MY FAVOURITE THINGS
Precious stearns Rick Stearns’ love for jewellery making began at a young age, during arts and crafts at Ferntree Gully primary school as a potential opportunity to woo the girls with his talent for the craft. Photographer: David Field After beginning a jewellery apprenticeship in 1977 which saw him move to Bendigo three years later, Rick has been living and breathing the jewellery industry for more than 30 years and is a proud member of the Showcase family. You may recognise the name: Stearns Showcase Jewellers. I have two passports. One is Australian and the other the United States of America. My family immigrated to Australia in 1969 from the US. Passports represent travel. I’m fortunate enough to travel the world sourcing diamonds. I travel to Antwerp yearly, it has such a romantic feel about it. I am able to handpick my diamonds. Each diamond has its own characteristics – some of which are good, and some bad. I find the best of the best and bring them back to Bendigo. I used these passports last on a recent trip to Las Vegas on a factfinding mission to discover what the American diamond market is doing. I’m about to bring CAD technology to Bendigo so that we can work with our customers to design their dream ring that will be unique and they can walk away with a computer design and a price. During my first trip to Antwerp I was in the office of an Indian diamond merchant buying diamonds. I accidentally walked out of his office with his diamond tweezers in my pocket. I discovered them when I arrived back in Bendigo and they have turned out to be my favourite pair of diamond tweezers and bring back wonderful memories of my first trip. The following year I told the Indian diamond merchant and he told me that I
could borrow them for an extended amount of time as long as I continued to buy diamonds from him. My wife Chris and I have worked really hard to create this dream home for our family. My favourite space in the home in the theatre room, along with my son Blake. My daughter Brodie and Chris love to cook and the home is constantly used for entertaining family and friends. Rebecca is our other daughter who just lives around the corner. We love the area in Golden Square it’s very central to schools, churches, family and of course the Golden Square football ground. I’ve been involved with the Golden Square football club since 1976 as a player, sponsor and spectator. My son Blake plays there now and I enjoy watching him run around in the same position as I played. In the 1980s the club started making these bomber jackets, I was one of the first to acquire one. This jacket used to be quite large on me – I’m slowly growing into it. I was awarded a life membership to the Golden Square football club in 1998. My most memorable moment involved at the club would have to be winning the 1985 reserves premiership. My iPad and Blackberry allow me to be
connected. Both to my loved ones and my business. I have a passion for technology and the opportunities it provides. I can be in China and can check on what is selling in the shop back in Bendigo. I track the progress of jobs with some of my suppliers, organise accommodation and make travel bookings while overseas and stay in touch with my family. Technology inspires and fascinates me. ■ Issue 28 - Bendigo Magazine | 47