Monte is a jewel in Kearton crown

Apprentice jeweller Monte Clark polishes up his skills at Brad Kearton Jewellers.

David Nielsen

MAKING mistakes is just part of the learning curve for an apprentice but, when you are working with fragile pieces of jewellery worth thousands of dollars, mistakes tend to hurt just that little bit more.

Fourth year jewellery-making apprentice at Brad Kearton Jewellers, Monte Clark, hasn't forgotten his first mistake.

"In my first month I wrapped up a big thick curved gold chain on the polishing motor," Monte said.

"It's a wheel that spins to polish jewellery and it just got caught and the links all twisted and it was done."

When asked whether it was an expensive mistake, business owner Brad Kearton quickly chimed in.

"Yeah, well, it cost me around $1500 but he learnt a very valuable lesson," Mr Kearton quipped.

"Everyone who works in a jewellery workshop has to wrap a chain around a polisher and get rapped on the knuckles 55 times before you learn to pull your hand out."

Monte, a 20-year-old former St Edmund's College student, couldn't be happier in his new career and he has a medal to prove it.

The Newtown resident recently won a bronze medal in the Queensland Workskills competition, proving his skill level in the unusual trade is equal to his attitude.

"I need 10 of him - that's how good he is," Mr Kearton said when describing what his young apprentice means to his business.

In business for 20 years, Mr Kearton is also a strong advocate of the Workskills program.

"Its puts them under a bit of stress at college and, let's face it, we're under stress at work every day of the week," Mr Kearton said.

"It also gives them a good gauge of how they are going."

Monte "fell into the trade" after doing some school-based work while still at high school.

Since those early days Monte has discovered a real joy for creating and repairing unique pieces of jewellery - something his friends may not quite understand.

"They think he's a big sheila," Mr Kearton says in jest.

Regardless of what his friends may think now, Monte may have the last laugh.

It's doubtful any of his mates will be able to give a better Valentine's Day gift.