A bespoke purple sapphire pendant necklace for a belated 21st birthday
Somethings are worth waiting for, particularly if it is a custom made piece of jewellery
With so many of our dreams and celebrations put on due hold to the Covid-19 pandemic, this commission was a long time coming. A couple of years had passed since she had turned 21 but her parents still wanted to honour that milestone birthday.
A very complete client brief for a bespoke necklace
What I most loved about this client was her enthusiasm. She came armed with ideas and mood boards, so much thought and research went into this piece that I must confess, after our initial consultation I became a bit nervous. She had so many clear ideas in her head and my gut instinct was that they were going to be hard to pull off, how was I ever going to meet her expectations?
I made several drawings and silver mockups that ended up in the recycling pot, but I know all too well that frustration and experimentation are part of the creative process. I ended up with two mock ups to show her on her second consultation, the first was following her brief as closely as I could. In the second, I injected my ideas and experience into her brief. Instinctively, she chose the second one and I knew she had made the right choice.
Choosing gemstones for a 21st birthday jewellery gift
Then we proceeded to evaluate different gemstones. She was very clear that her favourite colour was lilac, so I sourced a variety of gemstones from my trusted dealers in Hatton Garden. I looked for everything I could find in different tones of purple, from deep and regal amethysts to soft purple jade to bright sapphires. We decided on purple sapphires because they complimented her skin tone. Not the lilac she originally had in mind but a brighter colour that really popped out. These were set in 18 carat white gold in a traditional rub over setting to give a contemporary look.
When making jewellery I like to give my clients flexibility, in this case it came in the form of a chain with an extension. An extension can make your chain longer to accommodate your neckline. It is a great solution to many fashion problems.
I adore listening to all of the stories and the amazing people behind each piece and I love that the pieces I make for them will still be around hundreds of years, symbols of so much love and hope. Having something made by hand just for you, is an experience that’s really very special. As I create each one off piece I try to pass on something truly individual to each piece but the magic really happens in the stories these pieces will go on to tell, and the special moments they will come to represent. The memories that come with bespoke jewellery are what makes them so much more than simply beautiful pieces of jewellery; they’re completely original to you only, and totally irreplaceable.
If you would like to commission a special piece of jewellery of your own, please contact me as I would love to help.
Come over to our studio in Wimbledon, South West London and let our small jewellery business help you.
Or if you prefer to work remotely we can do that too.
Militza Ortiz
Jewellery designer and maker, based in the Wimbledon, London, UK. Envisioning and hand crafting future heirlooms for 20 years.
