Amalia Stavreas… “The diamond actually moves, so it picks up more light and brilliance.” Photos by Andrew Finch
The Rockstar, worth $65,800, was designed by Amalia Stavreas, manager of Dimitries Jewellers in Westfield Woden, and Sydney-based jeweller Mike Levendi.
Amalia says the ring features a round, brilliant-cut, two-carat diamond set in an innovative “free motion” setting, which allows the diamond freedom of movement.
The $65,800 Rockstar diamond ring.
The concept for the setting was inspired by how they show customers a diamond in the shop, she says.
“We like our customers to really interact with the diamond they choose, so we take it out and encourage them to flip it around and look at the light refraction from every angle,” Amalia says.
“It got me thinking, if that’s the best way to showcase a diamond, what if we could find a way to harness that?”
The Rockstar is one of three finalists in the awards, with the winner to be announced at a gala event in Sydney on October 18.
“The Solitaire category is known to be difficult, so Mike and I wanted to do something innovative,” she says.
Amalia says the diamond on the Rockstar rotates on its axis and can be viewed from a 360-degree angle thanks to the delicate setting, the mechanism in the base and the polished mirrored platform it sits on.
“The diamond actually moves, so it picks up more light and brilliance,” says Amalia.
“I didn’t want there to be a lot of metal in the ring, so that the diamond would appear to be floating in the simplicity of the reflection on the concave surface.”
Amalia trained as a physiotherapist, personal trainer and nutritionist
in Sydney, but two years ago decided to return to the family business, which was started in Canberra in 1967 by her grandparents.
“Helping people as a physio gives me the same feeling as helping people choose the right piece of jewellery,” she says. “Clients leave feeling good and I feel I’ve helped them make a decision in an honest way.
“I love the creativity of working here, and I get to draw! It’s nice to be back with the family, too, and to be able to combine high-end design with the homebody, family element of being in Canberra again.”
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