Steph Lusted Jewellery & Objets d' Art

20/10/2026

Graduation + Rome, glorious Rome ✨️ After extending my study time to 4 weeks, I graduated just over a week ago and am now back in New Zealand. What an incredible experience. I couldn't recommend Gerardi Setting School Pier Paolo Gerardi enough. Their trinocular way of teaching paired with their expertise and high ratio of masters per student was extremely helpful. This was the best education I have experienced in my field, and I am so grateful to have had this opportunity.
As I often say, handcraft/ goldsmithing is my religion. Learning a craft is a lifetime journey. Like any artform, it takes dedication, passion, and sacrifice.

Thank you to Pier and his team for setting up + providing such a well equipped learning environment to help bring these techniques into the future. Thank you to CNZ for contributing to this study, and thank you to the eternal city. I am so grateful. These skills, knowledge, and memories will stay with me for a lifetime. And I shall come visit again...

www.stephlustedjewellery.com

02/10/2026

Italy update: I have recently finished my 3rd week at Gerardi, which has been incredible. The days go by in the blink of an eye. I am so grateful to have this learning opportunity and experience. What a dream. Being surrounded by like-minded individuals with a shared passion to treat jewellery as an Artform, and to create it by hand, with precision. The study here has been intense. Long days of consentration through a microscope. Completing each project gives you a deep understanding that no book or video can offer. The tutors are extremely talented in their field and their unique way of teaching, I feel, is the best way to learn.
I have met other students from all over the world 🌎, each pursuing a higher level of craftsmanship and knowledge.
What a unique school.
Thank you Gerardi for offering this form of teaching.
I have extended my study time for an extra week so I'm heading back to Rome today after taking a short break to visit an old friend I hadn't seen for 20yrs! Amazing!

14/09/2026

Ok, this time, with information! :) you'll need to look at my previous post for other images of the beauty of Rome 🇮🇹....
Here I am, just starting my second week at Pier Paolo Gerardi in Rome 🇮🇹. I'm so grateful 🙏 to be here. I traveled here to study Mico stone-setting at the incredible school of Gerardi. As i have explained before, my passion for the craft and the art of goldsmithing/ jewellery arts is just as strong as it was all those years ago when I left school at age 16 to study the arts full time. At age 19, after 4 years of art school, majoring in jewellery manufacturing, I then went on to sell my work in galleries. 7 years later, I learnt the German language and studied for 2 years at the Goldschmiedeschule mit Uhrmacherschule in Pforzheim, Germany, graduating in 2006 with a German Masters Certificate in Goldsmithing. I returned to New Zealand 🇳🇿 and continued making my work and selling through a variety of galleries both in NZ and Australia. I worked on the Hobbit trilogy for 2 years making props where I learnt blacksmithing on the job (which I loved) as well as creating my own work and holding exhibitions in various galleries. Then in 2015, I opened my own public Gallery space/ Showroom + joint workshop, Steph Lusted Jewellery & Objets d'Art, in central Wellington, which I ran on my own for 11 years 😅. I held an exhibition once a year showcasing a new collection of work, as well as occasionally hosting group exhibitions with a selected group of artists. Closing this space at the end of June this year has allowed me to now concentrate on my work full time. Like every passionate craftsperson, I am still very eager to learn.

So, here I am in Rome, feeling so grateful for the opportunity to increase my knowledge and upskill, especially under such specialized tutorage. This really is a dream. (Even though I have managed to get a cold atm in 38 degree weather 🙃)

The days go by in the blink of an eye. I am loving every moment 🖤
I even saw some bats on my second night here... 🦇🦇🦇🖤 living the dream !

Ps: my work is now available for purchase exclusively through my website:

www.stephlustedjewellery.com

14/09/2026

25/08/2026

Nature is all around us, and how lucky we are to have it. 🥰 From water droplets resting on a petal or leaf, a caterpillar munching away on your veggies, a snail crawling up the garden wall, to creatures living in the hidden depths of our ocean and rivers. From a seastar washed ashore, a rare appearance of a White Heron/ Kōtuku, to the magestic animals that inspired ancient myths. This is my inspiration.
My other drive and passion is handcraft and history. Continuing the tradition of making things by hand and by bringing something into being that couldn't exist through materials alone.
It is my combined passion for the life around us, together with my love of making, that shapes every creation.
Designed and handcrafted by my own hands from start to finish.
Thank you for following 🙏

www.stephlustedjewellery.com

19/08/2026

ROME is calling... With the help of CNZ, I am traveling to Rome, 🇮🇹 in two weeks' time for some further technical training. I am super excited about this adventure as even though I studied in Germany many moons ago, I haven't been back to Europe in 17 years! I am really looking forward to this opportunity to upskill as there is still so much to learn. Handcraft is an ancient profession with goldsmithing  encompassing a vast range of techniques. It is impossible to learn them all. But this is one of the reasons why I am just as passionate about creating my work as I was 27 years ago at art 🎨 school....

In the meantime, if you are wanting to purchase any of my work for a special gift or anniversary in September/October please purchase these items through my website before the end of August so that the item arrives to you on time.

Please note: There will be a shipment delay on any orders placed during the month of September as I will be out of the country. Purchases made during this time will be shipped out upon my return to New Zealand in October. Thank you for your understanding. 🙏

At present, every item listed for sale on my website is currently in stock, so I can ship these items out to you immediately 👌

www.stephlustedjewellery.com

Ps: Thank you to Chris McKeown  for capturing these first two portrait images. The hands, in my mind, work perfectly as a portait of an artist 🎨

18/08/2026

30/07/2026

Well, after a month of packing down, moving, shifting, sorting, and setting up my new space, all I can say is never underestimate how long these things can take!
Having worked in my Showroom/ Workshop on Whitmore Street for 11 years, I am pleased to say the shift into my new space is now complete. 🙌

Handing over the keys marks the end of an era and the beginning of an exciting one for me.

The time has come for me to delve deeper into my practice and it was necessary to do this in an environment that wasn't open daily to the public.
My new workshop will give me the focus and time needed to do this.

Watch this space, and thank you for your support 🙏

All my work is available as per usual via my website:

www.stephlustedjewellery.com

For questions about particular pieces, please don't hesitate to contact me via email or phone. I'm happy to help 😊

Ngā mihi nui,

Steph

30/06/2026

That's a wrap! 🙌 Thank you to all the lovely people who have visited my Showroom over the last 11 years, and especially this month, to view my latest exhibition/collection, Enchanted Waters. It has been a real pleasure getting to know you all and, in many cases, your wider family as well :-D

Thank you for supporting hand crafted, unique pieces of jewellery and special art pieces/ miniature sculpture.

Steph Lusted Jewellery & Objets d'Art is now 100% online:

www.stephlustedjewellery.com

Everything currently listed in the online store of my website is actually in stock, so items can be shipped out within 24 hours.

Take care, keep warm (if you are in NZ winter atm) please keep in touch. I'm staying local (Wtgn) for now, so I am easily contactable via email or phone.

Enjoy your week,

Steph 🙏🙏🙏

Watch this space...