IN THE ROUGH

ADD SOME INDIVIDUALITY TO YOUR ACCESSORIES WITH IMPERFECT GEMSTONE JEWELLERY THAT’S AS SPECIAL AS YOU ARE

Life is imperfect, raw and beautiful – why should your jewellery be any different?

While some still seek a precisely cut and polished crystal, natural gemstones with unrefined textures and earthy hues have always been valued in the accessory market for their special quality.

Sydney jewellery designer Zoe Alexandria, of Zoe Alexandria Boheme Jewels, says the rough shapes and one-off cuts in her collections mean each ring, necklace and bracelet is as individual as the person wearing them.

“Our current society is so focused on perfection, so to create jewellery that is less than perfect is refreshing,” Zoe said. “When you look closely you notice that its imperfections are actually what makes it so beautiful.

“While they (Zoe Alexandria stones) are similar in colour and design, no two stones are exactly the same.

“I love the idea of being able to offer my customer something truly unique that no one will have the same of.”

Rather than design a range and look for a suited stone, Zoe lets the organic qualities of a gem direct the creative process.

“The inspiration for my pieces generally comes from the gemstones themselves — the shapes and colours will dictate the foundation for a new collection,” Zoe said.

“Currently, I’m inspired by the tourmaline gemstone — the fact that it can contain up to 15 different colours in one stone really excites me.

“Tourmaline is created from the molten magma from volcanoes and the stones are found in veins that run through the rock.”

The beauty of gemstones is that they’re naturally coloured and timeless, so they can be worn individually or layered with little colour matching experience needed.

“Simple and delicate gemstone rings can be made into statement pieces when stacked together,” Zoe said.

“Our necklaces are available in different lengths so that they can be styled together easily.

“Our statement earrings speak for themselves with bursts of gemstone colour and are worn best as a jewellery feature which can add extra oomph to any outfit.

“The statement earrings are perfect for evening wear, and most of our rings, bracelets and necklaces can be worn for both day and night.”