With a lifelong passion for prospecting, Des Gray creates unique, handcrafted jewellery from sapphires and gemstones he finds in the rivers of north east Tasmania. He proudly presents his work at Salamanca Market.

Where did you grow up and where do you live now? I grew up in Melbourne. I had a career as a Chemical Engineer so I moved around Australia a few times and even to Africa for seven years. There are only two places I have ever visited that I would have wanted to live permanently, Swakopmund in Namibia and the north east of Tasmania. So when the opportunity to move here came I jumped.

What interests you about gemstones and prospecting, and how did those passions develop? When I was five my parents cut a new road in on our farm near Buxton, Victoria. It intersected a quartz vein and I spent my weekends picking out the crystals. From that point I have been hooked, my love for gems is the one singular thread that ties my life together, influencing a myriad of small decisions that have led me to this point. I suspect it is a combination of their beauty, the addictive variable reward dynamic when prospecting and my natural tendency to collect things.

What makes the north east region such a great place for gemstones? North east Tasmania has Australia’s best blue sapphires. They are often a very pure, bright royal or cornflower blue whilst mainland sapphires tend to be darker. And when you are a lover of gems, colour is the most important thing. It also helps that the rivers that they are found in here are stunningly scenic.

Walk us through your process for creating jewellery. I have aphantasia, so I have to design in concepts rather than images. The details come out in the process. This means I am not good at a lot of designs other jewellers may do but that my work tends to be unique. I need a low stimulation environment to design. I only design on overcast or rainy days and designing is far easier in winter. At some point I am just ready – I select a finished gem from my collection and start to design with paper and pencil. From concept the gem gets 3D scanned and I make up the design in Zbrush. I outsource the casting of the piece but do all of the finishing and gem setting in my studio.

What is your favourite part of the process? The reactions I get at my Salamanca stall when people see my work in person. The slight gasp or the widening of the eyes say more than words ever could. My customers are invariably far more stylish than I and I am proud to have them. I am grasping at immortality through my work. I strive to create work that will outlive me and be handed down and appreciated through lives yet to come.

Where can people find you and your products? Preferably in person where I can be found at Salamanca Market stall 305, alternately online at www.desgray.com.au and my instagram (@flaws_and_facets).

Who do you admire? Scientists – the creation of original testable hypotheses of how the world works is the pinnacle of creativity in my opinion.

Favourite podcast or TV show? Podcast – Modern Wisdom.

Secret vice? Nutella, eaten by the spoonful.

What are you reading right now? Malazan Book of the Fallen – Steven Erikson.

Do you have any pets? No, but I have 12 beehives.

What was your first job? Machine press operator at a trailer manufacturer. My first week was a 64 hour week as a 15 year old, it was a real wake up.

What are your daily news/social media habits? I randomly check X, Facebook and Instagram.

Your favourite place for…

Breakfast: Home.

Lunch: The Hub in Derby.

Dinner: Should be cooked on the campfire where possible.

Dream holiday destination? What are holidays? Right now I am focused on my making and the concept of holidays honestly seems foreign to me. I tend to be fairly singular.

Favourite Tasmanian secret? The world class colour of our best blue sapphires.

Parting words? All of the value in an idea is in the execution. Never let people on the sidelines with their own ideas stop you from taking action on your own.