Anthony and Christine's Love Story

An incredibly unique engagement ring for a couple with a wonderfully special love story. This custom diamond, sapphire and platinum cluster ring is possibly one of the most unique rings to have left the Botanica studio. It features four of Christine’s heirloom diamonds, two carefully sourced sapphires and one custom cut teal marquise sapphire. We combined multiple elements to create a balanced, comfortable, and striking ring. A truly unique ring to suit a couple with one of the most unique love stories we have heard. Here is Anthony and Christine's story in Christine’s own words:

“I moved to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in August 2019 for a job. In October 2019, Anthony decided to visit Vietnam for a short 2 week holiday. We met one night for drinks and realised that we just couldn't stop talking to one another. We realised it was nearing 5am the next morning, still talking away, we hugged goodbye, and that was it. He flew back to Australia the next day. 

I asked him if he would like to stay in touch (which was a bit out of character for me), and he provided me with his email address, as he wasn't interested in social media. What followed is that we wrote essay-length emails to each other just getting to know one another, and being fascinated with the person on the other end of the email. No expectations of a relationship, just two people taking the time to communicate in a slightly outdated way. We moved on to a video call on Skype, and the butterflies properly kicked in even further. It became a standing arrangement, every Monday and Friday, and I was wishing my week away just waiting for those calls. Anthony mentioned coming back to Vietnam for a holiday, and while I thought he just really liked the country, he plainly stated that he was coming to visit me, and we started planning a holiday to Cambodia together. He would land in Ho Chi Minh City on 3 April 2020.

Vietnam closed its borders in late March and Australia issued a travel ban for its citizens at the same time, literal days before he was to arrive.

So we spent more time on video calls waiting for the respective countries to end their first 14 day lockdown periods. 

What followed was two and a half years of video calls, making playlists for each other, sending silly photos and videos, and firmly deciding to commit to each other regardless of distance and border closures. We both had a pretty tough time of it, as did most of the world, and the emotional support we provided each other became so invaluable, that being in an unintentional long-distance relationship just seemed like the most natural thing to do, and wait it out. My first relationship in years, and a global pandemic hits, go figure. We had a few opportunities to start seeing each other near the end of 2021, but once Omicron hit, Vietnamese authorities made it incredibly hard for South African passport holders to reenter the country, even if they hadn't been back to South Africa. If I left, I wouldn't be able to return to my job, and we both decided for me to stay put and continue saving for when we finally could be together, but it felt endless. Anthony saved up relentlessly too, and we both decided to quit our jobs and figure it out together the minute we could.

Vietnam finally reopened their borders in April 2022, and after one cancelled flight, Anthony arrived straight in my arms on 14 April 2022. We stayed in Vietnam for me to finish my contract, and then decided to spend some time in South Africa while we figured out how to get me to Australia. I think we were both quite sure of each other, but the time of finally being physically together and realising that this relationship wasn't just a figment of our imaginations made us both very keen on a future together.

We started talking and strategizing on the best possible visa option for me, but my dear South African passport made it tricky. We opted to attempt a visitor visa (denied), knowing that we were aiming for a partner visa to ensure we had some bureaucratic stability going forward. These visas are incredibly arduous and expensive to get, and you have to communicate about every aspect of your relationship. If you don't, your visa agent will certainly ask you! The topic of marriage came up, and we decided that that was something we really wanted from each other, but at our own pace. We talked about at least getting engaged to cement our commitment to each other at that point in time, and talked about getting a ring made. Our story just felt too unique for something store bought - we wanted something unusual that we just couldn't seem to find. I had some heirloom diamonds from my maternal grandparents, and it was the first time I could think about using them for the best possible cause. We started researching jewellers, and found Botanica. A place where bespoke, unique, botanically-inspired and carefully crafted items seemed to come alive, and after meeting with Claire, we felt like we had hit the jackpot.

My grandparents were married for 60+ years, and were adventurous travellers in their early days. Their first year of marriage, they saved up every spare cent, travelled from SA, bought a car in Italy, and spent 6 months travelling around Europe and North Africa to see what the world had to offer. It had always been my favourite love story, and once Anthony and I decided to get married, I really wanted to carry their story and spirit with me and my partner, and our own version of a modern day love story. I really wanted to link the two stories, as without my grandparents imbuing an intense wanderlust in my soul, I would not have travelled, and I would not have met Anthony.

We had no real idea about what type of ring we wanted, but Claire guided us through and let us play with the stones we provided, as well as exposing us to possibilities of what to add. We decided on 4 of the diamonds from my grandparents rings, and 3 small marquise-cut sapphires of varying colours to tell our story (one for South Africa, one for Vietnam and one for Australia). As Anthony put it, he wanted it to represent where we were (Vietnam), where we are (South Africa), and where we're going (Australia). We couldn't have dreamt up a more wonderfully whimsical, romantic and botanically-infused ring for the two of us. Claire just brought it alive. While we got the ring made together, the proposal was up to Anthony to decide where and when, and I had no idea on the details. He flew back to Australia, took the ring with him, and fully intended on proposing once I arrived there. After my first visa was denied, Anthony flew back to SA to be with me and figure things out, and popped the question on 6 June 2023.

We finally got my partner visa a week before Christmas 2023, and I arrived in Sydney on 24 December 2023. 

We set off travelling Australia in the utility vehicle Anthony had spent time retrofitting for the last 4 years, and we decided to press pause in the beautiful Southwest region of Australia. We now currently live and work on a vineyard just outside of Margaret River, realising another joint dream of trying out careers in the wine industry together, and we're exactly where we're meant to be.

If this whole journey has taught us anything, it's that your heart knows where you're meant to be at any given time, and even if you think that you might be doing something somewhere for one reason, leave a little room for life to reward you with the most unexpected of joys.”