Treasures to Covet Forever at Minzenmay Poeta
Fall in love with fine jewellery, timeless beauty, and unparalleled craftsmanship spanning generations at Minzenmay Poeta, where the world is your oyster and more, effuses Helen Flanagan.
Spread joy, immerse yourself and discover covetable jewellery built on a legacy of unparalleled craftsmanship since 1911. It was then that Wilhelm Fredrich Minzenmay (a traditional watchmaker) established the family business which was eventually brought to the shores of Victoria’s Main Street in Mornington in 1948 – and continues to shine today.
Paul Minzenmay, the third generation Master Jeweller, a gemmologist, diamond technologist and jewellery valuer, has owned the business for 23 years.
Bridie, with roots in Noosa, returned to hometown Melbourne with toddler Mazzi, met Paul who had two children and shared an instant connection. They welcomed baby Kintah to their blended family and the rest as they say is history… for now.
Bridie explains her interest in design and how the family business has evolved over the past twelve years: “I feel blessed to have the privilege to immerse myself in the field of creative design,” she said. “I love to test our skills in the industry and present our work for design awards, many of which we have become finalists and won. To be able to have these opportunities and now also position ourselves in the beautiful French Quarter of Hastings Street is a dream come true.
“Paul and I have designed the Effloresce collection which won in the bridal section of the Australian Jewellery Design Awards, for hairpieces made of 18ct gold with echorite, diamonds and pink tourmalines, and a bohemian-style flower cuff in solid 18ct gold with kunzite, echorite with tourmaline needles as well as diamonds in the leaves,” she said. “We’re currently working on the Omaya collection due for release in December.
“Marlee Horobin from Peter Horobin Saddlery in Victoria and I were finalists in the 2019 Australian Jewellery Design Awards for creating an elephant brooch.
“The proceeds went to HELP (human elephant learning program) which is a charity teaching the Mahout people how to ethically train elephants abroad.
“We love to work with pink and other coloured diamonds with numerous options displayed in our store. Similarly coloured stones and gems. Pearls are also a favourite of ours, and we have access to some of the finest in the world.
“There really is no crash course on diamonds, rather in-depth learning. We sell pink Argyles mined in Australia, and yellow diamonds are from a Canadian mine source.
“With such a long-standing history, we understand the importance of clients buying the finest quality at a competitive price from a trusted jeweller. It’s essential your jeweller gives you the aftercare and the authenticity that your stones match the certificate. This is something our customers can be guaranteed of with our long standing history in the industry.”
With the highest qualifications possible in the industry, Paul loves a design consultation, working with the client and offering a range of options from handmade to CAD to already assembled pieces, whatever is the best option for the desired outcome and budget. Stones can be matched and viewed before committing to a design, so everything has the option of being customised.
“We also remake existing rings and regularly revamp or redesign generations-old jewellery or use sentimental stones to recreate a more contemporary fashion,” he said. “We can melt gold into a new piece for sentimental purposes, repair existing jewellery, and invite the privilege of setting precious stones on site if requested so heirlooms do not have to leave the premises.”
In 2021 they purchased acreage in the Noosa Hinterland, brought their children and horses from Victoria. They have since added a wild brumby from the Rainbow Beach area for the purpose of equine therapy, which Bridie – with qualifications as an Equine Assisted therapist and a Masters degree in Gestalt Psychotherapy – offers as a passion for helping others.
While Paul and Bridie continued to manage the Mornington store remotely, they longed for a jewellery style gallery and found Poeta on Hastings Street, the perfect place to showcase their unique quality designs.
When it comes to dreams coming true, they now enjoy a simple healthy Noosa lifestyle as well as a business. Paul and Bridie Minzenmay have the best of both worlds, here in paradise.
