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About Me
About Me
Many know me as a Registered Jewellery Valuer and qualified Gemmologist, but in reality, my journey in the industry started in High School with an interest in jewellery design. This inspired me to study a Bachelor of Arts Degree majoring in Jewellery & Silversmithing Design at Griffith University. Here I learnt the concepts of traditional jewellery making and silversmithing, design and gemmology. After completing my Degree, I immersed myself in the retail sphere for several years, designing one-off custom pieces for boutique jewellery stores.
My interest in gemstones and jewellery advanced and I studied jewellery and gemstone related courses to become a Qualified Gemmologist and NCJV Registered Valuer. In my spare time, I authored numerous articles about gemstones for the Gemmological Association of Australia’s ‘Gems’ page in Jeweller Magazine, including a series about Australian Gemstones. Time spent talking to industry veterans opened my eyes, and I truly began to understand and appreciate the diversity of our industry’s offerings, from operations at the mine to a finished piece of jewellery.
My journey in this wonderful industry has inspired me to curate a collection of gemstones with an emphasis on Australian origin, called ‘Australian Made’. My collection is a celebration of Australia and its landscape. I have hand picked each gem for quality, beauty and affordability.
You will see unique shaped gemstones in my ‘Chrysalis’ range that is not offered for sale in traditional outlets - flat-backed rough, polished undulating slices and skin-polished free-form gemstones from a variety of Australian sources. For me, these shapes are reminiscent of the undulating forms and jutting landscapes that exist in the peaks and valleys of the Border Ranges of NSW. Imagine rough textured mountains and smooth mirror-like bodies of water that reflect the gentle rhythm of the landscape as one travels through it. ‘Chrysalis’ is about transformation and slow regeneration. This word can also mean anything in the process of development.
I also offer traditionally faceted gemstones; many are custom cut by Australian lapidaries, and all are cut to best display each crystal’s unique characteristics.
I work only with trusted Australian suppliers who guarantee their gemstone sources are of Australian origin, conflict-free, ethical, and can provide traceability and full provenance where possible. Many of them are well established smaller scale artisanal fossickers and miners who also cut their own rough. I am proud to support these suppliers, especially in recent times, as the effects of coronavirus have severely impacted Australian lives and businesses. When you buy Australian gemstones, you are supporting Australia and its workers.
To make the most of my collection, I offer a personalised design/remodelling service. We can create unique custom jewels using your stones and metal, or ours; the choice is up to you. Every jewel has its own story, as does the owner. My designs are brought to life by talented Australian jewellers who share my appreciation for custom design and high-quality craftsmanship.
I hope you enjoy my collection. Please contact me for more information or click on the link to Book a Design Consultation.
Kind regards
Megan
Custom Design
Custom design Process
Enjoy a complimentary one-hour Design Consultation when you engage our design services. The following is an example of a design project and shows the process involved when creating a unique custom jewel. If you are contributing existing jewellery and/or gemstones towards your new design I will assess these materials for suitability in terms of identity and condition/wear.
image 1 sapphire for redesign
image 2 rings for redesign
Workshopping your ideas is the fun part. Feel free to bring in images and sketches that inspire you so that I can get a feel for design elements that resonate with you personally and potentially incorporate them into your unique design. During this initial phase, we will workshop and adapt your ideas to create some options for consideration and discuss your budget. A few hand drawn sketches may be produced at this stage.
There is generally some back and forth communication involved when refining your design. This can be achieved in person, via email or using virtual appointments (I use Facebook Messenger and Zoom). Once we have worked out the details of your final design, and have selected the diamonds, gemstones and appropriate metal for your project, we will present the design in the form of a hand drawn sketch. If the item is to be handmade, sketches are usually sufficient for us to base a quotation for manufacture.
image 3 sketches
If you require greater visualisation of your 2D design, we offer you the option of a computer generated 3D image (CAD-CAM) - see image 4 - at an additional charge. These images will look a little chunkier than the final item, as tolerances for shrinkage and filing are added to the dimensions. But they will give you a great visual of how your custom jewel will look once produced. If you are having your custom designed jewellery produced using CAD/CAM then 3D images like this are included in the design pricing.
image 4 CAD/CAM DESIGN
If required, we can also produce a fully rendered 3D design - see image 5 - at an additional charge. These images are very refined and amazingly lifelike and illustrate how your new custom piece will look.
image 5 fully rendered 3d design
Once your design is approved, we will create a quotation for manufacture and a timeline for completion - working to your deadlines when possible. Generally speaking, custom designed items take 4-6 weeks after the design has been approved and a deposit paid, depending on our volume of work at the time and whether additional materials are to be sourced.
