Page 28 - Tropic Magazine Issue 33

TROPIC • COVER STORY

Fast forward a decade, and Christina has
just opened a studio for her business
The Diamond Hunter after five successful
years of operating remotely.
Tucked behind a stairwell in Cairns’
Village Lane, the new space is the last
thing from a retail store. There’s only
a small collection of tennis bracelets,
earrings and necklaces tucked in
the studio’s corner, while the room’s
centrepiece is a round wooden table.
It’s a place for Christina and soon-to-be-
fiancés to meet, visualise and plan the
perfect ring, before The Diamond Hunter
gets to work on sourcing the diamond,
designing the jewellery, and working with
trusted manufacturers.
“I work closely with clients and jewellers
at every stage of creating ethical,
beautiful diamond engagement rings and
fine jewellery, offering a personalised and
genuine buying experience,”
Christina said.

“While custom diamond jewellery is Just as The Diamond Hunter is as much
my main game, I have helped many an undercover agent as a purveyor of
My aim is to shake up the people restore and reimagine heirloom fine jewellery, Christina’s advice extends

way we all navigate the jewellery too. Of course, I am also often beyond designing the perfect piece
of bling.
approached by couples wishing to create
traditional buying process an engagement ring together, and this “I have often said I need to start a side
is always a fun and special experience. business coordinating and planning
Christina Duddy, “I describe it as a hand-holding service. perfect proposals,” she said. “After my
The Diamond
Hunter While some come armed with inspo clients open the ring box for the first time
pics and hints that have been covertly or and there’s some mutual back-patting,
not-so-covertly-dropped, a typical client the next question is almost always, ‘what
wants to be guided through the decision.” do I do now?’
Those decisions could involve anything “Without question, my favourite part
from a start-to-delivery turnaround of of what I do is getting a message on a
six days – a record Christina never wants Sunday evening with a ‘SHE SAID YES’,
to break – as well as flying across the and the most precious proposal photos.
country to hand-deliver a diamond. I have a whole album of them.”
“I think my biggest fault is being willing Unsurprisingly, word-of-mouth is
to stretch myself – and my poor designers The Diamond Hunter’s bread and butter.
and jewellers– to the limit in order to One happy client, Angus, told Tropic that
ensure I under-promise and over-deliver,” seven of his cousins have also chosen their
she said. rings with Christina, along with
“In the early days I travelled a lot to hand- scores of other friends. But with that
deliver my pieces. Thankfully now I have comes a heightened risk of blowing the
anonymous helpers that do this for me big moment.
where required, while I also have clients “There’s a short period of time that I do
visit me for collection.” become ‘the other woman’ with all the

28 • Tropic • Issue 33