2020 : A Challenging Year
Few people would argue that 2020 has been a challenging year for everyone. Like many small businesses running a ‘non-essential’ shop, we have encountered a fair amount of disruption throughout the year.
Challenges have included showroom closures, clients having to postpone weddings, self-isolation, homeschooling and working from home. But in spite of everything, our team have done their absolute best to work around the many challenges we have all faced in what has become an exceptional year.
We continue to look on the bright side and to count our blessings. Furthermore, we are thankful to our returning clients who have continued to support our business during 2020. Also, we have benefitted from our online work. In particular, our website where we continue to feature many of our bespoke jewellery designs.
Looking back through 2020 we have helped many local and international clients with bespoke engagement rings and jewellery designs. As our final post of 2020, we decided to feature just a few examples of our work.
All of the following designs were created through the course of 2020. A selection of commissions we have worked hard to complete in this challenging year.
Some of our clients we were fortunate enough to meet whilst open. Other clients we worked with remotely online, by phone, Zoom or via emails.
1 : Bespoke Soundwave Ring
The Bespoke sound pattern ring features an engraved representation taken from an iPhone voice recorder. We featured the sound pattern ring on our blog post at the start of 2020 after adding it to our online shop.
2 : Two-Carat Diamond Bubble Ring
Early this year, we created an incredible 2-carat diamond bubble ring for one of our lovely clients. We photographed the Bowery ring before sending out the completed ring. Few people would dispute the impressive show of our dazzling diamond bubble rings.
3 : The Orion Ring with a Lab-Grown Diamond
Many of our existing clients know our passion for ethical diamonds. As a result, we introduced a service to source any lab-grown diamond by request.
One of our first lab-grown diamond commissions featured a 1.66 carat lab-grown diamond set into our Orion engagement ring design in 950 Platinum.
4 : Bespoke Blue Sapphire and Diamond Ring
This stood amongst our favourite commissions from the last year. Six blue sapphires surround a central 4.5mm diamond—all held within a truly gorgeous Platinum ring design. This design features within our bespoke ring portfolio on our website.
5 : Twist Diamond Shoulder Ring
Inspired by our ‘Destiny’ engagement ring, this six claw engagement ring design features are interwoven diamond shoulders with a dramatic effect. Few diamond shoulder engagement rings offer such dazzling beauty as this design.
6 : Contemporary Square Band Engagement Ring
Handcrafted with a 0.95 carat Princess cut diamond at the centre, we created a contemporary ring design for our client. A tall ‘Tiffany” style setting rises above two round diamonds. With clean lines and plenty of sparkles, the band featured a squared profile for a truly modern look.
7 : Square Double Halo Engagement Ring
We handcrafted an incredible square double halo engagement ring, set with an ethical ‘Canadian’ origin diamond. Made in 18ct Yellow Gold, the ring featured a square double halo and just under 1 carat of diamonds. In addition, we created a gently curved shaped wedding ring to sit neatly alongside.
8 : Oval Cabochon Opal Necklace
We created a very simple Opal necklace for one of our lovely clients. In addition to intricate and elaborate CAD designs, we enjoy working on simple classics with a timeless look and feel. Here, we set a 5.5 carat Opal into 18ct Yellow Gold.
9 : Bespoke Oval Blue Sapphire 3 Stone Ring
Later in 2020, amidst the calamity of the Covid Pandemic, we worked on a beautiful version of our ‘Isabella’ trilogy diamond ring design. Styled with a central Oval blue Sapphire, this version of the ring featured an East-West orientation of the Sapphire between two round diamonds.
10 : Alexandrite Solitaire Ring
During the Summer of 2020 we continued to create new ring designs, even during lockdown while our showroom closed. Many of our new clients reached out via our website or social media and we continued to work on brand new jewellery commissions.
The above ring commission featured a large Alexandrite set into the Unity engagement ring design. We particularly loved the variation of purple to brown colours on moving around the gemstone.
11 : Interwoven Blue Sapphire and Diamond Ring
During 2020 we created many full and half eternity ring styles. One of the rings we created featured an interwoven design set with an alternating combination of diamonds and Blue Sapphires.
12 : Emerald-Cut Blue Sapphire and Diamond Trilogy Ring
For our final design of 2020, we created an incredible three stone ring design made in Fairtrade Gold. Styled with a wedding ring friendly setting, our clients chose an incredibly coloured bright Blue Sapphire set between dazzling white diamonds.
Looking Ahead to 2021
Just like yourself, we are now looking forward to positive changes coming in 2021. Despite ending the year in Tier 4, we continue to work safely from our Ryde showroom until we can re-open to members of the public.
We look forward to seeing new and familiar faces in 2021. We would like to thank all of our clients for their patience this year and wish everyone a safe, healthy and happy New Year for 2021.
About Mark Johnson
Mark attended Liverpool University and went on to pursue a career in the diamond industry. After more than a decade working in polished diamonds, Mark moved to the Isle of Wight where he launched Serendipity Diamonds. He works most days from their busy Ryde showroom, photographing jewellery and writing for the Serendipity Diamonds website.
