There’s a certain magic that comes with creating bespoke pieces, and this diamond engagement ring was no exception. For my clients, I designed a ring that celebrates the brilliance of diamonds. The process of making this piece was as intricate as the design itself, requiring careful planning and meticulous attention to detail.
Today, I want to share the story behind the Seagrass Meadow Necklace. This piece features a beautifully arranged cluster of Australian gemstones – Australian sapphires from Queensland, Australian turquoise from the Northern Territory, and a single Argyle diamond from Western Australia.
Over the past 14 years, my Sydney jewellery studio has been a space of constant evolution and growth. Yet, no matter how much changes, one thing remains at the heart of it all: the deep honour I feel practicing the ancient craft of jewellery making.
And here is the finished piece! Taking something as rare as this Australian sapphire and transforming it into a piece that holds meaning beyond its physical form has been truly special. his engagement ring was crafted out of platinum; its cool tone providing a perfect complement to the colour of the sapphire.
As a Sydney-based jeweller with a deep love for Australian gemstones, creating work with Australian sapphires is a profound honour that inspires me daily. These sapphires, with their rich and varied hues, reflect the stunning diversity of our landscape, and I’m dedicated to bringing that natural beauty to life in my designs.
The Seagrass Meadow Drop Earrings from the Neptune collection truly speak to the soul of the ocean. Inspired by the serene beauty of underwater meadows, these earrings embody the gentle sway of seagrass as it dances with the ocean currents.
As a jeweller, I’ve handled countless gemstones, but every now and then one crosses my path that demands special attention. I have recently been given the pleasure of working with this light blue Australian sapphire sourced by Nina Cueva.
Growing up in a Greek Orthodox family, I’ve always found cross jewellery to feel sacred and familiar. To me, the cross is more than just a religious symbol; it’s a way for people to feel connected to their family and culture.
It was a special day, full of creativity and love, as Nicoletta and I embarked on a heartfelt project together. With her Mum’s birthday just around the corner, four year old Nicoeletta and I decided to make a pair of earrings that would be a beautiful and meaningful surprise.
From the moment I first encountered them, I’ve admired Australian sapphires. An Australian sapphire can come in the most unexpected colourways across the spectrum, from the well known royal blue, to pastel sky blue, shades of pink, green, yellow and orange.
My passion for Australian gemstones is partially from my curiosity for origin stories. I’ve always been interested in learning where something comes from and how its experience shapes it into what it is today. Read my brief guide to Australian-sourced birthstones.
My jewellery was recently featured on the pages of the stunning publication, Australian Traveller. To see my passion for Australian gemstones showcased and celebrated in such a way is really quite special to me.
The Sea Grape Surface Ring from my most recent jewellery collection NEPTUNE is inspired by vibrant green sea grapes that adorn the shoreline of the NSW south coast, each one a tiny, natural jewel.
My Eucalypt series is a collection that draws inspiration from the natural beauty of Australian eucalypts. Each piece in this collection, including necklaces, earrings, and rings, is meticulously crafted to capture the essence of different eucalypt species found across Australia.
Recently, I had the honour of completing a truly special project—a ring that not only encapsulates beauty but also carries within it a connection to family. My client entrusted me with heirloom diamonds passed onto her from her grandmother.
As Mother’s Day approaches, I am reminded of the mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends whose lives have been touched by heart disease. The “From the Heart” heart necklace is a timeless symbol of love that Mothers can cherish for years to come.
A story about Australian gemstones. What makes Australian gemstones truly magical is their uniqueness. No two stones are ever the same, each one bearing the marks of its journey.
In the world of jewellery design, every piece holds a story. As a designer, I’ve always felt a deep connection to the environment that inspires my creations. So when it comes to photographing my jewellery, I prefer to get behind the lens and take matters into my own hands.
The final story in the NEPTUNE collection is the Sea Grape story. This particular story was inspired by time spent on the NSW South Coast walking along tide lines, paying attention to interesting shadows, glistening seaweed fronds and other washed-up specimens.
