Latest Blog Posts

How exciting Real Aotearoa, a New Zealand Post shop has opened in Wellington and, yes, we have our Dean Hawkins Jewellery there. Real Aotearoa can be found at 1 Grey Street. How exciting! Don't forget to also view and if you aren't in Wellington, our range is available at www.deanhawkins.co.nz. This is fantastic for us and Real Aotearoa and hopefully great for Wellington. Real Aotearoa also have outlets in Queen Street, Auckland and Cashel Mall in Christchurch. They all have a fantastic range of OUR Jewellery and other selected New Zealand artists working in a large range of mediums.
For a full range of our outlets please look at our website www.deanhawkins.co.nz or contact us on +64 (3) 5480387.
Thank you Real Aotearoa for your continued support, we very much appreciate it.

I've been spending this morning, when I should be doing the GST, adding weights and measurements to our jewellery peices in the store. What a job and I'm only part way through. We hope that it helps every one get a bit better feel for what they are looking at and an idea of the size, in the photos since you cant touch it. I'll keep working away. Its hard to do as Dean makes every thing so each peice is done individually, so everything has approx and about, as I can't be more acurrate than that. Have a great day. I may take a break as I'm looking at the computer screen a bit cross-eyed.

Another Labour Day weekend is upon us and I hope that every one have a great time. We are. We have done all sorts of lovely things as a family this weekend. The reason we have chosen to work from home, we don't have to worry about shop hours. We can work when and how we decide. Isn't Labour Weekend what it all stands for. Have a lovely weekend. Catch you next week.

Diamonds and engagement rings. What is it that you are actually getting? There is so much hype out there about what you are getting but how do you know that what you are getting is authentic or a standard that is set by the companies that are trying to sell you something.I have this conversation regularly and have alway felt I needed to justify ourselves in comparison to those that work in this way. In actual fact I don't. Dean is one of the best jewellery around and he has that reputation, we use diamonds from a reputable supplier, using the authentic standard of diamond grading and we insist on maintaining that standard. Dean is about quality craftsmanship. Our business is based around Dean. He is our jeweller. If you are purchasing something from us, Dean is the person who will create it. We are a small New Zealand business with a very talented jeweller. We do not have a shop of our own because we wanted a family and a nice lifestyle. Because Dean is in demand, every one wanted to speak to Dean, he would then at the end of the day have to create the pieces that were commissioned during the day. We would never see him. I worked in the shop as well and as we work as a team, it wasn't going to be easy to do both or fair on either. Having a shop and family wsn't what we wanted. It may work for some but not us. We chose family and lifestyle and have found a way to do both that suits us. We are happy with the decision we have made and the life we have chosen.We like what we like, choose to buy New Zealand made where possible, we definitely are not into buying cheap rubbish or landfill as it has called. We buy quality, buy it once and buy it to last. So that is what we like personally and the way we like to live and we wouldn't want or do anything less for others. We live our life authentically and with integrity and we truely hope that that comes through in the jewellery we create. We sleep soundly at night and enjoy what we have created and are happy with the choices we have made.But getting back to what I started to say and where my blog today was headed. diamonds, engagement rings and quality. There are people who you can trust and have faith in what they do and there are those you could question. There is no need for Dean Hawkins Jewellery to try to justify where we stand in the industry. We just do! and am proud of it!!!!!

Hi, well where has the last few weeks, not days, gone. We went skiing to Turoa for a week. That was fun. Ollie didn't like it much though, may be next year. Soph learnt to ski in a couple of hours. Boy aren't kids amazing. Dean can ski anyway , but had fun trying to out do my brother and I learnt to snow board... sort of. I will try to perfect my technique next year. We have found a family sport that we will all be able to enjoy in the years to come.There was also the school holidays.Now the term has started and we are getting back into routines ( at least we're trying). Getting geared up for our summer season is a prioity.
Our website is looking amazing and works well at last. You just have to get the right team behind you. Thanks again Meta.
The wedding season is upon us again and over the next wee while I shall talk about what we think is important to know when looking for engagement and wedding rings. I will also add a couple of engagement ring to our ever growing range. Check out www.deanhawkins.co.nz.

Over the next few days we will have some new features in our website www.deanhawkins.co.nz, and we are very excited about it. Keep an eye out and take a look. We know they will make your experience with our shop and gallery an even more enjoyable and pleasant one. Thanks Metasolutions.Spring is here thank goodness and with it the fine weather, at least for now. It was a beautiful day today. Its a great time of year. And with spring comes the wedding season. So if any of you are deciding to get engaged or have already, give us a call, for we would love to help you with the perfect engagement ring. We look forward to hearing from you.

