The Nautical Savannah Compass pendant originated from a special request from Aaron who was looking for a unique, custom made design. Seeking a personalised compass with gemstone and engraved features, he was looking for a meaningful gift for a friend enlisting in the Navy, who had a deep connection to both nautical themes and African landscapes, particularly Kenya and Tanzania.

Nautical Elements and African Theme

Aaron envisioned a compass combining nautical elements with an African theme, and was inspired by some of the twisted rope style compasses I’d made previously. He liked the idea of a Tsavorite gemstone positioned like the Sun on the horizon, along with a serene African savanna with Acacia trees. Think of the iconic opening scene from The Lion King!

Vision and Creativity

I loved working on this project which was a blend of Aaron’s specific vision and my experience on the creative side. The final design included twisted rope, gold accents, sun rays radiating outward from the stone, textured savannah and some acacia trees, keeping the everyday wearability of the piece in mind at all times. The resulting piece captured the essence of adventure, personal significance, and aesthetic beauty.