Diamonds: Chunks of coal that stuck to their job

BY PREETI JABBAL

When passion and skill come together expect a masterpiece. For Reet Phulwani, one of the very few Indian female gemmologists and jewellery valuers in Melbourne, a lifelong interest in gems set the course for a sparkling career.

“I have always been fascinated by the shape, colour and clarity of gems, however the trigger point to start something of my own occurred when both my husband and I lost our jobs around the same time,” said Reet explaining the trajectory of her niche career.

What had started initially as a bit of a ‘side business’ to help a university friend soon turned into a flourishing jewellery valuation and diamond wholesale business.

“My friend belongs to the 4th generation of a family based in Thailand that sells and sources gemstone. When my friend decided to expand her business into Australia she asked me to help her. I started by selling pieces for her through ebay and gradually branched out to jewellery market and retailers,” Reet recounted. Putting in the hard yards to demonstrate competence in valuing,

Reet acquired the academic learning and gemstone appraisal experience required to become a Member of the Australian National Council of Jewellery Valuers. She is also a member of the Gemmological Association of Australia.

Members of the National Council of Jewellery Valuers (NCJV) are highly skilled experts trained in providing accurate assessments of all types of jewellery. Their detailed reports are essential when claiming insurance for lost, stolen or damaged items, when seeking a fair price at a sale or if you want to purchase a new piece of jewellery. NCJV valuers can provide an assessment that is based on accredited education.

As a registered valuer, Reet ensures that she completes ongoing training to keep upto-date with market trends, which can affect prices. Like the diamonds that she grades, Reet flourishes under pressure.

Juggling her time between three young kids, actively supporting her husband’s business, designing house and connecting to the community, she claims that there is no stop button on her life’s agenda. She may pause here and there to reflect and reinvent, but mostly she powers on.

“When I started studying for this course, part time, my second child was just born. I continued to sell gemstones on ebay and getting formal qualification but the bulk of my time was spent in helping my husband to establish his new business. Both of us are in niche businesses that come with their own unique set of challenges; however, we persevered,” said Reet as she continued her story.

Reet’s husband Kamal Phulwani (Kam) established Medsurge Healthcare Pty Ltd a pharmaceutical company offering specialized lifesaving medicines to healthcare professionals in Australia and New Zealand. The company began as a wholesale pharmaceutical distribution business, and has also begun its own brand under the name Medicianz Healthcare Australia.

Sharing entrepreneurial dreams as a pair today, the two met and fell in love instantly many years ago and decided to immigrate to Australia after their marriage in 2002.

“I wanted to pursue further education and Australia was the only country at that time that allowed spouses to accompany on a student visa. We arrived with very little and I still remember spending our first few nights in Melbourne in an obscure motel near Monash University recommended to us by the taxi driver who picked us up from the airport,” recalled Reet.

“The taxi fare seemed like a lot of money to us at that time,” she continued with a laugh. “Like many migrants we started from scratch and copped our share of troubles but we are glad we chose Melbourne instead of our original choice to settle in the USA,” said Reet.

“As they say, the bigger the country bigger, the problems and I feel we may have got lost in the vastness of America. Here in Melbourne, however, we have experienced a peaceful existence, derived pleasure from its natural beauty and grew with the opportunities that came our way.”

“It wasn’t always easy, especially when we were both faced with unemployment when I was forced to quit my job by my employers after the tragic loss of my father and Kam was also jobless. We decided we would rather work for ourselves. I am from a business family and I often accompanied my father to work, I guess I must have picked up his entrepreneurial spirit by osmosis,” claimed Reet.

“I started with doing little but doing it nicely,” said Reet not shy of talking about her achievements. She also worked with an Italian designer builder recently to build a magnificent home that she now resides in. Reet and Kam did not let their circumstances define them; instead they continued to be super supportive of each other in their respective niche choices.

With her business skill set and ability to strategise, Reet is now all set to take her venture to the next level. “I will continue to support Kam with his business however I have realised that medicines and pharmacies are nowhere near as exciting as gemstones and jewellery stores. It’s time for me to focus on my passion that is my profession. I hope to have a future that is dazzling, like the diamonds I value and sell,” she concluded with a laugh.