Behind a vintage green door in Adelaide’s CBD, Carmen & Lucy Fine Jewellery offers a quieter, more personal alternative to the traditional jewellery showroom.
Inside, clients are welcomed into a private studio where loose sapphires, coloured gemstones and unique diamonds are viewed up close, ideas are sketched over conversation, and each piece begins with a detailed design process.
Rather than browsing glass counters or choosing from a catalogue, clients work one-on-one to create jewellery that is designed specifically for them.
Founded by jewellery designer Julia Rajkovich, Carmen & Lucy launched in June 2025 after Julia spent several years working across bespoke jewellery design, manufacturing, repairs and client consultation.
Julia first entered the jewellery industry after studying marketing at UniSA, drawn to the more creative, hands-on and sentimental nature of the work.
“I fell in love with the industry almost immediately,” said Julia. “Over the years, I became really drawn to the way jewellery brings together design, craftsmanship and personal meaning.”
The name itself is a tribute to Julia’s grandmothers.
“Carmen and Lucy were my grandmothers, so the name has always felt very personal,” said Julia. “I wanted the business to carry that sense of family, history and connection, because that is often what jewellery becomes over time.”
In December 2025, she opened her appointment-only studio in the Adelaide CBD, creating an intimate one-on-one experience for clients looking to design something entirely their own.
When Julia first took over the space, it was a blank commercial suite with vinyl flooring and a drop ceiling. The fit-out included careful restoration, vintage furnishings and bespoke design details developed in collaboration with Studio ES.
The studio has been transformed into a warm, design-led space that feels closer to a private atelier than a conventional jewellery store.
“I wanted to create a space where custom jewellery felt relaxed, personal and genuinely collaborative,” she said. “Everything is made to order, so each appointment starts with a conversation rather than a fixed design.”
For Julia, Carmen & Lucy brings together modern design, technology and traditional craftsmanship through an approachable, collaborative experience.
During each appointment, clients are given time to explore design ideas, view gemstones, ask questions and understand the process before making decisions.
Depending on the piece, the bespoke process may include sketches, gemstone sourcing, CAD renders and resin models before the design moves into local manufacturing, stone setting and finishing.
Julia works closely with clients throughout each stage, often presenting multiple design directions before a final piece is created.
“Some clients come in knowing exactly what they want, while others only have a loose idea,” she said. “I guide them through the options, explain what will work from a design and manufacturing perspective, and help them create something that feels true to them.”
The studio houses a curated selection of loose gemstones, with a particular focus on rare sapphires, coloured gemstones and unique diamonds. Clients can view stones from the Carmen & Lucy collection or have a gemstone sourced specifically for their design.
For Julia, coloured gemstones are one of the most exciting parts of the business.
“Sapphires, coloured gemstones and unique diamonds each have their own character,” she said. “There is so much variation in colour, shape and cut, which means you can create something very personal. No two stones are exactly the same.”
Every Carmen & Lucy custom piece is made to order, with each commission individually designed in Adelaide and created in collaboration with experienced local jewellers, stone setters and engravers.
This local, design-led approach allows Carmen & Lucy to create pieces with longevity in mind, whether it is an engagement ring, wedding band, anniversary gift, heirloom remodel or one-of-a-kind fine jewellery piece.
For Julia, that meaning is especially clear in engagement rings.
“I love engagement rings because they are one of the most sentimental pieces you can make,” said Julia. “When I think about my mum’s jewellery, or the piece she wears every day, it’s her engagement ring. It becomes part of someone’s life, and eventually part of their family story. I want the pieces I make to have that same sense of longevity, something that can be worn now and handed down later.”
That same sentiment carries through to the studio’s heirloom remodelling work, where clients can reimagine existing jewellery into something more wearable while still preserving the meaning behind the original piece.
Whether it is an engagement ring, anniversary gift, heirloom remodel or a one-of-a-kind fine jewellery piece, Julia’s focus is on creating jewellery that reflects the person wearing it, rather than simply following trends.
For clients looking for a more personal way to create jewellery, Carmen & Lucy offers something increasingly rare: time, care and a piece designed to tell a story entirely its own.
Find Carmen & Lucy by appointment only at Edments Building, Suite 204, 38 Gawler Place.
Carmen & Lucy
Where: Edments Building, Suite 204, 38 Gawler Place
When: By appointment only
For more information, click here.
