Forged with passion

Amanda O’Neill knows jewellery.

The master jeweller has spent the past 25 years creating wearable pieces of art for clients based both in Australia and abroad.

From male dominated workshops where playboy posters adorned the walls to the onset of lab-grown diamonds, O’Neill has watched the industry evolve.

And now she has opened the doors of a new studio and gallery space in Ocean Grove.

“I always knew that this was the goal,” she said.

“In the first year of my apprenticeship, I knew that one day I wanted to open a gallery.

“I also knew that I wanted to be able to work while raising a family one day, so I really positioned myself to be able to do that.”

To prepare, the mother of two began gradually buying the tools and equipment she needed to start her own business.

“I went on maternity leave knowing I would never go back to working for another jeweller,” O’Neill said.

“I’ve been there for every school pick up, every school drop off, every excursion. Everything they’ve needed.

“I’ve been there for them the whole time and could work when I had hours at night, which has been amazing.”

It was here that Gemaxis was born, named for O’Neill’s love of the craft.

“Every crystal has a gem axis and it’s one way of working out what type of crystal it is.

“It spins around on the axis, the crystal, and jewellery to me, it spins around my axis. It’s my universe.”

The business first began on the online marketplace, Etsy, then grew to a small office space in Ocean Grove.

With her youngest child set to begin primary school this year, O’Neill said it was time to take the next step.

Gemaxis will operate predominately by appointment, and O’Neill will offer clients all facets of the jewellery industry from resizing and repairs to the creation of bespoke pieces and the specialised work of antique remodelling and repair.

As a trained gemmologist, O’Neill is also able to confidently source high-quality gemstones.

“I can spot enhancements; I can tell the quality and I can source the quality.

“That’s really important. Quality is my number one.”

Unlike other jewellers, most of the pieces on display at Gemaxis have been designed by O’Neill.

They feature organic shapes, curves, waves and other coastal elements inspired by the region.

Others are on loan from international high-end jewellers and feature rare gemstones – a unique offering made possible by the relationships O’Neill has developed in the industry over the past two decades.

But creating custom pieces of jewellery, whether it be designing wedding bands and engagement rings, or helping clients to repurpose sentimental pieces passed down by family members, remains at the core of the business.

“It works really well that I can actually give the client the one-on-one time,” O’Neill said.

“We can sit and chat and go through all the pieces they want to use…and I can get to know their personality a bit and then transfer that into the design.

“I feel like I need a psychology degree sometimes. It’s so emotional. You hear lots of stories. It’s beautiful.”

She said that it was this emotional side that she loves the most.

“I had two clients who were using stones and gold from their late mothers’ rings, and they had dreams of their mother the night before they came to pick it up.

“One lady said she felt like her mum was giving her the okay, that she was happy.

“She cried, I cried, when she picked it up.

“Then the next client came in as she was leaving, and she showed her and told her, and that client started crying.

“I love that emotional side, because jewellery is emotional, and to be able to share that with my clients and be able to create that, is touching.”

She wants Gemaxis to be a space where everyone feels comfortable and she wants clients to walk away with pieces of jewellery that they love, can wear forever and eventually pass down to their own children or family members.

“It’s me leaving my mark on the world,” O’Neill said.

“We can all be gone by my jewellery will still be here, still be passed down, without people even knowing who made it.

“It’s a very special feeling.”

Gemaxis is at Level 1, Suite 2/87 The Parade, Ocean Grove.

To find out more, head to gemaxisjewellery.com.au