Jan Juc jewellery inspired by the ocean

‘GODDESS of the sea’ – that’s was Temaleti’s name means in Tonga, where her mother is, and it isn’t far from the truth.

Temaleti Pec, known to her friends as Tema, launched her first collection of handmade bespoke Jewellery business ‘Temaleti Jewellery’ early in 2022.

The Jan Juc mother-of-two makes ocean-inspired jewellery from her home studio, working with sterling silver, gold and gems, each delicate but practical piece inspired by the wild Surf Coast coastline.

 

Having grown up on the peninsula before moving to Jan Juc 10 years ago, Pec loves everything about the ocean, from surfing to watching its moods and colours change.

And it was this love of the water that first led her to finding her passion for jewellery making, as she searched to find jewellery to both reflect, and withstand, the ocean.

“I’ve always lived by the beach; my mum is an island girl so it’s probably in my blood really.

“When my son was born, I started surfing. It was once a week or whenever I could at first, but then it developed into an obsession, I was surfing once a day.

“With studs, I was losing them all the time, so I thought, you know what I’m going to make sleepers that I can wear to bed, and surfing, and out, and they still look really cool.

“It was my love for the ocean, and I just didn’t want to have to take earrings out constantly, so I started doing this.

“Which is why there are a lot of sleepers.”

 

From there, Pec’s course to becoming a jeweller was set.

She spent hours refining and perfecting her technique and practising.

“It started out as a hobby; I did a few short courses on jewellery making, and absolutely loved it, I just spent quite a few years just perfecting it for myself in my studio.”

“Then a lot of my friends were asking for me to make jewellery for them, and I could see they were lasting the test of time… so then I started thinking, I could probably make this hobby into a business.”

Now, Temaleti Jewellery, handmade in Jan Juc by Pec, is stocked in stores around Torquay and Aireys Inlet.

Beyond her love of the water, Pec is equally inspired by her friends and family, and loves to make pieces that hold a deep personal significance to each person.

One of her most significant pieces in the 2022 range, and a piece she often personalises for custom orders, is her stamp rings.

“I initially started making rings because my dad passed away a few years ago which is why I stated making the stamp rings.”

“My dad gave my mum one of those as a friendship ring when her first met her.

“I had it, then my mum had it back, and then I had it again – it’s always been something from childhood, so I’ve always loved that stamping imprint ever since I was little.”

Pec is passionate about using quality materials, specialising in sterling silver and gold, with plans for a new 2023 collection featuring more gems and bespoke gold pieces.

“I love making one-off pieces and the feeling that you get when you give something to someone and they’re the only ones who have it.

“So, I’m always making custom orders for friends; I love doing that.”

Looking forward, Pec said she plans to always be learning more about her craft, building her studio and her skills, and fuel her passion for jewellery.

“You’re constantly learning, I’m just learning all the time, you do have to build it slowly.”

“I slowly built up [my studio]. It’s quite expensive to gather all the tools and there is so much out there, so I’m learning all the time.”

The dream, Pec said, is already in motion – continuing to balance her love for her family and friends, making jewellery and enjoying the ocean.

“I’m going with the flow.

“We’re going to build a new house in this spot, and I have these plans for a studio overlooking the valley.”

“So we will be here a long time.”

“My son surfs, my daughter surfs, we surf as a family. And we live just next to Winki and Bells, they are probably my favourite waves.

“The dream? Surfing every day. I’d love to have a tiny little store that I can work from and some jewellery, a little shop in Juc, selling jewellery and living the dream.”Each Temaleti piece is inspired by the ocean and coast.