By BEN WATSON
An Otahuhu jeweller has taken on Britain's best and come away with one of the industry's top awards.
Brent Sutcliffe was named Diamond Mounter of the Year at the UK Craftsmanship and Design Awards after entering an 18-carat white gold violin.
Mr Sutcliffe has been in the UK for 18
months and it was the first time he had entered the competition, organised by Goldsmiths Craft and Design Council.
The inspiration for the violin came after he visited Spain and saw hand-crafted violins there. Being a woodworker in his spare time, Mr Sutcliffe considered making an instrument but later decided to craft a jewellery one instead.
The tiny work of art took about 200 hours to create. It has miniature strings which can be tuned, he said.
The violin can be used as a stand-alone piece of jewellery or worn as a brooch.
Mr Sutcliffe said there was a high standard of craftsmanship in the competition and he was thrilled with the win. "I was absolutely stoked. It was kind of unexpected."
Working as a jeweller at T.O. Donoghue, one of London's top jewellery stores, was a fantastic experience. It was quite different from working in New Zealand, he said.
In New Zealand people tended to spend their spare money on a bach, boat or car whereas in London it seemed people had more money to spend on fine jewellery.
"It's an amazing experience to do the stuff that you see in the pages of magazines but would never make in New Zealand," he said.
Mr Sutcliffe, 30, began his career as an apprentice at his father's business, Sutcliffe Jewellery in Otahuhu.
His younger sister, Jessica, is completing a jewellery apprenticeship.
He said he was initially reluctant to leave New Zealand but now he would find it hard to leave Britain.
"Career-wise, it's been the best thing I've ever done."
He has decided to keep the winning piece and is now thinking of making a case for the mini-instrument.
Mr Sutcliffe said a grand piano could be on the cards for next year's competition.