Dean and I really love to help people decide on a design for there special piece of jewellery, be it an engagement ring, wedding ring or just something for the sake of it, possibly another special occassion. We do listern to your needs as well as your wants and help you to come up with something that you will treasure for a lifetime. It's jewellery for those who would rather not settle for the ordinary. Have a look at www.deanhawkins.co.nz and contact us to see what we can do for you.

This month we have ads in the FQ magazine and the Next magazine in the directory sections. So keep an eye out when you are flicking through.We had a huge storm last night, wow it was quite impressive, lightning and really loud thunder. Our house even shook. No where as bad as a lot of people experience in other parts of the world. Sophie and Ollie luckily slept through it.

Haven't been up to much lately as Ollie got the flu, so along with many mums, oh and dads, I got stuck to the couch. He is all better now but is taking a time to get my head back into the swing of things. During this time he has decided that he doesn't need day time sleeps. He informed us this morning that "boys don't sleep". Oh great.

Congratulations goes to Georgina Collins, whos name was drawn for the Sterling silver and Paua Tree pendant. We will be intouch soon Georgina.
Thank you to all those who put their name in the draw, and on the list to receive our Dean Hawkins Jewellery Newsletter. We look forward to being in touch and sending you our quarterly newsletters.
We hope every one has a wonderful weekend. From Dean and Lisa.

Well I thought I had a disaster on my hands. I in the end over cooked the cake I made for Dean's birthday yesterday. I was coming up with all these ways we could use it, ie crumble it over ice cream etc or did we just start again. Dean said it was the thought that counted so we went with it. It ended up being delicious, not as moist as it was meant to be but good all the same. He has had some more with a coffee this morning and said it was even better than last night. So that is good... things do turn out if you give them time. I was very nervous.
When we got married we decided to make it a tradition that we took the day off from work and did something nice together. Unfortunately this year Dean had so much work on this week with a deadline for friday, that that was not possible this year. So we will have a raincheck day some time soon. Though he did get a pait of ski pants and some gloves, so a friend has asked him to go skiing next week. He is really looking forward to getting back into skiing. Something that he hasn't had the opportunity to do for the last few years. He loves skiing. Unfortunately I have really not had the change to learn, so I'm in for a few bumps and bruises I would imagine. My brother wants to get us up to Turoa this year. Dean is really keen. It is a great family sport I think, so we will give it ago.
I think Dean had a nice day yeaterday, despite haveing to work and a near cake disaster. Sophie made us have candles and balloons. Very cute.
Tomorrow is the big announcement for the Sterling silver and paua tree pendant. We will keep you posted. Very exciting!
We are making a few fine tunes to out web site,www.deanhawkins.co.nz, which we hope will make the whole experience for our customers, more enjoyable. We hope that you will feel safe and assured of what we do, who we are and comfortable with the experience. Please let us know if you have any suggestions as we are happy to listen.
Until tomorrow... have a great day...

Boy where has the time gone. Heaps has happened within the family. Sophie turned five and went to school. She seems to be settling in well or though getting her to school is a bit of a mission. She is really happy though when we pick her up at the end of the day, so we don't think it is as bad as she makes out. Its a great school and we are happy with it. I think settling a five year old into a school environment would have to be one of the most stressful things you can do as a caring parent. At least I found it so. I am only now starting to feel myself again. What an intense time. Ollie has settled into his new pre-school and its as if he's been there for years. An old pro. He loves it and has several of the older girls looking after him, anazing at two, what is he going to be like when he is older. At least he is happy and well looked after.It's Deans birthday tomorrow, so I'm in the middle of baking him a cake... better not let it burn.
Now that life is feeling a little more settled and every one where they are meant to be, I can get stuck in again and do what it is that I do.  Thanks Norm and the guys from Meta Solutions, the blog looks great.
Very exciting time coming up whan we announce the winner of our Jewellery prize, a sterling silver and paua tree pendant. So watch this space it could be your name drawn if you joined our Dean Hawkins Jewellery Newsletter. August 7th is the day. I will post it here and on our website, www.deanhawkins.co.nz.
Better go and take the cake out of the oven. I've tried for the first time a chocolate hazelnut cake. Never made it before. I have my fingers crossed, so far its not cooking and still very wet in the middle. That is what happens when you experiment I spose.
It's getting late and I have a cake to rescue, so I will say good night and will thing of something jewelry related to say tomorrow. Bring on some focus. Night everyone.