THE gem that started jeweller Angela Hampton’s career more than 10 years ago has won her an award.
Ms Hampton, who lives at Redland Bay, received a people’s choice award and a judges’ commendation for her opal piece called Gems Waterfall.
The small business owner said an opal had started her career.
“I saw one in a shop that needed cutting and setting and I fell head over heals in love and designed my future to be able to work with these beautiful stones,” Ms Hampton said.
“Every day I feel lucky to be a jeweller.”
Ms Hampton received the acknowledgements for her entry in the Queensland Boulder Opal Association’s Queen of Gems Design Awards for Fashion and Jewellery.
“I decided two weeks before the close of the competition that I wanted to enter so I worked really hard to get my entry in by the deadline.”
Ms Hampton said she adored the Queensland opal she used in the piece.
“I think that boulder opal is one of the most incredible stones on earth. It’s like looking into a beautiful ocean.”