A local jeweller is being recognised for her unique designs in a 6000-year-old technique after her success at the recent Queensland Boulder Opal Festival in Winton.
Rita Williams, who owns Sunstate Jewellers in Moffat Beach, won people’s choice in the Queen of Gems Boulder Opal awards for a serpent-inspired necklace she named Renewal.
“I felt extremely overwhelmed when Renewal won people’s choice … as some of Australia’s best jewellers and designers are part of this world class event.
“I also was awarded the $1000 Taranto’s Opal Encouragement Award for my other creations.”
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Ms Williams says Renewal’s design, which took 80 hours to complete, was inspired by boulder opals — the second most valuable Australian opal — and the events of the past 18 months.
“When I first saw these Queensland boulder opals from the Tiger Eye mine, near Quilpie the stunning rolling flashes of colour immediately reminded me of movement.
“Snakes are quite symbolic of transformation and healing — so the combination of movement and colour seemed to perfectly fit.
“They represent fertility and the creative life force and as snakes shed their skin through sloughing, they are the ultimate symbols of rebirth, transformation, immortality, and above all healing.
“As our world sways from one uncertainty to another I created this beautiful talisman as a symbol of our changing world.”
Ms Williams creates each section of her jewellery using a technique that has been in practice for 6000 years. She carves out each piece using wax which is then set in plaster.
Once the plaster hardens, the wax is melted out and the plaster is filled with gold. Once cooled, the plaster is broken away revealing the treasure within.
Sunstate Jewellers has been creating and handcrafting high-end jewellery in the same location on Allen Street since 1972 and will celebrate 50 years in 2022.
