Mark Nuell is a goldsmith and lapidary artist. He cuts rough gemstones into unique designs, reflecting the natural beauty of each stone. With 30 years of goldsmithing experience, Mark integrates the gems into exquisite jewellery pieces.

The inspiration for creating jewellery and fascination with gemstones came from early contact with raw gems in Australia, where Mark’s father mined sapphires.

His family emigrated to Australia from the UK in the 1960s with the promise of adventure. His father loved the Australian bush and fossicking for garnets, opals and chalcedony until he heard of the incredible sapphire finds at the Central Queensland Gemfields. The family moved to Rubyvale and mined sapphires for 30 years.

Encouraged by his childhood adventures, Mark learnt to cut and polish gemstones spending six years as a gem cutter and later studying jewellery design and making in Sydney. He still visits the sapphire mines in Australia, where he has a longstanding relationship with local miners, giving him unique access to rare and beautiful sapphires.

Mark masters the art of lapidary, which has become a dying craft. He uses his experience and knowledge of gemstones to accentuate the stones’ natural beauty. In collaboration with Masterpiece Collective, who are world-leading at providing rare high-quality gems, Mark also cuts precision-cut gemstones that can be purchased individually.

While lapidary is a precise art, Mark has a keen eye for freeform gem cutting. Each stone he cuts is one-of-a-kind with a unique design depending on the natural form and colour of the stone itself. The distinctively coloured blue, green and yellow sapphires come to life nestled amongst 18ct gold and silver jewellery pieces.

Mark is a regular exhibitor at leading contemporary jewellery fairs such as the Goldsmith’s Fair. He works to commission from his studio at Cockpit Arts in London.

To visit Mark at his London studio or discuss a purchase, please get in touch via email.

Photo credit: Paul Read