This right here? Is where my journey into the world of gemstones began. It all started, with an old man, with way too many hobbies.
That old man was by beloved grandfather.
My grandfather wasn’t a jeweller, and had nothing to do with gemstones. Though he was a passionate hobbyist with so many activities he’d fill his time with. One of those was opal cutting.
My grandfather, Wally, spending time on his many hobbies in his shed.
At the age of 9, he taught me how to cut them. That’s right. He gave a 9 year old boy precious gems and machinery to play with. We’d spend hours in his back shed, where he’d show me how all the machinery worked, teaching me about what to look for in a gem, and how to get a beautiful opal from a piece of rough.
It sparked a fascination with opals, so much so that I have an almost encyclopaedic knowledge of every opal pattern I've ever come across. While rarely work with opals today (they're not a great match for an engagement ring that needs a strong gem), this was my magnet into the world of gemstones, which drove my to where I am today.
And that passion for gemstones today? It’s stronger than ever.