Veronica Anderson, owner of Veronica Anderson Jewellery, had a brainwave a few months ago when she reflected on the moment of pride South Africans are experiencing in the build-up to the Soccer World Cup.
As a retailer and developer of indigenously produced ranges, Anderson realised that the moment of celebration could also become a moment of commemoration. There will be, she thought, many South Africans looking for a way to hold on to the memory of the country’s auspicious achievement.
“I wanted to make a collection for South Africans who are excited and proud,” Anderson said. “South Africans are my major clients — and you have to look after your core business. I’m not holding my breath for tourists.”
Anderson’s epiphany came when she first beheld the slogan “We were there”, part of the proliferation of patriotic messages, targeting consumers, from advertisers hoping to key into the World Cup’s positive energy. At that moment Anderson thought, “let’s be part of this”.
Being part of it meant contacting 14 jewellery designers and asking them to interpret the national fervour into a precious object. She was looking for what she calls “celebratory pieces”.
In their designs all made reference to the beautiful game and Anderson was blessed with a collection of rings, brooches, earrings and pendants resembling soccer boots, balls, banners, vuvuzelas and televisions sets.
Cape Town-based designer Adi Cloete offered Anderson something a tad different. She proposed to put Green Point stadium on some lucky woman’s finger.
Cloete’s Green Point stadium ring is a unique object. There is not another like it.
Cloete says she sees the stadium every day when she goes for a walk and what began to intrigue her about the shape of the stadium is that, “it is a circle, but it has a waviness from the side. I wanted to replicate that. I wanted to communicate the flow of the lines used in the structure.
“What is beautiful about it, is that it is geometrical, but it has a soft flow.”
The materials Cloete chose were rutilated quartz set in sterling silver, framed with a rose gold band. Cloete says that the rutilation presents itself as “needles growing in the stone; it reflects the structure, while the facets on the stone resemble a soccer ball”.
The designer says she has always been inspired by the geometry of architecture and, after a trip to India she began to explore designs based on Asian temple structures.
Meanwhile, Anderson has decorated her boutique with flag-coloured vuvuzelas, astroturf and the precious one-off keepsakes that, hopefully, will recall the country’s moment of glory.
Veronica Anderson Jewellers, Shop L11, Michaelangelo Towers, Sandton. Tel: 011 783 7036 wwwveronicaandersonjewellry.com