Home & Lifestyle Spring 2019

and the international opal jewellery design awards

$795

The Central Coast’s Premier Award Winning Jewellers, Seaspray Valuations & Fine Jewellery, is owned and operated by husband and wife team, David and Julie Mitcheson, in the heart of Umina Beach. David and Julie are very proud to announce the recent nomination of their Apprentice Jeweller, Madeleine McDonald’s exquisite Opal Tiara piece, the “Elvish Crown” in the Fantasy Category at this year’s International Opal Jewellery Design Awards. Madeleine handmade the tiara from 9 carat white gold with supporting scrolls mirroring each side of the centrepiece. The back section is three round wires plaited to form a flexible braid and two end loops for fixing to hair. She created leaves in 18 carat rose and green gold, spaced around the tiara with fine vine tendrils joining to some of the leaves. The centrepiece is a freeform 5.56 carat freeform Boulder Opal with a strong rolling flash pattern of blue, green, orange, yellow and crimson. Madeleine explained that the inspiration for her piece came from the actual Awards category, Fantasy. “When I think of fantasy, I see magic, dragons, even castles ... I’ve always been told that some of my handmade jewellery designs look ‘elvish’, so I thought ‘why not continue with that theme?’. I thought of vines with leaves sprouting and curling around this magical object … an Opal … and who doesn’t look at an opal and think, ‘Wow, that’s magical!’ … “Why not make an Elvish crown for a Kingdom in a land of Fantasy ? ” The International Opal Jewellery Design Awards Association (“IOJDAA”) showcases the stunning and innovative use of opal by jewellery designers around the world. The awards, which commenced in 2001, are held as part of the annual Lightning Ridge Opal Festival, bringing to life IOJDAA’s charter to promote opals at a national and international level. David and Julie have always believed strongly in mentoring the next generation of jewellers … with Madeleine’s Highly Commended for her “Pearls In Full Bloom” at the 2018 Australian Pearl Jewellery Design Masters Awards, Rotary Apprentice of the Year 2019 Pride of Workmanship Award and her nomination in the Nationwide Jewellers 2019 Apprentice of the Year, this is one very talented up and coming jeweller … watch this space! Come in store today and select a stunning opal … or any other gemstone … for your very own Award Winning Jewellery experience at Seaspray Jewellery!

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$1,589

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314 West Street, Umina 2257 02 4341 2223 | 0422 635 439 david@seasprayjewellery.com.au www.seasprayjewellery.com.au