Jewellery pioneer Sir Michael Hill has passed away today, survived by his wife Lady Christine and his two children.
Michael Hill International confirmed the news in a business update, adding that the board, the executive and the full Michael Hill team express their deepest and sincerest condolences to Hill’s family and friends.
Sir Michael Hill founded the business with his wife Christine in 1979 in the town of Whangarei, New Zealand.
In the 1980s, Michael Hill expanded to Australia, and set up the business’ head office and in-house workshop of artisans.
Since then, the brand has scaled internationally into Canada as well, with a group network of 300 stores. This includes Bevilles. The Michael Hill group also established a high-end brand called TenSevenSeven, and manages Medley.
According to the Michael Hill group, Sir Michael’s first love was music and, as a young man, he dreamed of becoming a concert violinist. “However, at just 17, he was told he had started too late to reach the pinnacle of his craft,” the company shared in a release. “Forced to reconsider his future, he pivoted into the world of jewellery, joining his uncle’s family-owned store in New Zealand.
“What began as a job soon became a passion. Sir Michael had a natural gift for storytelling, a keen eye for visual merchandising, an instinct for attracting customers and a gift for selling. He won international awards for his window displays and revolutionized the store’s advertising with bold, unconventional campaigns.”
Michael Hill chairman Rob Fyfe shared his condolences:
“To every endeavour he pursued, Michael brought a deep sense of purpose, an enduring curiosity, open-mindedness and creativity that challenged all of us to embrace ever more lofty goals and be unconstrained in our thinking – a legacy that will continue to inspire us.”
The board added that “Michael Hill, Jeweller” was much more than a Jeweller, founding the Michael Hill International Violin Competition, creating The Hills – a golf course in New Zealand – and inspiring generations of New Zealanders through his books.
“In the spring of 1964, Sir Michael met his wife Lady Christine, connecting over their shared appreciation for creativity, craftsmanship, and storytelling—foundational values that define the Michael Hill brand to this day,” the company shared.
“Sir Michael and Lady Christine married in 1965 forging a love affair and business partnership that lasted more than 60 years.”
A private memorial to celebrate the life of Sir Michael will be held in Arrowtown, New Zealand.