Earlier this month I was featured in the Good Weekend Magazine. A huge thank you to Frances Mocnik for the beautiful words about my new collection, Neptune.
The Seagrass Meadows story features elongated shapes and baguette stones, inspired by blades of seagrass in underwater meadows. The movement of the Seagrass earrings echoes their gentle sway, while gemstones trace curves like ocean currents.
I am very proud and excited for this really lovely feature in a recent edition of the The Australian Financial Review. Thank you to Fashion Editor Lauren Sams for listing Marina Antoniou as one of three Australian jewellery brands to watch.
Originally a butcher’s shop in the 1800s, the heritage building this photoshoot took place in is part of the historic Longs Lane precinct in The Rocks, at the heart of Sydney.
Thank you to Courtesy of the Artist for featuring my new collection, Neptune in their monthly newsletter which shares a mix of colourful news, artist tales, noteworthy events and exhibitions.
NEPTUNE includes three series: Seagrass Meadows, Sea Grapes and Lichen. Each is informed by the rich landscapes of Australia’s shorelines and the marine flora that thrives there. First up, Lichen.
I recently had the privilege of making a bespoke Sea Grape cluster ring for a very special client. For this piece, my client wanted Australian sapphires in a variety of luscious green tones.
Thank you to Courtesy of the Artist for featuring my new collection, Neptune in their monthly newsletter which shares a mix of colourful news, artist tales, noteworthy events and exhibitions.
This Saturday I will be officially launching my latest jewellery collection, Neptune. The entire collection will be exhibited at Courtesy of the Artist in Sydney’s iconic Strand Arcade.
We are coming up to one year since I launched Little Daisies, a collection of warm-hued, golden jewellery inspired by the anatomy of a Daisy. These special pieces were designed to support Little Legs Foundation, a local charity fundraising for childhood brain cancer
With handmade charms, no two I make are ever the same. Each request is one I couldn’t easily forget. Whether made in 600 BC or today in 2023, from gold, or a humble piece of string, all charms share a common thread—they have a story to tell.
I’ve always been inspired by the landscapes of the NSW South Coast, a place I have been visiting with my family since I was born. It’s a place where I can enjoy time with my family, find quiet contemplation and source inspiration for my work.
By now, most of us are quite good at recognising when bigger brands are making an attempt at “greenwashing”. Recently, I’ve noticed a lot of mass-produced jewellery lines making various claims, and so I thought this might be a good time to share more.
The act of designing a piece for oneself or someone beloved to us is a deeply personal and emotional exchange. Something that I’m often asked to do is to restore gemstones or embed precious family heirloom stones into new designs.
I wanted to focus on Australian Turquoise this month, not only because it happens to be December’s birthstone, but because the particular stones I work with are rare and beautiful, with a very special provenance.
This month, I thought I’d take you behind the scenes to share a bit about some of the tools I use in my work. Each piece I work on comes together in a series of processes, each done by hand.
This year, at the end of Winter, I took a trip with my family to Opal country in Lightning Ridge, north-western New South Wales, somewhere I’ve always been interested in visiting.
This 2.25ct trillion cut Australian parti sapphire recently featured in a custom ring for Courtesy of the Artist. It’s probably one of the most incredible stones I’ve ever worked with.
Four years ago today I was in the South Australian outback exploring the opal mining town of Andamooka. I spent a week in Andamooka learning about its hidden treasures and its rich history.
A recent remodelling project. Three stack rings, a cluster of diamonds, sapphires and granules in 18ct yellow gold using diamonds from a family heirloom.
Welcome! My website has been given a lovely little refresh. I look forward to sharing more creations and stories with you here in my new journal.
Australian actress and writer Kate Mulvany wore her Marina Antoniou x Lauren Webster “Sunburst Earring” from The Lost Galaxy collection earlier this year.
My ‘From the Heart’ necklace was featured in today’s The Australian Financial Review Magazine! Thank you to Francis Mocknik and the AFR Magazine!
Since launching in 2016, the “From the Heart” collection has raised over $10,000 for the Heart Foundation to help raise women’s heart health awareness.
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