of the PGSO Red Violin concert) I saw that the red violin in the picture was identical except for a different chin rest on it but otherwise it looks exactly the same.”
In 2009, Hubbell celebrated 25 years doing business as Hubbell Designer Goldsmiths. He was honoured with two prestigious awards last year: Prince George Citizen of the Year 2011 and Retailer of the Year 2011. A well known philanthropist and humanitarian, Hubbell has contributed much of his time and talent to many worthwhile causes.
The PGSO’s Red Violin Concert featuring guest artist Elizabeth Pitcairn and guest conductor Evan Mitchell is on Saturday, March 31 at Vanier Hall. Concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the concert (and draw) are at Studio 2880 ticket office and, if available, at the door.
The draw for Hubbell Designer Goldsmith’s The Master’s Touch pendant takes place just after the concert intermission. Tickets are $20.
