If you love opals — the kind that stops you mid-sentence — then Tony Dickfos from Tony D Design is a stall you won’t want to miss at Lismore Gemfest.
Tony’s journey into jewellery making began with a bit of brotherly encouragement.
“My younger brother was a silversmith,” Tony says. “I used to admire the pieces he made. He would say to me, ‘You should get into making jewellery — you would like it.’”
A couple of years later, those words resurfaced when Tony met Maggie Bergman from the Gold Coast Jewellery Studio. What began as a shared interest in internet marketing turned into something far more creative when he discovered she taught silversmithing and jewellery making.
With his brother’s advice echoing in his mind, Tony enrolled in a couple of courses.
“I found I loved it — and it came naturally to me. There began my journey.”
That was 14 years ago.
Since then, Tony has expanded beyond silversmithing into lapidary work, eventually discovering what would become a major focus of his business — opals. Today, opals form a large part of Tony D Design, alongside a carefully curated selection of sapphires, zircons, moissanites, and semi-precious stones including Larimar, Lapis Lazuli, Sagenite and Moldavite.
He describes himself as “a cross between a hobbyist and a small business” — but with 95% of his jewellery handmade by him in sterling silver and gold, his craftsmanship speaks volumes.
What You’ll Find at Tony D Design
Visitors to Tony’s stall can expect:
- Opals from Lightning Ridge, Coober Pedy, Mintabie, Andamooka and Boulder Opal from Central Queensland
- Loose polished stones, rough and rubs
- Belemnites, pearlopals, sapphires and zircons
- Handmade pendants, rings, earrings and bangles in sterling silver and 9ct gold
There’s something for serious collectors, thoughtful gift shoppers, and even children beginning their love of stones.
Tony especially enjoys chatting with collectors, advising up-and-coming silversmiths, and encouraging young rock enthusiasts just starting out.
A True Standout: Pearlopals
One of Tony’s most exciting pieces to bring to Lismore Gemfest is his range of Pearlopal pendants and rings — a remarkable creation originally developed by Steve Koncz.
A Pearlopal begins when an opal is seeded into a live pearl oyster and returned to the ocean for up to 18 months. Over time, the oyster forms layers of nacre around the opal. Once harvested, the top layer is carefully polished back to reveal the opal beneath, creating a stunning fusion of pearl shell and precious stone.
Tony then hand-cuts and shapes each shell into a finished jewellery piece, crafting pendants and rings in sterling silver and 9ct gold — sometimes accented with diamonds or zircons.
Sourced from a pearl farm in Western Australia, these pieces are truly one-of-a-kind.
“I love them because of their uniqueness and the beautiful marriage of opal and pearl shell.”
Why Tony Loves Lismore Gemfest
Tony keeps coming back to Lismore Gemfest for one simple reason — community.
“The club and its volunteer members put on a great show. It’s very well organised and run. Everyone is friendly and willing to help whenever needed. It’s one of the best gem shows we attend.”
With a diverse range of stallholders and something for everyone, it’s easy to see why both exhibitors and visitors travel from far and wide each year.
Who Will Love This Stall?
- Families
- Collectors
- Gift shoppers
- Lovers of beautiful handcrafted jewellery
If opals make your heart skip, Tony D Design needs to be on your Lismore Gemfest list.
Why They Love Lismore Gemfest
“Lismore Gemfest is by far the biggest, best and most fun gem show of the year! We love coming down every year — I think this is our 9th year — and we always look forward to it!”
And we’re pretty sure Lismore Gemfest loves having them too.
Make sure you stop by Gems and More at Lismore Gemfest — you never know what treasure you might discover.
