Inspired is a global creative studio for jewellery design, specialising in the design and manufacture of contemporary platinum and gold engagement, wedding and fine jewellery for men and women. Read more about our design philosophy and how Inspired began.
All our designs start from the heart, a hand-drawn design with pencil and paper, and a burning desire to be different.
Projects include designing the pendant for the Esperanza diamond - the most valuable diamond ever discovered in the USA, designing a collection for the largest chain of privately owned jewellery stores in China, and design collaborations with some of the largest diamond companies in the world who are DTC Sightholders and Rio Tinto Diamantaires.
Over the last 30 years we have worked with many inspiring people. Our clients, companies, commissions, inspirations, and collaborators have ranged from Grammy Award-winning pop artists Kimbra and Katy Perry, to sporting All Black legends Jonah Lomu, Dan Carter and Victor Vito. From NZ’s Next Top Model television host and modelling agency director Sara Tetro, to start up fashion labels and student concept work, to presidents, prime ministers, ambassadors, royalty, and global leaders in government and business. Our collaborations have included several top film industry movies, and a commission by the NZ Government for the Queen of England.
Recognised nationally and internationally for our designs, The Inspired Delicate Collection was a Finalist in the UK Jewellery Awards for Bridal Collection of the Year 2016. The Inspired team won 2nd place in the 2016 MJSA Vision Awards for Professional Design Excellence, was a consecutive winner in the GIA George Scheutz Award for Men’s Jewellery in 2010 and 2011, Finalist in the Saul Bell Design Award 2013 and Finalist in the International Gem Cutting and Jewellery Design Competition in 2012.
Inspired Jewellery was awarded the Deloitte Fast50 - Fastest Growing Manufacturer Wellington and the Lower North Island in 2014.
In 1981, jewellery designer Ian Douglas, a former NZ Apprentice of the Year, opened The Village Goldsmith jewellery store in Kelburn, Wellington. The business quickly established a niche in the marketplace with its combination of innovative jewellery design, exceptional quality and value for money. In 1997, the expanding NZ jewellery designers moved to larger premises in The Dominion Building in Wellington's CBD.
The Inspired Collection is the international arm of The Village Goldsmith. Inspired Jewellery was founded in 2009 by Ian Douglas, Christine Douglas and Chris Benham. All Inspired pieces are designed and crafted at The Village Goldsmith.
The seven jewellery designers at The Village Goldsmith have an average of 30 years experience in the industry and have won numerous awards, including successive honours in the New Zealand Jewellery Design Awards in 2009 and 2010 and the International Gemological Institute of America’s Men's Jewellery Design Award in 2010 and 2011. This combination of talent and experience - unrivalled in New Zealand - enables us to set the standard in jewellery design and production. We can ensure the finest quality jewellery at very competitive prices; from unique, custom ring design, to our selection of branded jewellery, such as The Inspired Collection diamond engagement rings.
The Village Goldsmith is one of the leading independent retailers of diamonds in New Zealand. With our network of international suppliers and contacts, we can guarantee our clients top quality, ethically sourced diamonds and gemstones at internationally competitive prices.
Having established a reputation domestically and internationally as an extremely innovative and creative group of ring designers, the award winning New Zealand jewellery manufacturers and designers always relish the opportunity to create a unique custom ring design for their customers.
People should be moved by jewellery, be inspired, fall in love with an object that speaks to them and evokes feelings of desire and pleasure.
The Inspired Collection was born out of the desire to create a range of jewellery that was faithful to what jewellery should be; items that inspire the soul, not simply have a price tag.
Our dedicated team are passionate about designing jewellery that puts all convention aside, tears up the rule book of design and comes back to basics — a hand, naked except for a loose diamond floating upon it, and works of art that form a connection between the two.
We aim to understand our clients, what their needs are, and then come up with clever and creative solutions that exceed their expectations. Watch our video below to gain an insight into our business philosophy, and our jewellery design process: Inspired by the incredible architecture of Manhattan, the Empire ring bears a style and energy that can only be described as quintessentially New York.
“It’s a city that has a rawness and a refinement, incredible architecture and people, all interacting to create a feeling you can only connect to if you visit and, better still, live there.” — Creative Director Ian Douglas.
Our history is one rich in ingenuity and thinking outside the square. We find inspiration in the world around us. Where the road has not been travelled, we innovate.
We’ve been designing and crafting jewellery in our workshop for over 30 years and in that time we’ve learned that good design should endure, it should form an emotional connection with the wearer, and it should inspire.
Our objective is to bring together a group of people that share our jewellery design philosophy in a collaborative environment that fosters unconstrained fresh ideas.
We have many affiliations around the world to enhance the quality and integrity of the jewellery we create. As a jewellery design hub, we are always looking for ways to create, innovate and keep up to date with changes in the industry. Our key industry affiliations are:
American Gem Society
Goldsmiths Guild of New Zealand
Ian Douglas is a founding member of the Committee of the Goldsmiths Guild of NZ and is on the Board. The JWNZ Inc. is at the forefront of industry, leading by example and reflecting today’s industry needs.
