awards
Benjamin Tracy: A Journey of Craft, Creativity, and Connection
2025 JAA Australasian Jewellery Awards | Jeweller of the Year and Precious Metal Award Winner
Benjamin Tracy first discovered his passion for jewellery 36 years ago, back in 1989. Fresh out of school and unsure of his next step, he knew only that he wanted to do something creative. Then one day, Ben stumbled across a newspaper advert seeking an apprentice jeweller. He decided to give it a try and during the trial period, fell completely in love with the craft. That serendipitous moment set him on a lifelong journey, one that continues to inspire him every day. After spending ten years in London working for the renowned Crown Jewellers, Garrard & Asprey, and later five years freelancing in France, Ben eventually returned home to the Gold Coast. In 2013, he became the owner and director of Finelines Jewellers, where he now leads a talented team of artisans dedicated to crafting fine, bespoke jewellery. For Ben, jewellery is so much more than adornment it’s emotion captured in form. Every piece tells a story, whether it’s celebrating love, marking a milestone, or honouring a memory. Ben finds deep meaning in knowing that something he has created becomes a part of someone’s life and legacy. Jewellery can be passed on through generations, carrying with it the energy and sentiment of its wearer. That’s the magic of this craft. |
|
What Ben loves most about being a jeweller is the balance between creativity and precision. It’s a blend of artistry and technical mastery imagining a design, then bringing it to life through skill, patience, and craftsmanship. Each piece is an intimate collaboration between imagination and material.
Ben’s inspiration comes from people. As a bespoke designer, he is constantly inspired by his clients their stories, personalities, and passions. Every custom piece begins with listening and understanding who they are. Ben also draws from art, fashion, architecture, and travel, weaving these influences into designs that feel both personal and timeless. This connection to people and their individuality keeps his creativity alive and his work ever evolving.
Ben decided to enter the JAA Australasian Jewellery Awards because he believes challenges push us to grow. Submitting a design is always nerve-wracking especially when it’s something deeply personal but the process encourages him to think beyond the everyday and to keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
Winning this award is an incredible honour not just for Ben as a designer, but for the entire team at Finelines Jewellers. It affirms that our studio is a place where creativity knows no bounds and where we can bring extraordinary, seemingly impossible visions to life. This recognition celebrates the dedication, skill, and passion that go into every piece we create, and it’s a reminder of what can be achieved when imagination leads the way.
To those who may be hesitant about entering the Awards, Ben’s advice is simple: do it. Take the leap. Create something that speaks to you and share it with the world. Our industry thrives on creativity and collaboration, and every new voice adds to the beauty of it.
Ben’s latest creation, Beyond Symmetry, embodies that spirit. Designed for a dear friend and industry colleague, it’s crafted in platinum and titanium with white diamonds a daring balance of strength, elegance, and contrast. This piece celebrates those who embrace the unconventional, who find grace in individuality, and who believe that true beauty lies in authenticity.
Beyond Symmetry is not just a ring it’s a statement. A reminder that in both art and life, perfection is found not in sameness, but in the courage to be different.
You can find the 2025 JAA Jeweller of the Year, Benjamin, at Fineline Jewellers.
---
Jeweller of the Year | Beyond Symmetry
Description | A ring hand-fabricated in platinum and titanium set with fancy coloured laboratory-grown diamonds, accented with natural colourless diamonds.
Motivation | Beyond Symmetry is a celebration of individuality and the beauty found in imperfection. Inspired by the organic forms of nature and the asymmetry of real life, this ring challenges the traditional notion that balance must be mirrored. Instead, it honours harmony in contrast—where irregular shapes, unexpected lines, and unconventional design come together to form something truly captivating.
Materials | Platinum | Titanium | Natural + laboratory-grown fancy coloured diamonds
