About Des Gray
Prospecting has been a thread through my life since childhood — from digging quartz on the farm at five, to working a lease on the Queensland gemfields, to exploring mining regions in Namibia and beyond.
In 2017 I moved to Tasmania to be closer to the work I love. Its cold, pristine rivers hold spinel, zircon, topaz, and some of Australia’s finest blue sapphires. The work is demanding: icy water, long days of sieving gravel for mostly disappointment. But the rare moments when a sapphire appears make every ache worthwhile.
I am first and foremost a gem enthusiast and prospector, not a dealer. Part of my collection will always be stones I have both found and shaped myself — a way of honouring the effort it takes to bring these treasures from earth into human hands.
In 2000 whilst studying degrees in Geology and Chemical Engineering I was introduced to the world of gem faceting at my local gem club. I spent over a decade perfecting my faceting skills whilst pursuing a career in engineering. After retiring early to move to Tasmania I was inspired to start gem carving and then moved into fantasy styled mix carved and faceted cuts. As a friend once told me - in the world of gem cutting carving is freedom and as an artist that wants the best for each hard won treasure this freedom is critical.
I am now one of Australia's leading specialists in unique gem cuts with multiple world first gem cuts and styles in my repertoire. I am always looking and developing new ways to cut gems and bend light just right.
Jewellery and Design
My foray in gem carving led to a number of unique and interesting cuts with proportions not found in traditional gem cuts. Early on I brought a selection to show a jeweller friend of mine who is known for their experimental jewellery designs and her comment was "they are lovely but what do I do with them". This is where Des Gray Wearable Art was born. I invested heavily in equipment and training and began the process of making art pieces that I felt matched the artisanship that I had developed in gem cutting.
My work is heavily inspired by my love of the genre's of high fantasy and science fiction. This leads to a variety of collections that in some instances lean heavily on brutalist architecture and in others have the flowing forms of art nouveau. Regardless of the style each piece symbolises a form that I love and find beauty in with a colour scheme painted in metal and melee that shows the main gemstone to its best effect. Satin metal finishes are a signature of my work as I strongly believe that the gemstone should take centreplace in any design.
Because I have aphantasia I design in concepts rather than details. This is a double edged sword - it means that I cannot by definition envisage other makers works when I am designing a piece leading to designs that tend to uniqueness however it also means that designs often develop in the making as the canvas in front of me evolves in real time.
Immortality through Creation
My move to Tasmania was a move to a retirement to follow my passions. I live in a remote area selected so that I can dig sapphires but also follow other passions of mine including permaculture and mountain bike riding. Creating a business was never a part of the plan as I was independent financially. But I had neglected that in life we need purpose not just entertainment.
In the creation of jewellery I have found purpose. In my own way I am striving for immortality through my work and to do that I need to create pieces that live on and are treasured long after I have left this world. This business is not about sustenance for me, it is about putting myself out into the world in the hope that I can bring something to it that is worth treasuring.
These days I have little time for my other passions, my life revolves around this singular purpose and my family. I am still remote, this creates issues with marketing my pieces in person but gives me the flexibility to mine my own gems, spend time with my family and explore my creativity to its fullest extent.
