Strikingly petite and displaying an inordinate measure of style, jewellery designer Olga Goodman is a veritable powerhouse of energy. ‘My mother always said: “You’ll rush into your grave!’” she laughs.

In her busy family-run business she skilfully interprets the desires of her clients and personally designs every item she brings to life, living by the adage that you should ‘never do tomorrow what you can do today.’ At a stage where things appear very much in order for the driving force behind Olga Jewellers, you’d think she’d be tempted to consider stepping back from it all. But there’s not much sign of a slowdown. Her business is of the kind where clients want to see her, and when she’s not in her exclusive V&A Waterfront store she’s likely to be travelling to an international jewellery fair or visiting clients in far-flung places.

But her passionate drive goes much deeper than satisfying client requirements; it’s equally about personal fulfilment, about the fact that Olga needs to be there. Her distinctly hands-on approach also stems from the necessity to keep a handle on things. ‘It’s difficult to instil real passion for a job in other people. You’ll only really love it if it’s not only your job but also a “hobby” of sorts,’ she explains.

Olga is still toiling hard at her ‘hobby’, which is one of those demanding devotion at least six days a week. You sense that for this successful working woman and mother to two sons in their twenties, things didn’t always come easy.

Yugoslavian, her parents met in a concentration camp before escaping to Italy in a rowing boat. There they befriended a South African soldier who lent them the money to travel to this country. At the time of their arrival, her mother was pregnant with Olga’s older brother, and the family possessed only a few gold coins sewn into her father’s waistband. They got by on her father’s furrier skills (he made many of the furs worn by the wives of Members of Parliament), as well as his abilities as an interpreter.

Olga remains matter-of-fact about her youth. ‘I was a latchkey kid,’ she recalls. ‘We were brought up very frugally: you learnt to resole, reheel and repair. I didn’t own a bought item until the day I earned my first pay cheque, and on that day I swore I would never touch a sewing machine again!’ But those years also taught her the value of things. ‘I now firmly believe in having one wonderful item rather than 10 mediocre ones. I don’t believe that things should be kept for “best” – we should be able to enjoy everything now.’

When pressed, Olga admits to having inherited her father’s flair for languages: in addition to English and Afrikaans, she speaks Yugoslavian, French, Italian and German, and ‘gets by’, she says, with a smattering of Russian. It’s a skill that has proved invaluable to her company – a personalised business where, as she puts it, ‘interaction with the client is really 50 per cent of the design.’

Today, the business – together with the wholesale and manufacturing side overseen by Olga’s husband, Colin – employs an impressive 16 goldsmiths and diamond cutters. But Olga’s career hadn’t always been clearly mapped out. Her first job was as a teacher at Cape Town’s Barkly House, and later at another local school, Herzlia. But she found that she desperately missed the stimulation of adult company and interaction, so she opened Silver Fox, a boutique which traded in furs, silver jewellery and accessories.

Enter Colin, a ‘smooth-talking surfer’ whom Olga met on a Clifton beach; nine months later, they were engaged. In those days, Colin was a gold and diamond buyer for American Swiss. When he was offered a partnership in a jewellery firm in Los Angeles, the couple packed up their belongings and headed for the United States. Olga became an accessories buyer for Bergdorf Goodman, but the couple could not adjust to the differences in the American way of life, and eventually returned home to South Africa.

Nonetheless, inspired by their American experience, Colin opened what later became several Times Square franchises. (Today, Colin is one of the country’s largest wholesale jewellery manufacturers and diamond cutters.) Olga opened 5th Avenue Jewellers in Claremont and five years later realised part of a dream by launching Olga Jewellers in Cavendish Square. With Olga at the helm, the Cavendish store built a solid reputation for distinctive, beautifully crafted jewellery.

A few years down the line, Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront announced that Olga had been selected as the only Cape Town jeweller to acquire space in the Victoria Wharf complex. Olga couldn’t believe her ears – or her luck.

‘I believe in nurturing things,’ she says. ‘That’s why I eventually sold the Cavendish store; it’s such a personalised business, and I was just becoming frustrated because I couldn’t do everything the way I wanted it to be done any more. I had to give something up! The truth is you just can’t be everywhere.’

Since opening their V&A store, Olga and Colin have achieved various noteworthy career successes, including a personal presentation of their diamonds to Hilary and Chelsea Clinton during a presidential tour of South Africa (Olga Jewellers was appointed official jewellers to the American Embassy), as well as a display to Queen Elizabeth II and her entourage. There was also an engagement ring for U2 lead singer Bono.

Olga is certainly a woman who appears to have everything (including a personal collection of jewels that would make the Queen green with envy). So you have to ask: what is real luxury to her? ‘Sundays!’ she replies emphatically, ‘... and the view from our home!’

Home is a glorious three-level house in Bantry Bay. It’s a haven that Olga shares with Colin and their two dogs, an ageing toy pom named Sacha and ‘Colin’s dog’, Mila, a beloved white ‘pavement special’ picked up at DAWG in Hout Bay. ‘It really is a dog’s life in our house – they are thoroughly spoilt!’ confirms Olga.

No wonder the couple’s home is peaceful yet vibrant, a real escape and a warm space where they entertain frequently. Olga has decorated the house with an impressive collection of original artworks. She has a real love of beautiful things and a genuine interest in local talent and creativity.
Despite his own property interests, Olga’s younger son, Warren, currently lives with his parents and older brother Gavin will be moving in for while as he is ‘between places’. ‘I don’t mind! My boys could live with us forever.’ Olga laughs, ‘I’m your typical Jewish mother!’ The family shares a great deal of interest as well as several investments in the local property market, but then this is a family that shares a lot. Olga believes Colin’s allied business has made it easier for the two of them to understand each other; to listen, share thoughts, ideas and doubts. Warren too has the business in his blood. Having come from an advertising background, he is now assisting Olga in the company. Gavin is a photographer. ‘I love talking and spending time with my children – we’re all creative – so it’s good to bounce ideas off one another – and so things evolve,’ says Olga.
In the Goodman household, life is multifaceted. Olga sums it up: ‘I’ve worked hard. But am I sorry I was a working mom? No! My life is so full. I am grateful that I am who I am. I can give more of myself this way and I often wish the days were longer.’

They say if you want something done, ask a busy woman. I think I’d safely trust Olga to do most things – and to do them brilliantly.