Wellington, New Zealand, hides a gem in its heart, and it’s not just the sparkling kind. It’s The Village Goldsmith, a name that rings through the city like a chime of pure gold—and at its core is Ian Douglas, a man who’s less a jeweller and more a magician with a chisel. For over 40 years, Ian’s been crafting treasures that don’t just sit on fingers or necks—they tell stories, capture love, and light up lives. He’s not your average bloke with a workbench; he’s a creative titan who’s turned a quiet Kelburn shop into a global design powerhouse, all from Wellington’s quirky streets. This is the tale of Ian Douglas—jewellery maestro, dreamer, and Wellington’s own superstar.
The Beginnings
It all kicked off in 1981, when Ian, fresh from dazzling the jewellery world as New Zealand’s Apprentice of the Year, flung open the doors of The Village Goldsmith in Kelburn. Back then, Wellington wasn’t exactly shouting about bespoke bling—Ian changed that. With a twinkle in his eye and a passion for art, architecture, and people’s tales, he didn’t just make rings or pendants; he spun magic. “I wanted to push boundaries,” he’s said, and push he did. From day one, he wasn’t content with ordinary—he wanted extraordinary, and he wanted it to mean something. Every piece had to whisper a story, whether it was a couple’s first “yes” or a family heirloom reborn.
The Move to the CBD
Ian’s not the type to sit still. By 1997, his little Kelburn dream had outgrown its walls, and he swept his growing crew—wife Christine included—into the grand Dominion Building in Wellington’s CBD. This wasn’t just a move; it was a statement. The old newspaper hub, with its ink-stained history, became a palace of sparkle. Ian, now the creative director, turned it into a showroom where you can peek through glass at jewellers bending gold, a workshop buzzing with brilliance, and a design studio that’s snagged global nods. Under his watch, The Village Goldsmith isn’t just a shop—it’s a Wellington icon, a place where craft meets heart.
Innovative Vision
What makes Ian so fabulous? It’s his vision—wild, bold, and utterly his own. Take The Floeting® Diamond, his brainchild that’s got the world gawping. “I imagined a hand, naked except for a diamond floating upon it,” he once mused, and then he made it real. No claws, no clasps—just a diamond hovering like it’s defying gravity. It’s minimalist magic, and it won the 2022 Red Dot Design Award, slapping Wellington on the global map. Ian didn’t stop at pretty—he reinvented how we see diamonds, proving he’s not just a craftsman but a bloody genius. That’s Ian: dreaming big, then making it happen with his own hands.
Artistry and Awards
He’s got an eye for beauty that’s borderline wizardry. Art and architecture aren’t just hobbies—they’re his fuel. You can see it in every curve of a Village Goldsmith ring, every glint of a pendant. He’s not churning out factory tat; he’s sculpting tiny masterpieces. His team—240 years of know-how between them—follow his lead, hammering and polishing with a precision that’s won awards left, right, and centre. The New Zealand Jewellery Design Awards in 2009 and 2010? His. The International Gemological Institute’s Men’s Jewellery Design Award in 2010 and 2011? His again. Ian’s not just playing the game—he’s rewriting the rules, and Wellington’s lapping it up.
Community and Ethics
But it’s not all about the shiny stuff—Ian’s got a soul as big as his talent. He’s all about the stories behind the sparkle. “We capture your essence,” he says, and he means it. Couples wander in with their love tales, and Ian’s team—guided by his golden touch—turns them into rings that last forever. A gran’s old brooch, knackered and faded? Ian breathes life back into it, making it sing again. He’s even got a soft spot for community—when Life Flight needed a boost, Ian donated a $10,000 bespoke jewellery experience to their gala auction two years running. Last month, it helped raise $107,000. That’s Ian: crafting memories and lifting Wellington, one dazzling deed at a time.
The Showroom Experience
His showroom’s a marvel too—pure Ian brilliance. Step inside the Dominion Building, and you’re hit with transparency, literally. Glass walls let you watch his jewellers at work—hammers tapping, gems glinting—while vintage tools and blacksmith iron double as display cases. “We value things built to last,” he says, and you feel it. It’s not some sterile shop; it’s a living, breathing tribute to craft. Ian’s wife, Christine, and co-director Chris Benham keep the wheels turning, but it’s his creative spark that lights the place up. Customers gush about it—Allette Ockhuysen, the brand manager, reckons you’d struggle to find a Kiwi who knows more about jewellery than Ian. She’s not wrong.
Ethical Practices
He’s ethical to the core too—a rare gem in itself. Ian’s obsessed with where his materials come from. Every bit of gold, every diamond—he tracks it, makes sure it’s clean. “Transparency’s everything,” he insists, and he walks the talk. Customers know the story of their piece, from mine to finger, because Ian’s not here to cut corners. He’s here to set standards—standards so high they’ve kept The Village Goldsmith shining for over four decades. It’s not just business; it’s a mission, and Ian’s the captain steering it with flair.
Legacy and Continued Innovation
The Esperanza diamond? That’s Ian’s doing too—one of America’s most valuable stones, and he got to design for it. Then there’s the Wellington City Mission’s Whakamaru project—his team donated silver key pendants, raising $100,000 at auction. Ian’s not just making jewellery; he’s making waves, splashing his brilliance across Wellington and beyond. His “Dancers” ring—a Toi Et Moi diamond stunner—shows off his craft: diamonds set so close they blaze with light. “Almost Midnight,” with its deep green sapphire, hints at secrets untold. Every piece screams Ian—fabulous, fearless, and full of soul.
He’s not slowing down either. At 40-plus years in, Ian’s still the creative director, still dreaming up designs that make jaws drop. He’s not at the bench as much—hands a bit wiser now—but his spirit’s in every hammer strike. “It’s about pushing boundaries, crafting to the highest standard, and creating meaning,” he reminds his team, and they listen. His 240 years of collective expertise—five designers averaging 30 years each—dance to his tune, turning Wellington into a jewellery mecca. Customers flock from afar, drawn by Ian’s name, his story, his sparkle.
Wellington’s lucky to have him. The city’s got its quirks—windy streets, coffee shops galore—but Ian’s made it a jewel in more ways than one. The Village Goldsmith isn’t just a shop; it’s a legacy, a testament to a man who saw beauty where others didn’t and built something fabulous from it. He’s taken a craft and turned it into an art form, taken a city and given it a glow. Ian Douglas isn’t just a jeweller—he’s a storyteller, a trailblazer, a Wellington wonder. And his story? It’s as dazzling as the diamonds he sets.
