This tiny shop in the Royal Arcade looks like it was plucked off the pages of a gothic novel, its dark and ornate shelves filled with curios like skull-shaped crystals and hand-blended perfumes. It's the brainchild of Kiwi jeweller Zora Bell Boyd and husband Dan Zizys, and according to the husband-and-wife duo, its intention is to "engender a sense of wonder, surprise and discover for shoppers."
Boyd has been creating jewellery for more than two decades, having owned and operated her own shop on Auckland's Ponsonby Road prior to her move to Melbourne. During the global pandemic and its resulting lockdowns here, Boyd manifested a new shop in her adopted hometown.
"I wanted to create an experience based on an in-person sensory engagement, rather than an online engagement," says Boyd. "I felt people would yearn, like I did, for what we missed during lockdown: a wanderlust satisfied whilst still being in our own town."
Inside, you'll find opulent and striking objects including crystals, jewellery, candles and perfumes. Many of Boyd's one-offs and collections can be found in-store, and if you desire bespoke jewellery, you can also make an appointment to meet with her.
