Soklich & Co. was founded in 1965 as a colour gemstone exploration company in the Pilbara region. In 1986, the company shifted to Perth to focus on wholesaling to jewellery stores in Australia and New Zealand.
Today, the company is active as a retailer via Socklich & Co. and as a supplier via Ellendale Diamonds – collectively celebrating 60 years in the jewellery business.
In July, a new flagship store was opened at the site of a former post office at the Civic Heart Centre in Perth, marking the end of a five-year renovation. The celebration doesn’t end there; however, and owner Lexie Soklich said there will be plenty more to discuss with visitors at the Sydney Fair.
“To celebrate turning 60, we’re officially launching the Soklich Casting House to the general trade. It’s an exciting milestone for us, opening our doors to support the industry with high-quality casting and production services,” Soklich tells Jeweller.
“As part of the launch, we’re offering free 3D printing and casting for one month of September, on all orders placed during the International Jewellery Fair. It’s a thank you to the industry for their ongoing support.”
“Our key focus this year has been the development and opening of The Soklich Casting House. We’ve invested heavily in ensuring we’re ready to support the trade with the highest standards in casting, craftsmanship, and customer service.”
The company will also be unveiling the 2025 Spring Collection, a vibrant jewellery range featuring a variety of colour gemstones. Soklich said that each piece is bold yet refined, and would be launched exclusively at the Sydney Fair.
Soklich & Co.’s new store is located on a site that was initially constructed in 1900 – and the renovation was painstaking yet rewarding. The interior is highlighted by an Italian-made chandelier shaped like cherry blossoms.
While the store is now open to the public, there are ongoing plans – including a strategy to make use of the post office’s original fittings, which include more than 1,200 vintage mailboxes.
Perhaps the most interesting feature may be the ‘Fishbowl’ concept – where visitors can watch bench jewellers hard at work. Soklich said that the philosophy behind the design was transparency, connection, and a celebration of the craft of jewellery manufacturing.
“We wanted to create a unique space where customers could witness the magic of jewellery-making firsthand, without disrupting our jewellers at work,” she explained.
“We have found that there is a disconnection between jewellers and customers, with customers rarely seeing the jewellers, and jewellers often work behind the scenes and not interacting with customers.
“The 'Fishbowl' concept allows both worlds to coexist beautifully. Customers can observe the craftsmanship up close through large viewing windows. At the same time, the jewellers can stay focused on making jewellery in their environment, while also being appreciated by the outside world.”
The International Jewellery Fair will take place at Sydney’s International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Darling Harbour, beginning on 23 August.
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