She is one of the best enamelist jewellers in the world and she has got the award to prove it.

Debbie Sheezel won a prestigious international jewellery accolade, the 2016 Saul Bell Award for enamelling, and she is absolutely thrilled.

Enamelling is an art form dating back to the time of the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Celts, Chinese and Japanese.

Finely ground up pieces of vitreous enamel, specially formulated ground glass, is mixed with colours that are kiln-fired in thin layers onto precious metals such as gold and silver.

Ms Sheezel fell in love with the craft as a young woman when she attended a gold and silver smithing class with an aunt.

She was not enjoying herself until a teacher explained what a kiln was used for.

"He said well if you take some enamel, which is vitreous powder, and put it on some copper, silver or gold, and he got some white and put on the copper and put it in the kiln," she said.

"After a minute he took it out and it was white and glossy and it was stuck to this beautiful copper and I fell in love.

"Just like that. It was love at first sight and I've been enamelling ever since

Craft a closely guarded secret

Ms Sheezel has been doing enamel work for 50 years and still loves it. ( ABC News: Jessica Longbottom )

There were no teachers back then. Everyone had their own method, even their own specially-made tools, and Ms Sheezel taught herself how to do enamel work by reading books.

She has been working in enamel for 50 years and will turn 70 soon.

"I can't help myself, I have to keep working," she said.

Ms Sheezel always knew about the Saul Bell Award for enamelling but did not have the confidence to enter.

"I thought 'oh I don't know if I've got the confidence to go in for this because I've seen people who have won it in the past'," she said.

"Then I decided I'm getting old, I'd better get on and do it."

Fascinated by the colours of butterflies

A close up of the award-winning enamel necklace made by Ms Sheezel. ( Supplied: Debbie Sheezel )

It took five months for Ms Sheezel to design and to make the stunning enamel necklace, valued at $50,000, which eventually won the top prize.

It was designed in the vein of French glassmaker Lalique, with enamel, 24 and 18 carat gold, fine silver and semi-precious stones.

"I love butterflies. I've done a lot of butterfly pieces. I'm fascinated by the colours of them, the blending of the colours and so I decided I'd go with a butterfly piece," she said.

"There are hundreds and hundreds of people who go into this competition so I was really very astounded that I won it.

"I'd never been in a competition before so it was very exciting."

Tim Peel, the president of the Gold and Silversmiths Guild of Australia, said enameling is an unusual skill that takes a long time to master.

"It's extremely complex, the way that she mixes and blends colours particularly," he said.

"You obviously need a really good sense of design to carry it off, an amazing sense of colour, and it requires an enormous amount of patience."

Up with the best in the world

Examples of Ms Sheezel's enamel jewellery in Malvern studio. ( ABC News: Jessica Longbottom )

The necklace will remain in Ms Sheezel's collection for now until she finds a buyer.

But the market for high-end jewellery is a small one.

"You have to sell your pieces otherwise you've got a collection like this because I don't sell that many pieces," she said.

"They're collector's pieces because they're only one off. So it's collectors or people who understand the beauty of enamel who buy them.

"I've sold a lot of work but I don't mind if I don't sell them. I like looking at them and enjoying them myself."

Mr Peel said Australia punches above its weight in the jewellery industry and Ms Sheezel is right up at the top.

"This is very much an example of how Australian craftspeople are up there with the very best in the world," he said.