Rowarn Luder
My interest in the art of
jewellery making came about in a very round about fashion.
Every year my family spent
their annual holidays at Redcliffe with my Uncle. When I was about six
years old a friend of my Uncles showed me the semi-precious stones that
could be found on the beach. For the next ten years I picked up the best
part of 100 kilos of chalcedony carnelian and moss agate. When I was
fourteen I fashioned a cabochon from a piece of carnelian and a few
years later faceted my first piece of smoky quartz.
The next nineteen years
were taken up with an Engineering Degree, oil painting, and many
sporting pursuits. Whilst recovering from a sporting accident I read of
a gem show in the local paper. Within a week of attending this show I
had purchased a new faceting machine. I then proceeded to fill boxes
with pretty faceted stones.
My next step was to enrol
in the Goldsmiths school and for the last 5 years I have been designing
and making jewellery with my own cut stones. Being a facetor I can start
the design for my finished pieces from the piece of gem rough and after
cutting and polishing then embellishing with l8carat gold follow the
creation through to its final beautiful conclusion.
The love of this work has
meant that I no longer play tennis or ride motor bikes, but I still
catch the odd fish or two and occasionally find time for target
shooting.
