Welcome to my website show casing my handmade / hand finished jewellery.
I have been designing and manufacturing jewellery for the past 20 years and my style and range is constantly evolving.
I work in both gold and silver often incorporating precious and semi precious gemstones . Gemstones are my weakness . I love colour and anything unusual . Generally , my design process will start by picking a stone that ‘ speaks ‘ to me and build my design around it from there . I may start with a rough sketch but often the end result can be very different . I love that – just letting it happen serendipitously .
Now living in the beautiful Coromandel my inspirations are endless. We have the best of both worlds here , coast and bush, with lots of texture and colour. Many of my pieces are either one of a kind or limited editions , using traditional manufacturing techniques inspired by modern trends and innovation .
REMODELLING COMMISSIONS : If you are wanting to contact me regarding a remodelling/commission piece here’s a brief insight as to how I work.
Firstly I only take on limited amounts of commission work and usually only through the winter months as it’s quieter then. I don’t re melt old gold as I prefer to use new. People often think using their old gold saves them money but it’s actually more time consuming with refining costs etc. Often scrap is mixed metals or not even alloyed correctly. There is a real science to it so I prefer not to go there. I can however offer a credit for your scrap which is then deducted off the final costings. Most of my pieces are cast using lost wax. Designing I prefer to work free range ie. keeping true to my style and inspiration ..if you have seen something on the internet or have a clear picture in ‘your’ mind, I am probably not the jeweller for you. It will never be the same and only lead to disappointment. If I don’t feel a connection I won’t do it. I’m happy to look at using your old gemstones but keep in mind using them is at your own risk – old stones can hide internal flaws /fractures and be scuffed from years of wear. We won’t really know what we are dealing with until they are removed. Once removed they will be verified by a gemologist as to what they are . Opals & Emeralds I won’t take on as again too risky – very soft & fragile. Time frames ?…. remodelling can take months so I prefer not to commit to time frames. Also because I hand make all my shop stock which takes priority over any commission work.
Finally, I’m always happy to look at what you have and give advice but I don’t have staff so best to contact me first as to when it suits. You will need to be able to come into my shop in person. And of course the BIG question everybody ask’s – how much does it cost? Well, generally for remodelling, allow anywhere ‘ starting ‘ from NZ$2000.00 – design starting from scratch and using clients supplied gemstones. Final pricing depends on the complexity of the design, weight of the metal etc. A complimentary insurance valuation is always included.
Feel free to browse my website for inspiration, you may even find something you like!
‘ My inspirations , my creations . . . your treasures ‘
– Julie
