40 Years of Craft, Care, and Palmerston North
A story that started with one man and a workbench
In March 1984, Peter Cameron opened the doors of a small store in the Square Edge Arts Centre with little more than his tools and his training. Later that year, Jill joined him — and from that modest beginning, something remarkable took shape.
Peter's approach was different from the start. Using traditional goldsmithing techniques, he created pieces that Palmerston North had never seen before. Word spread. The fan club grew. And over the next three decades, Cameron Jewellery became one of the most loved jewellery destinations in the Manawatu.
The Citadel
In 2007, Peter and Jill took on their most ambitious project yet — the renovation and restoration of the Salvation Army Citadel on King Street. Six months of work. A complete transformation. The result was a one-of-a-kind jewellery gallery with an open-plan workshop at its heart, where customers could watch their pieces come to life.
The Citadel wasn't just a new store — it was a commitment to the city. The building was restored to its former glory and listed as a Manawatu Heritage Site. It's been home to Cameron Jewellery ever since.
A new chapter
In 2022, after nearly 40 years, Peter and Jill passed the torch to manufacturing jeweller Sam Drummond and their daughter Jessie. New hands, same values. The craft that Peter built his reputation on is alive and well — still made on-site, still made to last.
Who's behind the bench today
Sam Drummond and Jessie lead the workshop today, alongside a small team of goldsmiths and staff who share the same eye for craft and care for customers that Peter and Jill built the business on. Every piece still passes through hands that know your name.
Forty years in, still doing it the same way — by hand, on-site, with care.
What's never changed
In an increasingly mass-produced world, the goal is the same as it was in 1984 — to create pieces of the highest quality, accessible to everyday New Zealanders. No shortcuts. No compromises. Just good work, done properly, in a workshop you can walk past any day of the week.
Sustainability
That extends to how we source. Our diamonds come through Quasar Diamonds — ethically traded and UN-certified. Where we can, we recycle precious metals rather than reaching for new. And if you have gold of your own, we'll work with it — an old ring remade is worth more than a new one bought.
Giving Back
We believe in giving back to the people and places that shape who we are. Here's a look at some of the organisations we support
