About
STACEY WHALE
Contemporary Jeweller Stacey Whale describes her work as “modern classic”. She takes gold, silver, platinum and gemstones and fashions them into beautiful, colourful treasures inspired by the natural world, art and architecture. “When you first look at my jewellery, it might look quite classic but it’s got a modern, innovative, unique twist and edginess,” she says. Stacey works from her jewellery shop in a corner of The Old Post Office in Nelson’s Upper Moutere – which is quite the bucolic contrast to the space she once shared in frenetic inner London where she first made her name more than a decade ago. In fact, she’s only recently been back at the work bench after a 10 year break off the tools to raise her two sons. Delighted to be back creating again, her special creations are designed and exquisitely handmade with love and passion by Stacey herself. Every creation has a special story to tell, and that story will continue with you.
Award Winning
JEWELLERY
Stacey's exceptional jewellery design attracts worldwide attention and has won craftsmanship and design awards, including technological innovation and fine jewellery design. Her unique style, one in particular is the use of precious lenses that employs her original technique of setting loose gems under a sapphire magnifying lens creating the illusion that they are suspended or floating in liquid. In other designs, her delicate lace-like settings allow the light to reveal the true colour and beauty of the gemstones she chooses. Rather than use traditional claw settings, Stacey has also devised a way of casting gold inspired by the natural forms of native New Zealand flower pods.
Jewellery Awards
ACCOLAIDES
XIV Florence Biennale Exhibition & Awards
First Place - Lorenzo il Magnifico - Gold Award
For Jewellery Art & Design
14th-22nd October 2023
GIA - Gemological Institute of America
Awarded an international gemmology scholarship 2019
Finalist for Jewellery 'Designer of the Year' 2008
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Goldsmiths Fair September 2007
Runner up for the best new merchandise.
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Gold Award - Technological Innovation
Submissions should demonstrate fresh ground breaking ideas & processes.
Gold Award - The Gem A. Diamond Scholarship
Awarded a practical diamond grading course at the Gemmological Association of Great Britain. Graduated with a grade A pass.
Fine Jewellery Award - Commended
Judges were looking for strong design & innovative use of precious metals.
Prototype Production Jewellery - Commended
Criteria was to produce finished jewellery which utilises to the best effect one or many of the mass production techniques in the industry.
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Artist Designer
INSPIRATION
As an artist designer, Stacey takes her inspiration from a broad range of natural forms and architecture and is especially interested in organic shapes, structures and textures at the microscopic scale. She grew up surrounded by pottery and textiles, and studied textile design and visual communication when she left school. Stacey combines all of these diverse inspirations including her love of fine art and design, to create original pieces of miniature wearable art. Each piece of jewellery is created to the highest level of craftsmanship using finest quality materials.
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Born in Wellington, New Zealand, Stacey studied Art and Craft Design at Whitireia in Porirua, Wellington, then went on her overseas experience basing herself in London between the years 2001-2010. During this time she experienced the first chapter of her successful and exciting jewellery career. Entering her second chapter in 2020 she is continuing on with the same passion and dedication from where she left off. Today you can now find her creating exqusite treasures from her bright and cheerful jewellery gallery in the heart of the Upper Moutere Village in Tasman/Nelson, New Zealand.
Ethical Integrity
HONESTY
​Believing in ethical integrity, Stacey proudly supports fair trade and conflict-free initiatives. She offers her clients responsibly mined New Zealand gold and transparently sourced gemstones from around the globe. Her business practices are grounded in honesty, demonstrating strong moral and ethical principles and values. Stacey passionately invites commissions that embrace this ethos. She firmly believes that creating a beautiful piece of jewelry together, made with a conscience, will empower us with the understanding that the choices we make today directly affect the existence and quality of another person's life and our environment.
