After finishing a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Whitecliffe College of Art and Design, Sophie Divett launched Sophie Divett Jewellery back in 2012. The business started from humble beginnings with a small bench set up in her bedroom, learning as much as she could from night classes, books, and the internet before committing to a further two years of formal study in jewellery design at Whitireia.
Sophie Divett Jewellery has been located at two other locations over the past five years, moving workshops as the business has continued to grow and evolve. Its newest space can be found in the city fringe suburb of Sydenham, Christchurch.
“In our new shop, we wanted to create a jewellery store of a bygone era. A vintage-tinged calm space that felt distinctly us, like an old-fashioned library or den, a cabinet of curiosities you can walk into,” Divett explained.
The interior supports deep sapphire walls, antique wooden display cabinets, vintage oil paintings and hung-dried floral arrangements to create a cosy, calm and luxurious space.
The team consists of four creative women, all working together across the gallery and the workshop. Everything is done in-house, from the design to the production, marketing, photography and custom designs, as well as operating the physical and online store.
Sophie Divett Jewellery offers hand-crafted and custom-made jewellery pieces. The ranges include engagement and special occasion rings, ceremonial and wedding bands, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and brooches. Each piece is handmade with sterling silver, gold plating or solid gold.
Ancient artefacts, classical Greek mythology, and New Zealand's dramatic landscapes, terrains and mountain ranges are what inspire their pieces. Their signature collections feature castings from real leaves, seed pods and other plants, immortalising every detail and texture in precious metals.
“We also love breathing new life into old pieces, where customers can bring us an existing piece of jewellery that they may have inherited, isn’t to their style, or don’t wear anymore, and we can try to repurpose the stones into a new piece, enabling it to be worn and loved once again,” she said.
Sustainability and ethics are of huge importance at Sophie Divett Jewellery, whether it's through using recycled diamonds and metals, ethically sourced gemstones, or recycled diamonds handpicked by Divett from trusted suppliers. While at the same time creating products that are built to last.
Divett’s goal for the future of her business is to keep learning, refining and striving for the best. She wants both herself and her team to be knowledgeable, confident and make every customer feel special.
“We’re a small and solid team who care a great deal about what we do and why we do it whilst never compromising on our values, distinctive style, or ethics. A little of this magic and energy goes into every piece we send into the world.”
