Former Young resident Richelle Perks has achieved her biggest accomplishment in her young career after winning the overall prize at The Australian Pearl Jewellery Design Masters.
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The competition draws contestants from all across Australia and some international designers also enter.
Various category winners were announced however Richelle’s design won the overall prize judged by a panel of technical and fashion experts.
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The competition winners were announced in September, while a People’s Choice award will be announced next week.
Richelle’s design is all hand made in 9 carat yellow and white gold with a Cygnet Bay pearl (south sea), a Broken Bay pearl (akoya), black diamonds and Tsavourite garnets.
It’s called Nephila Lucilia and was made in the image of the golden orb weaver spiders that surround the Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm.
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“I saw one in my backyard and it was my inspiration to make one. I started drawing a design and it happened from there,” Richelle said.
Richelle, who now lives in Brisbane, started a four-year jewellery manufacturing apprenticeship in 2012 and has progressed quickly in the following couple of years.
She took out the prize for Apprentice of the Year in 2014 and finished runner up in another competition.
She left Young in 2008 to study graphic design but soon found her niche.
