Casual observers may not be aware that the green concrete building on the corner of Dundonald Street and Newton Road is a creative hub of musicians and artists. Its unassuming exterior belies the hive of creative activity inside. Neil Finn’s recording studio, Roundhead Studios, occupies the ground floor, along with Sharon Finn’s Sharondelier, a by-commission-only custom chandelier shop.

And now Emma Jane Donald Jewellery has joined the throng of creatives, having been invited to share the corner studio space with her good friend Sharon Finn. Sharon’s chandeliers now hang out the back behind a newly-made wall and the front is exclusively Emma Jane Donald’s showroom.

By appointment only, Emma consults with clients around a small table about their custom requirements, or they can pick from her high-end range. With a pared back, minimalist approach, she constructs her stock range of rings, earrings and necklaces from precious metals and gems. Engagements and weddings are a big part of the business.

Emma says she really loves the design process. “I am often inspired by architecture and building forms from history. Walking around the city, I look at the different shapes, angles and shadows. Coming from a sculpture background, I feel comfortable working in a three-dimensional realm, making intimate wearable pieces on a smaller scale.”

Diamonds are one of her favourite gems – “I like the robustness of a diamond” – and she particularly loves black diamonds, pointing out a black diamond ring and then a grey one. A set of long thin earrings “have black diamonds at the top, then graduate into grey and then white diamonds at the bottom. There are 54 diamonds in a pair, each set into the top of a tiny cropped pyramid”.

Her work is exquisite and beautiful, and while the earrings are finely crafted, some of her work is more chunky – yet intricate at the same time.

Largely unknown in Aotearoa, Emma has returned to Auckland from a stellar jewellery career in Australia. After graduating with her Elam Fine Arts degree in sculpture, she relocated to Australia to work in fashion. While working at Zambesi in Melbourne, a chance meeting with a master jeweller William Griffiths spurred her interest in jewellery design. This led to training and the launch of her eponymous label, selling her range to galleries throughout Australia. Four years ago, Emma and her family moved to the hinterland of Byron Bay, where she set up her jewellery studio and retail store. Her gallery stocked 15 other contemporary jewellers’ work and was a successful endeavour serving a steady stream of tourists visiting the holiday hotspot.

But a series of natural disasters, coupled with a combination of opportunities, precipitated the move from what she describes as “a beautiful environment” in Byron Bay. “It became too stressful with all the weather and fire events. We counted ourselves lucky in the NSW fires, but we had ash falling on the house and had to evacuate a couple of times.”

Ironically, Auckland experienced flooding soon after she returned with her 12-year-old twin girls and music producer partner Steven Schram. He is currently working with Neil Finn, producing the latest Crowded House album. Despite Aotearoa having its own weather events, she is happy to be back with her family. “It’s great to be closer to family, especially after Covid and not being able to travel.”

And she’s happy to be sharing the space behind the wall with Sharon. “I’m enjoying having company in the workroom, jewellery making can be lonesome.” She nods towards George, the cute 14-year-old terrier in his bed next to the jewellery bench. “I have George for company, but he’s old now and sleeps for most of the day, so it’s really great to have two of us in the workroom.”