Get to know us!

We met in North Queensland and quickly realised how much we shared — a love for the outdoors, adventure and fossicking for gemstones. That connection became the foundation of Dream of Gems, a miner‑to‑bench business built on experience, hard work, craftsmanship and a genuine passion for Australian sapphires.

Alicia – Your first point of contact, jewellery designer, customer experience, miner and everything else in between! 

Alicia grew up in Julia Creek, a small country town in North West Queensland, where life centred around the outdoors, cattle stations and community. Her background spans retail and hospitality sales, as well as working as a deckhand and cook in the Gulf of Carpentaria — roles that strengthened her communication, organisation and customer‑focused approach.

At Dream of Gems, Alicia manages sales, marketing, social media and customer experience. She is the person clients speak to directly for one‑on‑one guidance, custom jewellery consultations and personalised support throughout the design and purchasing process. Alongside this, she also works underground mining sapphires and oversees quality control on cut stones and jewellery to ensure every gem and custom piece meets the highest standard. 

Daniel – Gem cutter, Equipment Maintenance & 3rd‑Generation miner

 Daniel – Facetor, Equipment Maintenance & Fourth‑Generation Miner

Daniel is a 3rd‑generation miner whose life was shaped on the Gemfields. Growing up in Reward, a designated fossicking area, he spent much of his life in the outdoors fossicking with his parents and developing a strong appreciation for the landscape, local community and the gemstones found beneath it.

After travelling and working overseas, Daniel returned to quarry work across The Gemfields and later Western Australia as an excavator operator, expanding his practical knowledge of earthmoving and mining operations.

Today, Daniel mines underground, maintains all equipment, and hand‑cuts every gemstone himself while carefully managing rough stone quality. His understanding of the land, the craft of faceting and the heritage of mining began young and has been refined through generations. Each stone is shaped with precision, patience and respect for both its origin and the community that surrounds it — a skill passed down and perfected over time.

Together

We share a deep passion for gemstones, especially sapphires. It’s what brought us together and continues to guide the work we do each day. By combining our skills, love for the outdoors, and sense of adventure, we’ve built a life in the Central Highlands — the heart of Australia’s sapphire country — where we live and operate Dream of Gems.

What began as a dream is now a fully realised miner‑to‑bench business who respects the local community and natural environmental habitat. We’re proud to provide high‑quality, hand‑mined Australian sapphires and custom jewellery to clients across Australia and around the world. You can follow our mining, processing, and faceting journey on Instagram.

Instagram: @dreamofgems_

Yours sincerely, Alicia & Daniel Dream of Gems