First Look: Keshett’s Refreshed Melbourne Boutiques Are a Vintage Jewellery Lover’s Dream

Dana Aviv has been surrounded by diamonds all her life. For four decades, her parents Eugene and Paula Keshett built their namesake Melbourne jewellery house around exceptional craftsmanship. The couple specialised in sourcing rare antique and vintage pieces from Europe, the US and South America, spanning art deco, mid-century, Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, art nouveau and modern eras. There are also contemporary designs and bespoke engagement commissions. 

“My parents looked for pieces that had something distinctive, whether that was an unusual stone or a particular period, design or the way the piece was crafted,” says Dana, who now runs Keshett with her husband Zac Aviv. The pair returned to Melbourne after spending several years in New York’s Diamond District. “That instinct has been instilled within all of us now.”

Eugene and Paula set up Keshett’s first store on Little Collins Street in 1979. Nearly 50 years on, that original location and its Block Arcade boutique, which opened in 2016, have both been reimagined. Designed by St Kilda interior design firm Studio Y and built by MIC Projects, the spaces introduce a contemporary material palette while retaining the character of their historic settings.

“We were deliberate about all the details: from the way the jewellery is displayed and the materials used, to the lighting, [the music] and [we] developed our own scent – things you might not consciously notice as being part of the experience,” Dana says.

At its Block Arcade boutique, cascading moss-green velvet curtains, garnet-coloured velvet chairs and walnut cabinetry give the space the feeling of an art deco jewellery box. “The architecture in that space already carries so much history and character, so we designed the store to sit within the story, rather than compete with it.”

The sense of intimacy carries through to its Little Collins Street flagship, despite its grander scale. Travertine is inset into a faceted walnut counter, echoing the precise cuts of a diamond. Russet carpet by RC&D contrasts with travertine floors and French-washed walls, lending a timeless elegance.

Across both stores, brushed gold pendants and table lamps from Volker Haug and Light Co cast the collection in a filtered glow.

The intention is less traditional jewellery store than intimate exhibition space, says Dana. “We wanted the jewellery to be experienced quite closely, like a gallery.”

Keshett’s vintage and antique curation includes highly collectable pieces from Cartier, mid-century-style braided gold bracelets dating to 1940, and a large selection of art deco diamond rings and brooches.

Keshett Little Collins Street
323-325 Little Collins Street, Melbourne

Hours
Mon to Sat 10am–5pm

Keshett Block Arcade

Shop 24-25 Block Arcade, 282 Collins Street, Melbourne

Hours
Mon to Sat 10am–5pm
Sun 11am–4pm

keshett.com.au