Black Finch Jewellery was founded in 2007 by Raymond de Zwart shortly after graduating in Gold and Silversmithing at RMIT. What began as a solo practice in a small Westgarth studio has, over 18 years, grown into a close-knit team of 11 working within our Collingwood flagship gallery and workshop. The name Black Finch holds personal meaning, drawn from Raymond’s Dutch family names, chosen to honour both heritage and individuality.
From the very beginning, our vision has been to create high-end, bespoke jewellery that combines technical mastery with artistic freedom. Raymond’s background in fine art fostered an aversion to repetition and convention, a spirit that still guides every piece we craft today. For us, fine jewellery must carry meaning. It should hold weight in the lives of our clients and become a lasting symbol of love, identity and memory.
We feel both proud and fortunate to have built an extensive collection of rare and unusual gemstones, personally sourced from around the world in collaboration with small, family-run mines that uphold ethical standards. This unique gemstone library allows us to create pieces that are unexpected, deeply personal and unlike anything else.
Black Finch has evolved from a purely custom practice into a brand offering ready-to-ship and made-to-order collections alongside bespoke commissions. This balance celebrates both spontaneity and collaboration, while always maintaining the highest standards of craft. With all manufacturing kept onshore and in-house, our Collingwood workshop remains the beating heart of our brand.
Our flagship gallery, affectionately known as the Lilac Palace, reflects our design philosophy: luxurious yet approachable, modern yet timeless. It is a welcoming space where clients feel safe to share their stories, and where jewellery becomes not only art, but heirloom.
