At Michael Hill International's headquarters in Brisbane more than 50 master jewellers are busy at their craft, cutting and polishing stones, soldering precious metals and designing original jewellery.

These artisans don't have the public profile of Sir Michael Hill, the New Zealand jeweller who founded the company in 1979, his wife and designer Christine Hill or their son Mark, a highly acclaimed industrial sculptor who has recently turned his hand to designing jewellery for the family-controlled company.