Custom Creations
Here are a few custom made creations from Select Gems by Megan.
PEARL EARRINGS These pretty earrings were created from a number of items of jewellery that my client no longer wore. After examining and grading the gems available for this project and presenting some different options, we created these practical and beautiful earrings. They feature her most loved and worn gem - pearl ! These versatile designs easily transition from day to night.
south sea cultured pearl, ceylon sapphire and diamond cluster earrings
tahitian cultured pearl and diamond earrings
ETERNAL LOVE This ring was designed as a token of love from my client to his partner and was intended as a total surprise. My client had put a great deal of thought into the ring design and specifications and he wanted it to be perfect. I was on a mission - searching high and low for diamonds of the highest calibre, closely examining several parcels from different suppliers in different states in the quest for superior colour, clarity and cut. My diamond grading knowledge and experience helped me select the best of the best for this creation. The highlight is that she loved it !
full 3d computer generated render
finished platinum and diamond ring
SENTIMENTAL SAPPHIRE This ring was designed to showcase a much-loved sapphire that was set into another ring at the time. It was important to the owner that the ring be durable enough for everyday wear but still emphasised the beauty of the gemstone. So we chose super-strong platinum which enabled our master setter to create fine, strong claws that hold the gemstone securely.
full 3d computer generated render
finished platinum, sapphire and diamond ring
PRETTY IN PINK 50TH ANNIVERSARY RING We created this special ring as a surprise for my clients wife to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. He always wanted to buy her something really special - it had to have pink diamonds - and felt that their anniversary would be the perfect time. I absolutely love collaborating on these surprise projects as there is so much excitement and secrecy involved - one might say it’s a little bit James Bond. All of the couple’s friends and family were gathered for the planned 50th when my client presented the ring to his wife during the celebrations. Needless to say she was absolutely thrilled and delighted with her gift. True love indeed !
basic 3d rendering side views
basic 3d rendering top view
finished 18k gold white and pink diamond cluster ring
CENTRAL QUEENSLAND GEM FIELDS SAPPHIRE 70TH BIRTHDAY GIFT This ring was designed in collaboration with a couple to celebrate and commemorate her 70th birthday. The 4.82ct natural untreated sapphire originated in the Central Queensland Gemfields. It was a lovely deep blue colour with a slight Pharoah’s eye which is a minor yellow zone. We created a design inspiration board to get an idea of preferred styles, then refined it into a beautiful and practical design that the owner loved.
4.82ct natural untreated Australian sapphire
4.82ct sapphire
3d cad design
finished 18k yellow gold and white gold australian sapphire ring
AUSTRALIAN ORIGIN GEMSTONE CREATIONS We have created a myriad of pieces for my client who grew up in northern QLD and has fond memories of her childhood and the activities associated with it. She has a great deal of Australian gemstones that were fossicked by her father in Northern Queensland, then fashioned by artisanal cutters. I love collaborating on jewellery that is made with Australian origin gemstones. My client is wonderfully creative; each of her designs is carefully conceived and refined and tell a story that is as unique as the person it is made for.
MT SURPRISE BLUE TOPAZ AND DIAMOND RING This white gold ring features a large round brilliant cut blue topaz sourced from Mt Surprise in north QLD. We recycled the gold and diamonds from another of my client’s rings that were unworn, and added them to the halo to give some additional sparkle.
