Everything catches my eye
I remember the moment as though it were yesterday – I am 5 years old walking through the secure glass entry into my father’s jewellery store. Everything catches my eye; gold necklaces hanging in the window, diamond rings glistening and shimmering with every movement of light, and the safe so big and tall, that it towers above even the grown-ups! I approach the showcase of everything bright and sparkly and my eyes widen with wonder. Touching the stones shining with every colour of the rainbow, I fall in love.
As I grew older, I became fascinated by the differences in design and various settings, shapes and finishes. I would often compare them on my hand, wondering how they would look if I combined the styles to create something new. This continues to be my favourite part, playing around with making the most of the stones within a setting, displaying them at their best by adding special features to make each design unique.
In my 20’s, I joined the family business as ‘the runner’ and soon progressed from making tea to the workshop – which is where the magic happens! Here, I translated specific instructions from the sales staff to the jeweller’s mounters and setters, ensuring that each and every piece was made and finished to the highest possible standard.