DAVID NORMAN
Managing Director
David Norman is a fifth-generation pearl trader, born and educated in London, within a natural pearl dealing and cultured pearl farming family. David studied the pearl business under the tutelage of John Jerwood at The Cultured Pearl Export Company in Tokyo, Japan throughout 1982 and 1983.
In late 1983 David migrated to Australia for one year but is still there 36 years later having discovered for himself the Australian cultured south sea pearls that his father Boris Norman cultivated in Thursday Island, in far north Queensland, Australia.
David worked for the Kailis and Paspaley families as head of sales within both their companies for 20 years, and since 2006 has operated his own pearl business, Aquarian Pearls which purchases cultured pearls from Australian (white coloured) Tahitian (Black/Silver coloured ) and Philippine (Golden coloured) cultivators and sets them into stunning necklaces, earrings, pendants and rings for sale throughout the United States, Europe and Australia.
David is a regular guest on shopping channels; in Australia with TVSN and in the USA with Gem Shopping Network.
Having dedicated his whole adult life to the pearl business, David considers his job a joy and a service and he brings the world’s finest pearls to our customers with excellent pricing and great enthusiasm for these dazzling gifts from Mother Nature’s oceans.
KATE VIVAS
Jeweller
Kate was born into a very creative and accomplished artist family. Already fascinated by early Egyptian jewellery, Kate began her apprenticeship in 1996 under a Viennese Master Jeweller. Four years later she took up her first role managing a coloured stone business for the next ten years.
Kate then worked in a pearl business before joining David in late 2010 taking over as the in house designer to manufacture and created the Matahina Pearls line for local TV company TVSN and the designs for Aquarian Pearls’ local and international clientele.
To add to her qualifications as a Jeweller, Kate is also fully qualified Gemmologist, Diamond Grader and Jewellery Valuer
MELANIE JOHNSON
CEO
Melanie’s love affair with pearls started in 2003 after having just completed a degree in environmental science took a sideways step and became the stock controller at Paspaley Pearling Company’s Sydney office in 2003.
Joining David’s Aquarian Pearls company in 2006, Melanie runs the stock programmes and handles the business with local and international retailers, wholesalers and tv companies, assisting with their restocking needs and customer service.
Melanie also works with Kate on designs and finished pearl jewellery concepts and their manufacture. Melanie is a pearl expert with extensive knowledge and a real passion for pearls in all their multiple variations.
SHAREN TURNER
INVENTORY MANAGER
After completing studies in Fine Arts and Jewellery and Object Design Sharen has had the privilege of working with some of Australia’s premier jewellery Design companies and it was through these experiences that Sharen developed a special affinity for pearls.
Enthralled by their lustrous allure, she finds herself irrestibly drawn to their enchanting beauty and despite the temptation to keep them all for herself, Sharen takes immense joy in sharing their splendour with the world.
MISCHA QUILTY
SALES MANAGER
Born and raised in rural NSW on her family’s sheep and cattle property, Mischa completed high school in Sydney with her start in the jewellery industry coming about in 1993 when she took up an apprenticeship. After four years of training and study of jewellery manufacture and design and hand engraving at the Enmore Design Centre, she became a qualified jeweller while also gaining her diamond grading certification through the Gemmological Association of Australia.
Employed for a decade each at two prominent family-owned Sydney based jewellers, Mischa performed the many and varied roles necessary in the operation of a successful jewellery business. Such roles included boutique management, workshop management, production management, designer of new ranges and working in a sales capacity of jewellery and international watch brands such as Patek Philippe, Rolex and Jaeger LeCoultre. However, the role she has been most passionate about is gemstone acquisition which interestingly, paved the way for her employment at Aquarian Pearls.
Since the early 2000s, Mischa had the good fortune to work closely with the director David Norman and CEO Melanie Johnson. Their knowledge of pearls, strong business ethics and enthusiasm for their beautiful gems coupled with the most extensive range of the highest quality pearls of every size, colour and shape made them the obvious choice as her preferred supplier. After more than two decades of being a client of theirs, Mischa joined the Aquarian Pearl team in 2023 and has thoroughly enjoyed spending each day since then being fully immersed in the fascinating and delightful world of South Sea pearls.