At Amara gemstones...
We love everything about gemstones. We love the journey they’ve taken across continents to get to our office. We love the people who have played a part in their creation. From the artisanal miners who work tirelessly searching for rough gemstones and the small communities that support and rely on them. To the gem cutters who take that stone in its raw form, see the hidden beauty inside and use their skills to bring it out for the world to see.
At Amara we enjoy travelling across the world to find these stones and discover their stories, so that we can bring them home and share them with you.
We love that we are just the beginning of their story. You are in charge of writing the next chapter when you take home a unique treasure from Amara Gemstones. Whether your gem becomes the centrepiece to a stunning piece of jewellery, or part of your gemstone collection, you are now part of its fascinating history and journey through millions of years of existence.
And at Amara Gemstones, we love that most.
Your team at Amara Gemstones
Julia Morganite
Gemmologist - BA MA FGAA DipDT GIA AJP
Julia’s story is one of finding your dream and chasing it. In December 2014 she got the chance to design her own engagement ring. She sat down in her living room with her jeweller and Steve to pick out her dream gemstone. When that one diamond stood out from the rest, she received a little jolt of adrenaline, a rush of excitement. Something stirred in her soul and that ‘something’ would not rest. Every time she entered a crystal shop and saw the myriad of different crystals and mineral specimens, that feeling would return. When she learned about the role of a gemmologist it all fell into place - this was what she was meant to be. Julia gave up her career and began studying the Diploma in Gemmology with the Gemmological Association of Australia. She then went on to study the Diploma in Diamond Technology. Julia’s expert knowledge in identifying gemstones means that you will know exactly what you are getting from an Amara gemstone. An adventurer at heart, Julia loves to travel to the gemstone districts of the world in search of beautiful gemstones. She also has a passion for ethical mining and is hoping her current studies in the Master of Business Administration will help her to come up with creative ways to make Amara Gemstones more sustainable into the future.
Gemmological education:
Diploma in Gemmology, Gemmological Association of Australia (GAA) Diploma in Diamond Technology, Gemmological Association of Australia (GAA) Applied Jewellery Professional Diploma, Gemmological Institute of America (GIA)
Certified Pearls Specialist: Pearls As One, Cultured Pearls Association of America
Steve Morganite
Gem Cutter
Steve is a Gem Cutter who loves the challenge of taking nature’s finest rough crystals and transforming them into bespoke cut stones, suitable for collectors or custom jewellery. His interest in gemstones began before he met Julia but waned in the absence of a willing partner in crime. Once Julia became besotted with sparkly things, Steve revelled in the opportunity to combine his renowned patience and eye for detail in a worthy endeavour. You will often find Steve at gem shows searching for the next rough stone to transform into a unique treasure. He happily accompanies Julia overseas in search of unique rough specimens, allowing these gemstones to be traced from the source (mine) to our customers. Steve is a current member of the Australian Facetors’ Guild and the Mount Gravatt Lapidary Club, where he was initially taught to facet in 2018. Steve currently has a full-time job elsewhere, but enjoys working on gems and bookkeeping for Amara Gemstones in his spare time.
Gemmological education:
Applied Jewellery Professional Diploma, Gemmological Institute of America (GIA)
