Suzi Zutic's jewellery is born of a varied and long-standing artistic career; as well as being a jeweller and certified gemmologist, Suzi is a qualified interior designer with a sound understanding of the principles of design. The pleasure she derives from the act of creating is evidenced by a large body of work which is expressive, eclectic, intricate and colourful. Her jewellery has been presented internationally and is currently stocked by galleries across Australia and New Zealand.

Suzi has a meticulous hand which allows her to indulge her penchant for detail and achieve a high level of craftsmanship. Her ongoing commitment to quality and technique has seen her undertake studies in gemmology, diamond grading and gemstone setting. This, combined with an interest in jewellery making throughout history, has resulted in work which draws on a diverse repertoire of techniques including enamelling, engraving, the ancient practice of lost-wax casting, stone setting and gem faceting.

Suzi's work has taken forays into the distant and not-so-distant past, using historical trends and practices as springboards for new pieces. Her creations are playful homages to forgotten forms and styles. Some of her jewellery is archaic-looking, using roughly shaped wax castings peppered with small jewels or sometimes adorned in bare metal alone. Other jewellery has drawn on past religious and royal opulences, featuring impressive stones or hinting at ornate religious iconography. Other pieces have taken inspiration from antique jewellery fashions. Her more recent work has seen a move to harder lines and more geometric shapes as well as what seems to be examples of pure improvisation based on the materials themselves: the cut of a gemstone might inspire a ring or multiple gems might be grouped into a bouquet of stones. What ties it all together is an undercurrent of mystery and rarity, fine craftsmanship and the sumptuousness of the materials.

Education

2012 Diamond Essentials, The Gemmological Institute of America (GIA), Carlsbad, America

2007 - 2008 Certificate IV Gemmological Studies (with distinction), The Gemmological Association of Australia (GAA), Melbourne, Australia

2000 - 2005 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Gold and Silver Smithing (with distinction), The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), Melbourne, Australia

1995 - 1998 Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design (with honours), The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), Melbourne, Australia

Awards

2013 - 2014 The Gemmological Institute of America's 80th Anniversary Scholarship - International DE, The Gemmological Institute of America (GIA), Carlsbad, America

2009 Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Australia (FGAA), The Gemmological Association of Australia (GAA), Melbourne, Australia

2008 The Suzette Fairley Scholarship for Gemmology, The Gemmological Association of Australia (GAA), Melbourne, Australia

2003 & 2001 The Debbie Sheezel Award - Excellence in Enamelling, The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), Melbourne, Australia