Armenian-born master finalist of 2011 Australian Jewellery Awards

PanARMENIAN.Net - Australian models Sarah Murdoch and Megan Gale have an open invitation to wear a firecracker of a ring designed by a Chatswood jeweler.

As North Shore Times reported, appropriately called The Fireworks ring, Berj Ohanessian handcrafted the piece after he was mesmerized by the fireworks on Sydney Harbor last Christmas. And now the ring is a finalist in the Red Carpet Category of the 2011 Australian Jewellery Awards.

Born to Armenian parents in Iraq, Ohanessian moved to Australia with his family when he was 14. He first followed in his father and brother’s footsteps as a carpenter before finding out, by accident, that he wanted to be a jeweler.

“I started a trial apprenticeship (in jewellery design), and liked it so I stayed,” Ohanessian, 52, said. “I love the creative side of it, and I like the challenge - I’ve got an eye for something new, it’s like art to me.”

Ohanessian was also a finalist in the same competition in 2005 and won the Diamonds Only category for his Zig Zag earrings. In 2009 he was a finalist in the Reinvention Category for his Bloom ring.