Cosmopolitan

What inspired you to become a jeweller?
"As a boy, I wasn't very studious, but I was good with my hands and I guess you could say a little bit of an inventor. I met a young German jeweller while on holiday when I was 15 and found that there was an apprenticeship available at the company where he was working. The Sydney-based company, Clarke & Walton, was one of the finest jewellery companies around. I completed my apprenticeship, which was five years back then, during which time I won two Australian Jewellery Design Awards. I found the art of jewellery design and manufacture came naturally to me. After my apprenticeship and one year on the bench, I opened my own shop with my wife Kerry in Crows Nest on Sydney's North Shore … the rest is history."

Describe one of the most memorable engagement rings you've ever designed.
"In my first years of retail, I remember a young advertising guru who came to me and wanted a significant heart-shaped diamond for the ring he was to give to his fiancé in Monaco. He wanted her to always 'wear his heart on her finger'. It was a large, over two-carat diamond, which I was extremely lucky to obtain. Following this, I found I had access to high-end quality diamonds, which is what I then built my name upon.
What I also love are the stories of how the ring is presented, from one young man who climbed the leaning Tower of Pisa, got down on bended knee and proposed, to the more adventurous types who propose while skydiving or scuba diving in an exotic location. 
But probably the most important engagement story to me was that of my eldest son, Nathan, who flew to Europe to surprise his now wife Gillian who was holidaying with family. They met in Venice and he proposed on Valentine's Day."

What should a couple be looking for when it comes to spotting great quality in a ring?
"Like finding the right person to marry, it's all about love at first sight … then careful comparison. You should be wowed by the initial brilliance of the diamond, but not be carried away. When at a jeweller's boutique, make sure you look at their entire collection. If you see that all their pieces perform well, you know they deal in fine-quality, have experience and are consistent. In regards to the ring, look for simple signs such as, is the setting straight? Does the band have a high polish? Do the claws completely touch the diamond? These three questions sound simple enough, but should the ring not satisfy them, it is usually a sure sign of lower quality. These simple checks will give you a guide to a jeweller's ability and quality standard."

If a bride has some say in the design of her engagement ring, how does she achieve a style that she will love for decades?
"By careful consultation with a professional jewellery designer. Consider your jeweller as you would your architect; you have an idea of what you'd like, but their training and skill will ensure it works and ideally is free of trends and fads. They will listen to your brief and, based on their skill, they will be able to advise on the best design ideas. I believe it is also important to choose a jeweller whose designs you already like. This way you will not be trying to have them make something outside their preference. If you like antique looking jewellery, look for a jeweller who deals in this, if you like contemporary clean lines with timeless appeal, come to Musson."

How would you recommend a couple go about finding wedding bands that suit them?
"At Musson we will never show an engagement ring without its complementing wedding band. It is a simple concept, but we find many jewellers forget the wedding ring when designing engagement rings and the recipients are left with difficult choices when the big day is ahead. As for wedding rings for men, I find it is simply a case of trying different-width bands and styles until they feel comfortable; similar to purchasing a new golf club."

Is there anything they can do to personalise them?
"Of course, the choices are unlimited. They can add coloured diamonds - blue diamonds are very popular as are black. They can add coloured gemstones - deep-blue Australian Sapphires work really well. They can have patterned top panels to give individuality across the head of the ring, or it can just be as simple as texturising part of the metal to reduce the highly polished effect. The simplest personalisation is to have your rings engraved with something meaningful - the wedding date is always very useful (especially for forgetful males)."

To find out more about Musson rings and jewels, visit musson.com.au or call (02) 9412 0888.