Love Australian Jewellery Designers?
Meet Simone Walsh

A small jewellery business begins

Early 1990s

Simone saw an unusual piece of handmade jewellery and became fascinated by how it was made. She picked up some pliers, wire and glass and began teaching herself the craft.

Soon after, she started creating simple designs and selling them at markets in Adelaide, South Australia - the very beginnings of Simone Walsh Jewellery.

Becoming a jewellery designer

Mid 1990s

Simone committed to refining her craft by learning how to make jewellery in precious metals.

She left her job in the music industry and began studying full time: Visual Arts with a Jewellery Major at a technical college in South Australia, where she was awarded Most Outstanding Jewellery Student.

More education & art making

2000

After a stint living in Europe, Simone began a Bachelor of Visual Arts with a Jewellery Major at the University of Sydney. During this time she developed her art practice, creating and exhibiting jewellery and related artworks.

Simone graduated in 2000 and continued designing jewellery while working in marketing and web design for a non-profit - experience that would later support her growing online business.

An online jewellery store

2006

Simone embraced a new online marketplace called Etsy at a time when buying jewellery online was still uncommon. Although initially unsure how customers would respond, she sold her first piece within hours and quickly built a growing international customer base.

Soon after, Simone launched her own online store at simonewalsh.com - becoming one of the first independent Australian jewellers to sell directly online.

A growing jewellery brand

2009

Simone was finally able to run her Australian jewellery brand full time - something she had been steadily building towards for years.

She spent long days in her workshop refining and creating new designs, while carefully packing and shipping orders as demand for her jewellery continued to grow.

Growing pains & changes

2014

After returning to South Australia and partnering with her husband, the business reached a turning point: demand had grown beyond what one pair of hands could manage alone.

We chose to collaborate with an ethically run artisan workshop to produce components to Simone's designs, while she continues to hand-finish and assemble pieces, as well as creating designs from scratch. This shift has strengthened the business and made it far more sustainable long term.

An Australian jewellery brand

Today

Simone is proud to be an Australian jewellery designer running a thriving independent jewellery brand with customers around the world - celebrating almost 30 years of making jewellery and nearly 20 years of selling online.

She still loves creating Australian made jewellery, learning new skills and bringing joy to customers. Decades after writing that letter, Simone now lives in the countryside, where she designs jewellery in sterling silver, solid gold and carefully chosen gemstones.