Geraldine Bezuidenhout – Jewellery Designer, Radio Presenter & aspiring Chef
Upon meeting Geraldine Bezuidenhout, it is immediately clear that she is someone who is perfectly suited to her chosen craft, jewellery design however that is just a tip of the iceberg when it comes to what makes this talented East Londoner tick.
This friendly, outgoing and fun lady has 18 years experience in the jewellery trade and is the newest member of the Designer Gold Team, operating out of their retail and manufacturing premises in Pearce Street, Berea.
Geraldine is an ex-Clarendon girl and who had dreams of becoming a radio presenter, but had to put the ‘dream’ aside to find another more realistic dream that would pay her a salary. Her love of design and of jewellery (what lady doesn’t), saw her enter the jewellery trade right here in East London, a decision she has never lived to regret.
She started in the trade straight out of school, and in 2007 she went to study in London for 3 months at GIA (Geological Institute of America) where she obtained her jewellery Design Diploma. It was there that she also completed her training on Diamond Grading, where diamonds are graded according to the Rapaport Diamond Report, allowing her to not only do valuations of diamonds, but qualifying her to sell individual loose diamonds as well. Not surprisingly, she is passionate about her diamonds, which are her favourite gem.
Geraldine returned to East London and has used her training and experience to create beautiful bespoke jewellery for those looking for a unique one of a kind piece. Much of her work is designing custom engagement and wedding rings for bridal couples who need help designing their own rings or those who are looking for something no-one else has.
Long gone are the days when he would walk into a jewellery store, buy a ring and present his unsuspecting girlfriend with an engagement ring of his choice. No, no, no… today the engagement and wedding rings are considered far too important to leave out the bride-to-be’s input. The design of the most important of all pieces of jewellery – the rings that will be worn daily for the rest of the couples live’s – is a consultative process. Enter Geraldine stage left.
Geraldine loves to make sure her clients get what they are looking for. Her design skills and her years of experience means that through carefully identifying the clients wishes, understanding what will best suit each client’s hands, and finding unique subtle ways to make the two come together – she can create the perfect final design. And her designs are stunning, to say the least.
In addition to the wedding rings, Geraldine is often called upon to design unique pieces, often from left over ‘scrap’ jewellery her clients are no longer using. Like magic, old yellow gold can be designed into a new yellow gold piece, or if her clients prefer white gold, can be converted by adding a mix of white metals to the gold. Lumps of useless unused and broken jewellery can be re-invented into beautiful dress rings and pendants, more suited to todays style aesthetic.
It is then up to the amazing team of goldsmiths at Designer Gold to convert Geraldine’s bespoke designs into a beautiful piece of jewellery. With a team of 5 based inhouse, the manufacturing process is quick and clients do not have to wait long for the beautiful, glittery and shiny end product. The joy when the clients see the their custom piece for the first time, is the reason why Geraldine is so passionate about her chosen profession.
But what of her dreams to become a radio presenter? Well, no flies sit on Geraldine who is a lady of action. When she heard that local radio station Wild Coast FM was looking for Radio Presenters, Geraldine knew that this was the opportunity she had been dreaming about. With absolutely no experience but bucket loads of passion, Geraldine interviewed at Wild Coast FM and managed to convince them that she would be perfect for the job. She is now a volunteer Radio Presenter and hosts her own show, Sunday Gold Classics from 12h00 – 15h00 every Sunday.
Inbetween all of this, Geraldine also manages to have a private life (although who knows how with so much on the go). Married to Riaan for the last 6 years (this being the second marriage for both of them), they first met and were friends in matric. After school, each went their separate ways and married different partners, but reconnected later on when they were both divorced. Riaan who holds an administrative roll in the SAPS where he has worked for the last 30 years, has 2 children from a previous marriage. Geraldine and Riaan’s child however is one of the fur kind, named Bez (as in Bezuidenhout) and is super soft and cuddly and is know to deliver brightly coloured chocolate eggs once a year (and no people… not at Christmas… the hat is a disguise).
The couple love to entertain and another of Geraldine’s passions is cooking (lucky Riaan). Her recipes of choice… large one pot meals such as a hearty stews (yum) and lavish roasts (yum yum). For her, the presentation is as important as the food itself… but we would expect nothing less from a … designer. Geraldine’s next dream is to do a chef’s course. Not as she says, to open her own restaurant… but to allow her to learn more so she can expand her culinary repetoire for the benefit of her and Riaan’s home entertaining.
And it seems that Geraldine has another little ‘not so secret’ ambition… and that is to take part in the legendary Afrikaans TV show, Noot vir Noot. Having seen how this lady has managed to accomplish so many of her dreams, I have no doubt that she will soon be gracing our screens as a guest on the popular show.
But ultimately, her main love is still the beautiful custom jewellery she designs on a daily basis. So if you are looking for a stunning, unique piece jewellery, pop into Designer Gold on Pearce Street in Berea for a visit or a consultation with Geraldine. I can assure you she will design you something that hits all the right notes.
Article: Sandy Loppnow
Photographs: Sandy Loppnow & Designer Gold