MOUNTAIN AND CORAL PENDANT This unique custom made Australian aquamarine and diamond slider pendant has a gorgeous story. It is inspired by my client’s childhood memories of climbing Walsh’s Pyramid in northern QLD and swimming in the coral ‘bommie’ reefs with family near Cairns. It incorporates two QLD aquamarines that her father fossicked, representing her mother and father respectively, and four diamonds; one for each sibling. We wanted a delicate but strong design that highlighted the aquamarines but also told the story. We incorporated a 3D map of the mountain to the top triangle, and a coral texture to the bottom triangle, along with two diamonds to each triangle. The body contains individually bezel set aquamarines and there are millgrain edges throughout that add a delicate touch. The sections are joined together using strong but delicate-looking hinges.
design with inspiration and final product
BLUE TOPAZ SCROLL PENDANT This pendant was made to showcase a large oval cut blue topaz fossicked at Mt.Surprise in northern QLD. My client wanted to create a pendant that incorporated the design of a much loved ring that featured roughly textured asymmetrical scroll shapes.
inspiration
3d render
GOOLIGANS CREEK GARNET RING This ring was custom made to showcase a garnet that was fossicked at Gooligan’s Creek. The garnet was an octagonal step cut, and weighed 2.06ct.
3d render view 1
3d render closeup
Australian Made Collection
Australian Made Collection
My collection is a celebration of Australia and its landscape. I have hand picked each gem for quality, beauty and affordability. Australian gemstones are conflict-free and, thanks to the country’s clear legal and regulatory structure, there are no ethical or environmental concerns about the process of mining or the treatment of workers reported in some other countries.
You will see unique shaped gemstones in my ‘Chrysalis’ range that is not offered for sale in traditional outlets - flat-backed rough, polished slices, tumbled and polished free-form gemstones from a variety of Australian sources. These shapes are reminiscent of the undulating forms and jutting landscapes that exist in the peaks and valleys of the Border Ranges of NSW. In a juxtaposition between rough textured mountains and smooth mirror-like bodies of water that reflect the gentle rhythm of the landscape as one travels through it.
‘Chrysalis’ is about transformation and slow regeneration like the landscapes shown. This word can also mean anything in the process of development.
I also offer traditionally faceted gemstones; many are custom cut by Australian lapidaries, and all are cut to best display each crystal’s unique characteristics.
border ranges national park, nsw
border ranges, nsw
australian landscape
Scroll down for information on some of Australia’s most prized gemstones.
Australian sapphires
capricorn mining
Australian sapphires are vastly underrated despite being some of the most beautiful in the world. Teal blues, royal blues, greens, yellows, golds and parti-colours that show two and sometimes three different colours in one stone are some of our best products. Each stone is unique, so you will never find two the same. The misconception that Australian sapphires are all dark blue or black and lifeless is outdated and incorrect.
Commercial quantities of sapphire have been mined for more than 100 years in numerous locations situated along the Great Dividing Range in eastern Australia, from Tasmania to North Queensland. Major commercial deposits occur in the New England District in northern NSW – Inverell and Glenn Innes – and the Central Queensland Gemfields – Anakie, Sapphire, Rubyvale and The Willows, as well as Lava Plains in North Queensland. Besides professional operations, there are many part-time artisanal hand miners and hobby fossickers on the Gemfields.
Sapphire’s high hardness – 9 on Mohs scale - and its excellent durability render it ideal for most types of jewellery settings.
Australian Zircon
Zircon is prized for its diamond-like lustre, intense fire, brilliance and strong double refraction. It is the oldest mineral on earth, and Australia boasts the oldest deposits dating back more than 4.4 billion years. The most famous source of Australian zircon is the Mud Tank Zircon Field, found in an area known as Harts Range, situated 1,220km south to southeast of Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia. This field which includes two regions called Zircon Hill and Specimen Hill is well-known for producing top quality zircon in beautiful earthy tones of cinnamon, sherry, cognac, pinks, plums oranges, yellow and even parti- coloured and colourless. These beautiful colours reflect the earthy tones of the landscape. Zircon is often found intermixed with sapphire in deposits associated with tertiary volcanic deposits from Tasmania to Northern Queensland, in particular, the Gemfields of Northern NSW and Central QLD where they range from colourless through to champagne and orange-red. Sometimes Australian zircons are heated to lighten them or make them colourless.
Although relatively hard – measuring 6.7-7.5 on Mohs scale – zircon is brittle and sensitive to knocks and pressure. It has the tendency to wear along facet edges and, for this reason, should be limited to occasional wear in rings or set into protective settings.
