The jewellery designer creating art with rare miracles of nature

Pearls are the only precious gems created by a living organism and they are an essential part of fourth-generation Australian jewellery designer Margot McKinney’s signature aesthetic.

Australia is the birthplace of the finest pearls in the world – Australian South Sea pearls – and the only place where the mighty silver-lipped Pinctada maxima oyster grows. Ranging from the perfectly round to the unique baroque, these rare pearls – often complemented with colourful precious gemstones – feature in works of art by Margot that are as captivating and as natural as the Australian landscape itself.

The South Sea pearls that star in Margot’s pieces come from the pristine waters of north-east Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. These precious gems of the sea are painstakingly nurtured through their two-year growing period, and their mother oysters are tended to with the utmost care throughout their lives. Importantly, the pearling industry in Australia is very small and tightly regulated by the authorities to ensure best practice and long-term sustainability.

A deep connection with pearls

What sets Margot and her pearls apart is her closeness to the pearl farming process and her involvement in the harvesting of these rare gems. Her pearl journey started with a phone call from old friend Aji Ellies, the fifth-generation proprietor of Australia’s only independently-owned pearl farm located at the northern tip of Australia.

He invited her to make the long trip to the farm’s remote location and to be part of the harvest, and this extraordinary experience had a lasting effect on Margot’s relationship with South Sea pearls. Ever since that time Margot visits Aji’s farm every year, an experience she regards as a great honour. She describes as a rare privilege the ability to present pearls that have come directly from the farm in Arnhem Land to clients in Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman in the United States:

‘No other jewellery designer watches as each pearl comes out of the oyster, designs and creates a jewel and then presents it to potential collectors.’

Margot McKinney

Works of unique natural beauty

Each and every South Sea pearl is unique, as it is the product of a natural biological process within the mother oyster. Margot is especially drawn to the large baroque variety which features irregular and interesting shapes, fascinating textures and entrancing luminosity of colour. She highlights these amazing works of nature in pieces that make a statement, offering the wearer confidence in making both an entrance and leaving an unforgettable impression.

Expressive by design

Margot’s approach to jewellery design is bold and exuberant. She places South Sea pearls at the centre of her pieces, and complements them with precious gemstones or Australian boulder opals in designs that celebrate the extraordinary size and lustrous qualities of the pearls. Each of her creations is intended for versatile wear and to transcend fashion, making it a lifetime collector’s piece.

Margot’s flagship store is located in Brisbane, Australia, while her jewellery also adorns the prestigious establishments of Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman in the United States.