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Our Local Team

Team Members


Owner & Creative Director

Halfdan Hansen

Halfdan is the eldest son of our founder, Jens Hansen, and he’s played a key role in the business since 2002.  Committed to continuing his father’s legacy of creating fine handcrafted jewellery, Halfdan has fostered international recognition of the Movie Ring which Jens and Halfdan’s brother Thorkild worked on for Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings movies.  Halfdan, who has a University of Canterbury electrical engineering degree, has a passion for website management and for sourcing the most advanced tools in the world for his team of jewellers.  When he’s not working, Halfdan enjoys cooking, concocting complicated cocktails, and spending time with his family.  
     

Customer & Internet Support 

Erin Brady

Erin responds to our many email queries, manages online orders, and provides exceptional customer care.  She's also lucky enough to check in all the gorgeous sparkly stones that arrive regularly for our custom jobs.  Erin is the definition of 'people person' and we've yet to see her in anything but a positive mood.  A natural born problem solver, she thrives on helping customers find the perfect jewellery item.  Outside of work, Erin loves the simple country life of the Nelson region, surrounded by pets, family and friends. 
    

Rebecca Charleton

Rebecca is our star coordinator of internet orders and shipping.  She ensures every order is accurate and wrapped safely, sustainably, and beautifully, before sending it off on its journey.  Need to ship a Golden Kiwi to the Gold Coast?  No problem.  How about a diamond ring to Denmark?  Of course!  When she’s not working, Rebecca loves hanging out with her family, travelling, and taking part in (frankly, crazy) bootcamp challenges! 
    

Jewellery Specialists    

Miriam Hansen - Jens Hansen staff

Miriam Hansen

Miriam is a fine artist with a passion for modernist design who loves helping customers create unique custom pieces.  A long-standing and highly valued member of our sales team, she worked alongside Jens Hansen in the studio and has been actively involved in New Zealand’s art and craft scene for many years.  When she’s not working, Miriam draws and stencils in her home studio and spends time in her gorgeously wild garden in the Port hills of Nelson.

   

Lee Barker

Lee is a jewellery specialist and key sales team member with a specialty in custom design work and gemstone sourcing.  Highly creative, Lee is also the beauty consultant for photo shoots where his trained eye and styling skills help us create gorgeous on-brand results.  When not at work Lee spends time with his two photogenic fur babies, Louis and Vivienne.
   

Jamie Chase

Jamie, one of our valuable sales team members, bringing in with him a Diploma of Graphic Design and a passion for all forms of visual art - from fashion and films to architecture and painting.  He has a strong interest in custom work and loves seeing a project through from beginning sketch to final product.  Outside of work, Jamie enjoys music, fine dining, and weightlifting.
   

Chavawn Callaghan

Chavawn’s one of our super sales consultants with a particular knack for helping customers selecting the perfect piece of special occasion jewellery.  Whether it’s for a birthday, graduation or glitzy red carpet event, she loves the process of choosing the ideal gift. When she’s not at the Jens Hansen studio, Chavawn can be found at the gym, walking on the beach, or hanging out with her fabulously fluffy rescue cat, Luna.
   

Jewellers

Zane Colegate

Zane is our Head Jeweller and Workshop Manager, and he’s been with us for almost a decade.  Highly qualified and experienced, Zane is ideally suited to overseeing the many, varied tasks of the workshop – custom design work, handcrafted pieces, settings, repairs and orders.  He’s in charge of all CAD designs and 3D resin printings, and he loves the process of taking original ideas through to the final product.  When he’s not working, Zane spends time with his young daughter, plays football and enjoys life in beautiful Nelson.  
    

Tony Furion 

Tony joined our team recently from France where he has worked as a fine jeweller and designer.  Specialised in taking jewellery concepts from original sketch to sparkling finish, Tony is developing new products for the brand, expanding current collections and working closely with clients on custom pieces.  When he isn’t designing jewellery, Tony always has many other creative projects on the go, from experimental cooking projects to crocheting art pieces.
    

Simon Colegate

Simon joined our team six years ago after moving from South Africa to Nelson.  He has a Gold and Silver qualification and is one of only several highly skilled hand engravers in New Zealand.  His daily work includes metal shaping, gem setting, and creating new designs.  Simon loves the great outdoors, plays and coaches soccer, and grows Bonsai trees.    

   

Joel Fitzwell

A popular member of the Nelson jewellery community, Joel joined our team recently with full qualifications in contemporary jewellery, and trade certified as a JIRBNZ manufacturing jeweller.  Experienced in fabricating, handcrafting and finishing castings as well as gemstone setting, Joel’s particular passion is developing new skills and techniques in engraving, repoussé, intaglio and granulation.  When he’s not at the jeweller’s bench, Joel is a keen bike rider and woodworker.
    

Ashley Wakelin

Born and raised in sunny Nelson, Ash completed his training with us and is now a fully qualified jeweller.  Passionate about continuing to develop his skills and repertoire, Ash handcrafts many of our classic designs and enjoys creating original pieces reflecting his personal style.  Ash is one of our resident animal lovers and a regular weekend volunteer at the local SPCA.     
    

Ray Mitchell

Ray has been producing jewellery in our workshop independently for 33 years.  Beloved by the team and highly experienced, he first collaborated with Jens Hansen in 1989.  Ray designs and handcrafts his own line of popular pieces and he has a passion for turning ideas into reality.  When he’s not on the job, Ray enjoys time with his wife working on their property in the Nelson hills. 
   

Production Team & Accounts

Claire Day

Claire has played a big role in our company history, clocking up sixteen years for us in a variety of roles.  Currently she’s responsible for buying diamonds and gemstones, overseeing website development, photography and laser engraving, and managing workflows and training – in other words, a seriously skilled we-can’t-do-without-her performer.  As the resident gemologist, Claire is a keen rock collector, and she loves spending time in the country with her family and three beloved horses, Charlie, Prince and Bobby. 
   

Maniana Heywood

Maniana is our photographer, laser engraver and quality-controller for all the beautiful pieces we create. Maniana has an eye for detail and she’s skilled in the particular art of translating customers’ fun, romantic and secret messages into Elvish before they’re engraved. Outside of work, Maniana enjoys Nelson life with her husband Alexis, dog Lana, cats Honey and Reggie and pig Boris.
    

Livia Ashton 

Livia has an excellent eye for detail which is extremely useful in her multifaceted role as our product photographer, laser engraver, and production and inventory assistant.  A recent graduate from Garin College, Livia comes from an animal-loving family who own three dogs, a flock of chickens and ducks, and a blue-tongued lizard named Tiger Stripes
    

Natasha Wearing

Natasha is our ‘everything office’ performer.  Need to know anything at all about accounts, general admin, or supplies?  She’s your go-to.  Filing, organizing, and tracking down lost details are Natasha’s department.  When she’s not efficiently crossing Ts and dotting Is, Natasha loves being with her family and whenever there’s time will fit in a game or two on her PlayStation – usually GTA online (we suspect she’s pretty good at that, too!).
   

Marketing & Social Media 

Valeriya Horyayeva 

Valeriya is our newly appointed social media and events specialist, and part-time sales consultant.  Prior to moving to New Zealand from her homeland, Ukraine, she owned a marketing and event agency in Sumy -- creating advertising and parties is her super power.  When she’s not working, Valeriya loves entertaining (of course!) and spending time with her young daughter. 

   

Maddy Hansen

Maddy’s our advertising and social media graphics specialist who also oversees in-house projects such as specialty engraving images.  A Fine Arts honours graduate, she recently added jewellery drawing and 3D CAD to her skillset, key elements of our custom design process.