Australian Diamond
Australian diamonds were first recorded in 1851 in Bathurst in New South Wales while prospectors were mining for gold. Significant alluvial discoveries followed in other parts of the state, followed by additional finds in the states of Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Northern Territory and Western Australia.
According to Australian indigenous legend, diamonds came from the scales of barramundi as it leapt out of the water to flee the nets of local fisherman. These scales fell into the water and formed diamonds of all colours in a deposit known as the Barramundi Gap. Today, the Barramundi Gap marks the location of the world-famous Argyle mine, located in the Kimberley region of north-western Australia. True to the legend, many colours are found here, including white, champagne, blue and pink – the most coveted of all.
The Argyle mine - discovered in 1979 - supplies about 90% of the world’s pink diamonds. However, the mine has announced its closure by late 2020. Argyle stones sell at a premium due to their rarity, colour and intensity and each year, the best 60 or so pink diamonds from the mine appear in the annual Pink Diamond Tender; a prestigious, invitation-only event where buyers compete for diamonds in a sealed bid.
Australia’s strict legal and regulatory structure ensures fair treatment of workers and minimises the impact of mining upon our environment. A participation agreement exists between Argyle and the Gija and Mirriwung people, who are the traditional owners of the Argyle land, to make sure they benefit from the mine’s operations for generations to come.
Diamond’s hardness of 10 on Mohs scale makes it the hardest mineral on earth. Although it is not indestructible, it is extremely durable and suitable for everyday wear in any setting.
Australian South Sea cultured pearl
Pearl is traditionally known as ‘The Queen of Gems’ which reflects the regal beauty that South Sea cultured pearls possess and the feeling of warmth and joy they bestow upon their wearers. South Sea pearls – grown in rare silver-lipped and gold-lipped oysters called Pinctada Maxima - are farmed beneath the waters off the north to the north-west coast of Australia. This species can grow up to 30cm in diameter and produce the largest pearls in excess of 30mm in diameter. Each oyster contains only one bead, making one precious pearl at a time. The oysters must survive the unpredictable and often destructive forces of nature, including cyclones, intense storms and disease.
The harvested pearls undergo grading for size, shape, lustre, surface quality and colour, and it is these virtues that help determine the value of each pearl. Colours vary from luminous white, blue, silver, soft pink and cream to yellow and rich gold. Australia is the largest producer of top-quality pearls in the world. Australian farmers must comply with regulated working conditions and environmental guidelines, as stated in Australia’s Pearling Code of Practice.
With a grade of 2.5 on Mohs scale of hardness, pearls are very soft and easily scratched or abraded. They are organic gemstones that are sensitive to a variety of common chemicals and cosmetics. For these reasons, pearl earrings and pendants are suitable for everyday wear, whereas pearl rings are better for occasional wear.
Australian Opal
capricorn mining
First discovered by German geologist Johannes Menge in South Australia in 1849, today opals are mined in three states along the Great Artesian Basin on the shoreline of what was once the Great Inland Sea.
While found in other countries, Australia produces more than 95% of the world’s opal supply and is considered the finest and brightest in the world. Each Australian opal is unique and should be appreciated on its own merits. Factors to consider include type, colour, brightness, size, shape, weight and pattern.
Opal is Australia’s national gemstone, and it can convey a mood that is as varied as its type. From the delicate milkiness of white Coober Pedy opal in South Australia to super-clear crystal opal from Andamooka – also in South Australia – that is filled with light and ablaze with brilliant colour. Dramatic streaks of colour are typical of Queensland boulder opal. In contrast, matrix opals from Koroit in Queensland offer a network of brilliant glimmering colour against a dark-brown sandstone or ironstone host. Yowah nuts from Yowah in the sunshine state are incredibly popular with fossickers. When cracked open, these concretion-like kernels may expose solid opal, a web of thin veins in a matrix-like effect or perhaps no colour at all.
The most famous opals – blazing fireballs of colour set against black backgrounds – are typical of high- quality Lightning Ridge material from NSW, the home of Australian black opal. According to Indigenous legend, a huge wheel of fire fell to earth and sprayed the countryside with brilliant coloured stones.
Opal is a softer gemstone – 5.5-6.5 on Moh’s scale – compared to emerald – 7.5-8.0 – and wearers should take care to avoid abrasion and hard knocks.