Success x4!

Dan Palmer and Ian Douglas - Naked Barcelona

Nick Hensman - 1886

For the fourth year in a row the jewellers at The Village Goldsmith and The Inspired Collective have been successful in having their jewellery designs chosen as two of the four finalists in the New Zealand Jewellery Design Awards 2011.

The Village Goldsmith/The Inspired Collective finalists are Dan Palmer, in collaboration with Ian Douglas, and Nick Hensman. The designs include, a beautiful ring named "Naked Barcelona" crafted by Dan Palmer and designed by Ian Douglas, and an intricate necklace, "1886" designed and crafted by Nick Hensman, a previous winner in 2009.

The necklace design is based on the pink and white terraces of Mt Tarawera and their burial in 1886. This piece explores the surface tensions of different metals, mixing beaten, coloured and polished metals to create '1886'.Cleverly crafted sterling silver, 9ct white gold, 9ct rose gold and titanium showcase a vibrant blue trilliant cut sapphire, with subtle pink sapphire and diamond accents adding that element of surprise.

The abstract art and variety of Spain inspired Ian's "Naked Barcelona" ring. This mix of platinum and gold is a tribute to a free flowing lifestyle, random but ordered at the same time. Dan has masterfully crafted this piece in platinum and 18ct yellow gold, effortlessly intertwining the metals to suspend a beautiful 1.32ct pear shape diamond of perfect D colour.

Come and see these and the other Village Goldsmith/The Inspired Collection entries at the store before the winner is chosen at the New Zealand Jewellery Show to be held at the Michael Fowler Centre 9-11 September 2011.

Nigel Wong Features on TV's Asia Downunder

Nigel Wong, the winner of the New Zealand Jewellery Design competition 2010 was featured on Asia Downunder recently. Reporter Kadambari Gladding discussed with Nigel the manufacture of a diamond ring and his win at the 2010 NZ Jewellery Design Awards. You can view the programme which profiles Nigel�s skills as a jeweller at Wellington jewellery store The Village Goldsmith and his life outside of work at http://www.theinspiredcollection.com/news/2011/03/17/award-winning-wellington-jewellery-designer-nigel-wong-featured-asia-downunder

VILLAGE GOLDSMITH'S WINNING CUP

Visit http://www.theinspiredcollection.com/news/2011/01/31/wellington-cup-re-made to see Ian Douglas's talk with Stuff.co.nz reporter Hamish Coleman-Ross about the history and work that goes into creating the Wellington Cup for the Wellington Racing Club. A new cup is manufactured each year to be presented to the owner of the winning horse. The Cup is made from solid sterling silver which is 18ct gold plated. A Village Goldsmith associate jeweller, Dan Palmer, plays an integral part in the metal spinning, gold plating and actually crafting the finished Cup. The Cup and the replica miniatures for the trainer and jockey are presented in a beautifully handcrafted mahogany box. Winning owners covet the distinctive cup which is a modern rendition of the 1880's original.

Nick Announces Competition Winner

Nick Hensman the winner of the New Zealand Jewellery Design Awards 2009 drew the winner of the Inspired Collection competition, see it on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPfyOZQ92kI

The winner, Ruth Taylor, was drawn from over 3000 New Zealand and international entrants. Ruth is the recipient of jewellery designed and manufactured by Nick to the value of NZ $1000 and earrings for a friend to the value of NZ $400. She will have the opportunity to sit down with Nick, at The Village Goldsmith, and have something specially designed and made just for her.

At The Village Goldsmith our jewellers, many who have been award winners or short listed for jewellery awards, are available to chat with you. Sitting down with our jewellers to have something specially designed and manufactured just for you is what sets us apart.

If you don't have time for the custom made piece our friendly staff will help you find something very special for yourself or a special person in your life. We have a fantastic range of jewellery, perfect for Christmas gifts.

"Wilshi, The Proposal Ring - It Starts With A Question"

"Wilshi The Proposal Ring" was launched this week. The answer to the age old dilemma for guys wanting to propose with a wonderful surprise engagement ring for their girlfriends but who are terrified of getting the style wrong. With so many choices to make in engagement rings why not narrow it down to a choice of six attractive styles, to match all personality types, all the rings beautifully crafted out of sterling silver. The rings all come with a handmade wooden display box and prices start at NZ$ 100 which frees you up to dream up the engagment experience you want to give her. She will love you for the gorgeous proposal ring that says "Will You Marry Me" and then you can both choose the engagement ring of your dreams.

You can buy them at The Village Goldsmith in Wellington or online at www.wilshi.com . When you buy a Wilshi you automatically get a rebate on a ring from the Inspired range of rings here at The Village Goldsmith or online at www.theinspiredcollection.com You can see The Village Goldsmith, The Inspired Collection and Wilshi profiled on http://tvnz.co.nz/business-news/nzi-business-jeweller-gives-nervous-grooms-hand-3-20-video-3876355

Ernst and Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Award 2010 Finalist

Ernst and Young Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. Ian Douglas of The Village Goldsmith has been selected as a New Zealand finalist in the 2010 competition. Ian's selection will be recognized at the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards dinner in Auckland this week.

Ernst and Young Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 135 cities in 50 countries.

The Village Goldsmith, Inspired Jewellery www.theinspiredcollection.com and Wilshi www.wilshi.com are allied companies designing and manufacturing high end jewellery for domestic and international markets. The focus for all the companies is innovation, uncompromising quality and excellent customer service. "We aim to be the leader in our field and to grow the brand on a large international scale".

The Village Goldsmith duplicates win!

Nigel Wong - X-Tension

Karl Williams - Ra

Nigel Wong has won New Zealand's top jewellery award. He has just been announced the winner of the NZ National Jewellery Design awards 2010 with his piece X-Tension.

X-Tension took Nigel Wong from The Village Goldsmith over 90 hours to build and was a labour of love. This is the second time Nigel has reached the finals. Nigel has been a goldsmith in Wellington for more than 30 years and his experience shines through X-Tension, an ambitious yellow and white gold necklace that is able to be expanded and contracted. Nigel says his inspiration came from the concertina like motion of the extendable bathroom mirror but he has transported that mechanical application onto a platform of beauty: X-Tension features a resplendent 11 carat green tourmaline in a platinum setting.

This is the second time Nigel has reached the finals of the country's premier jewellery design competition. Nigel's 2008 piece 'Vessel' was a ring that reflected Nigel's passion for windsurfing, featuring the silhouette of a sail over a blue tanzanite stone the colour of the ocean.

Along with Nigel Wong, The Village Goldsmith's Karl Williams had a piece in this year's finals. His ring design was based around the myth of the Egyptian sun god Ra and can be read almost like a story book. Ra, the Ancient Egyptian Sun god, journeys over the Great Pyramid from day into night and features a rare yellow fancy intense marquise cut diamond. saves are represented by fine, white diamond accents inlaid into the platinum and gold setting.

The continued success of the The Village Goldsmith at these awards has been highlighted by having its goldsmiths make the finals in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Nigel Wong joins Nick Hensman who took out NZ's top jewellery award in 2009.

To see more works by the jewellers and to find out more about the inspiration behind each piece. Go to the website: www.theinspiredcollection.com