33 John Calleija

ROCK STAR

John Calleija is a proud Gold Coaster with a passion for precious gems.

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WORDS RHONDA OXNAM

WALKING INTO THE CALLEIJA BOUTIQUE at Marina Mirage is like entering Aladdin’s Cave.

Precious gems shimmer under the spotlights, priceless jewels spin in their glass cabinets and stunning pink diamonds take pride of place among the treasures.

And at the heart of it all is John Calleija – master jeweller, award-winning designer, proud Gold Coaster and all-round nice guy.

But it was luck, literally, that led John to establish his very successful business here on the Coast.

As a young up-and-coming jeweller, he decided to chase sunnier skies, so he jumped in his 1986 Jaguar and drove up from Sydney to see what opportunities were available.

“When I arrived I dropped into the newsagency at Sanctuary Cove and purchased a multi-week lotto ticket,” John recalls. "The first week, I won $6.66, the second I won $666, the third another $6.66 and the final week a further $666.

“I’m still waiting for the big win, but shortly after that I was introduced to my beautiful wife, Noni, and decided that fate was telling me I was exactly where I need to be.”

He went on to create the Calleija brand – a name synonymous with beautiful jewellery right around the world.

“Calleija is an international award-winning, renowned Australian brand with 30 years of luxury jewellery expertise and one of very few Argyle Pink Diamond Select Ateliers in the world,” John says.

“We are a design house guided by my artistry and passion for unique design.

“We have state-of-the-art workshops located in-house in our Australian and London boutiques, with our flagship boutique right here on the Gold Coast.

“Our timeless jewellery and bespoke pieces are created by a wonderful team of experienced designers and master jewellers.”

Many of John’s pieces feature the highly sought-after Argyle Pink Diamonds, a commodity that has become even more precious given the recent closure of the Western Australian mine.

“Argyle Pink Diamonds are 1.6 billion-year-old gifts of nature,” John says.

“The Argyle Pink Diamond mine started nearly 40 years ago and has produced phenomenal pink, blue and red diamonds, with colour saturation and quality like no other diamond mine in the world.

“However, even as the world’s largest and only consistent source of pink diamonds, these magnificent gems are incredibly rare – an entire year’s collection over one carat would barely fill the palm of your hand.

“The Argyle mine has been the source of 90 per cent of the global supply of pink diamonds, so this closure means that these gems will now become beyond scarce and increasingly valuable.

“For me personally, the closure of the mine feels like losing a friend,” he insists.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to work with these amazing diamonds for more than three decades and I have a true passion and deep understanding for just how precious and rare they are.

“The mine’s closure makes me even more conscious of the responsibility we have to ensure we continue creating bespoke works of art to complement these coveted diamonds.”

Speaking of creations, how does your design process work?

“I love getting to know our clients, understanding their individuality, their passions and inspirations; reading their personality, then the design comes naturally,” John replies.

“I’ve always had an eye for form and how shapes and patterns flow to create balance and beauty, and I have a desire to create pieces that break the boundaries of traditional design.

“When designing a piece featuring Argyle Pink Diamonds, I take great care in every single detail of the piece being created, always making sure that the natural beauty of these breathtaking diamonds is honoured.

“I love every piece I create but I admit I will always favour pieces with a rare Australian Argyle Pink Diamond because I am in love with their mysterious, beautiful colour and rarity.”

Each Calleija creation is the result of meticulous detailing and superb craftsmanship, and not only are they beautiful to look at, they are also made with best practices in regards to sustainability and the environment.

“I am very proud to say Calleija was recently awarded with the Butterfly Mark certification from Positive Luxury,” John says.

“This is the only international trust mark that recognises luxury brands for their commitment to creating a positive impact on people and the planet.

“I take great pride in the fact all Calleija jewellery is created with authentic and responsibly sourced materials.

“This is why we only support long-term suppliers that are stringent with their sustainability practices too.

“We only work with specific diamond companies that subscribe to the highest ethical standards of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS).

“We can also trace each gemstone back to the mine of its origin by using Argyle pink, red and blue diamonds in our creations.”

In a career that spans several decades and extends right around the world, there have been many highlights, however, John admits that working with royalty was one of the best.

“It is so much better when you share your success to uplift people and I love sharing success with my team, my family, clients and more.”

– John Calleija

“Back in 2013 I was fortunate to meet Zara Philips, the Queen’s granddaughter, during the Magic Millions right here on the Gold Coast.

“We quickly realised we both shared a passion for distinctive design and exceptional quality and we began to work together to create our beautiful Zara Philips by Calleija collection.

“It’s an absolute pleasure to be able to collaborate with Zara to create pieces that are contemporary, timeless, wearable and accessible for everyone.”

Another standout moment was creating the stunning ‘Virtual Eros’ diamond mask.

“We won the De Beers International Diamond Design Award in 2000 out of over 2,500 entries with that piece,” John recalls.

“Virtual Eros was designed with 44 carats of brilliant diamonds and was chosen as a personal favourite by Madonna.

“To see it featured in countless publications and in Alexander McQueen’s catwalk was a remarkable experience and I was so thankful to win this prestigious award.”

While such recognition has allowed him to pursue his dream, John also enjoys taking time out to explore other interests. "Success means freedom … having the freedom to create and design what I want and where I want,” he says.

“Success also means it benefits others and not just the individual.

“It is so much better when you share your success to uplift people and I love sharing success with my team, my family, clients and more.

“When I am away from work, I enjoy spending time with my lovely wife and daughter,” he adds.

“And I have always been interested in anything that exudes beautiful design, whether it’s architecture, boats, yachts, or cars (modern and classic).

“This is why all of our boutiques are in magnificent locations.

“London is in the historic Royal Arcade on Old Bond Street; it’s the oldest arcade in London and a vision of stunning Victorian design.

“Our Sydney boutique is in The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, which is simply majestic outside and in.

“And of course, our Gold Coast boutique is in Marina Mirage surrounded by blue skies and a beautiful coastline. "If I didn't design jewellery, I would have loved to design yachts, boats or be a naval architect – I love the water and I love design.”

As for what’s next …

“I can’t predict the future, but I can tell you there are many things I would still like to achieve,” John admits.

“There is so much more to experience and design … I feel as if my imagination is always ignited by something and the best is yet to come.”