MEET MANUEL & LOURDES FROM THE FRENCH DOOR!

Owned by husband and wife Manuel and Lourdes, The French Door offers timeless and personalised jewellery designs that have received international recognition. With over 30 years’ experience in the jewellery industry, Manuel’s passion for creating timeless, elegant and intricate pieces was evident as we sat down for a chat with the pair.

Manuel is a Master Jeweller with over 30 years’ experience, learning his craft in South Africa. He explains that this is where gold and diamonds were first commercially mined. He thrives off the relationships formed with customers and takes great pride in the smiles he sees when customers come to pick up the final result of their new piece. The team’s favourite pieces to create are engagement rings, as they reflect the love shared between partners. Manuel ensures he sits down with each customer to get to know their individual values, and involve them in every step of the process from choosing a stone, to re-modelling an existing family heirloom.

It really is a family affair at The French Door. Lourdes runs the store operations, whilst Manuel and Lourdes’ daughter Natalia looks after social media and marketing. Working alongside them are 3 talented jewellers, who specialise in repairs and custom makes. The team are described as valuable assets to the store, with one of the staff members Amy recently winning 'Apprentice of the Year' in Queensland. The team sees no repair, remodelling or custom design job as too big or too small, and acknowledge that jewellery holds a personal meaning to each customer they meet.

When he isn’t manufacturing a masterpiece, you’ll find Manuel at the Indooroopilly Hold Club, but what the pair loves more than anything is spending time with their two daughters, family and friends. We were interested to learn that Manuel was born on the island of Madeira, off Portugal, and the pair encourage customers to ask Manuel why he loves this location next time they are in-store!

We wondered what was the most unusual request the team had received from a customer, but were not expecting this answer! The pair explained that they received a request for a superman-themed engagement ring that incorporated the superman logo. The team said yes to the challenge, and that design has since become one of their favourites to date. The team were lucky enough to watch the proposal, which took place in Santa World at Indooroopilly Shopping Centre. Another memorable moment at the store was when a couple came in looking for an engagement ring. When they spotted the ring of their dreams in the window, the man dropped to his knee and proposed right there in the store. The team were all in tears and describe this moment as vary special to them. It is these kinds of memories that remind Manuel and Lourdes why jewellery is such a special industry, because they get to be part of moments like this.