13 Curtis Australia – A studio with a precious difference

Handcrafted works of art from the world's only watch, jewellery & pen making family

BY PAUL HENDERSON

Walk into Curtis Australia's studio in Bairnsdale and a couple of things impress you straight away – one is undoubtedly the smart and private showroom filled with unique and exclusive designed pieces, the other the size of their purpose built, well lit and modern studio.

It's a clean and bright space, well organised and reassuring for clients who leave their treasured pieces for repair, restoration or remodelling, as nothing ever leaves the premises.

The Curtis Australia studio in Bairnsdale Heather & Glenn Curtis (right) with team member Trevor Brown

The wheel of the drawbench is geared to transfer the energy needed to draw the wire through tapered holes in the drawplate (above) Handcrafted wire is used for jewellery gem settings (left) and even the tiny watch case screws on a Curtis hand crafted gold watch (above)

HANDCRAFTING IS AT THE CORE OF EVERYTHING CURTIS AUSTRALIA CREATES.

One fascinating piece of equipment to catch the eye is the 120 year old drawbench. This is used to create wire for all kinds of uses from watch screws to jewellery settings - even tubes can be formed from sheet to create rub over settings for precious gems. Watching the Curtis jewellers draw down gold wire is a mesmerising ballet of quickly moving hands and an informed eye.

The well oiled drawbench wheel spins quickly as the wire is fed through a succession of finely tapering holes in the hardened steel drawplate. The heavy 'dogs' grip onto the wire - so called as they bite down hard as the wire is drawn through the plate to reduce its diameter while increasing its length. The tough leather strap transfers the energy efficiently, something the experienced jeweller can actually feel and control.

As the wire work hardens it needs annealing – heated by flame to a dull red, then quenching quickly in water to realign the hidden molecular structure of the gold.

This allows redrawing again, until the wire size and shape suits the work, whether for claws on a ring that secure a precious pink diamond, a pin for a brooch or part of a watch – the solid gold wire having a myriad of uses. Used every day, the drawbench is just one of the tools Curtis jewellers use to create much loved pieces of jewellery for you and yours.

Wax is ideal for crafting naturally inspired pieces

Sculpting is another skill you see in the Curtis studio. Models in wax are patiently hand crafted for pieces inspired by nature, such as the charming platypus seen here. Wax is an interesting medium, capable of holding very fine detail, but it's tricky to work and easily damaged, it takes years to master.

Gumleaf earrings from the Woodland Collection

Sterling silver Platypus brooch

Diamond setting is another vital skill for a jeweller. Many pieces contain gems, and each different gem and shape requires a different approach.

The princess cut gems in this remarkable handcrafted 'Manhattan' ring (above) have very delicate corners, so need precise skill when setting. Cluster and halo rings require a lot of skill and many years of practice to gem set

Setting gems is an exercise in patience, skill and feeling how the gold and gems interact

Curtis Australia also hand craft their own solid gold watches – again with a key difference.

Watches are part of the Curtis family history - with Glenn's grandfather and great grandfather both watchmakers. Again, with their jewellery skills in mind, Glenn Curtis wanted to disrupt the conventional, so his hand crafted watches have a strong bias towards jewellery techniques, with curves and forms any machine would struggle to make. From a modest range, there are now many different models available, from carefully measured designs to the colourful and expressive. Watches are pieces of jewellery that happen to tell the time, and it's clear to see the questioning mind of a jeweller at work in the clever details. Even a watch seemingly as simple as the popular Motima XT has a subtle change of form with its shaped profile adding more than just reflectivity and comfort.

The Colours Collection watches are perhaps the opposite, bright, colourful and playful watches for those with a sense of fun and a desire to be a little different.

A Motima XT in solid yellow gold with a textured white dial The Monroe watch in fluid & flowing solid gold

Pens are also hand crafted at Curtis, from solid silver & colourful resins

Freeform pearl pendant in gold

A 'Colours' watch in diamonds & coloured gems Stunning hand crafted rings from Curtis Collections A superb champagne diamond gent's ring

Next time you're in Bairnsdale, drop in and see Curtis Australia for yourself. They're just behind the Shire Offices in Macleod Street. Why not pop in before Christmas, or phone or email for an appointment if you find yourself taking a holiday in the beautiful area that inspires not only happy memories - but beautiful works of art as well.