Phillip Schmidt - master jeweller, platinumsmith, BA

I began learning my trade as a jeweller in 1987 with a local jewellery manufacturing retal shop.

Since then, I have travelled through Europe and worked in various workshops and I have specialised in platinum for the past 6 years.

I started platinumsmith in 2004 to cater for the growing need in specialised platinum bespoke design

Jewellery workbench

This is where jewellery is made; working over a tray to catch all the precious metal scrap (lamel) with all the hand tools, the gravers, drills, burrs and at the ready. Most of a jewels contruction is carried out here.

Here jewellery is shaped, cut into lengths and soldered, then filed emeried (sanded), then taken to the polishing motor for the final polish. For most hand made pieces this process is repeated numerous times as each component is individually made and indivually polished.

Century Building

The building pictured here is full of manufacturing jewellers, some working for the trade and some for retail, with a few online venders and a many wholesalers mixed in.

The purpose of situating the workshop here is to make use of diamond brokers, casting houses, tool shops, other trades people and so fourth.

This enables the obvious advantage of being in constant contact with the trade. The time taken to source bullion and gemstones is greatly reduced and helps streamline the jewellery making process.

Why platinum?

Of all the precious metals platinum is the medium I have chosen to use and the one one I can get the best results from. Platinum is a dense and malliable metal that takes an excellent polish which does not corrode.

While platinum is more long lasting than gold, it is also more expensive to buy and to work with. For a manufacturer it is the most exclusive and demanding area of the jewellery trade.

For me, the step between creating delicately crafted platinum creations and working on significant bejewelled masterpieces can only be made by dedicating myself to the art of platinum smiting.

Phillip Schmidt at work

Worshop in Century building

Swanston Street view of Century building

The city skyline from across the Yarra