I was in Bangkok, buying stones, when I learned that my father was seriously ill and needed urgent heart surgery.

I couldn’t be there with him. But I could make him something.

I wanted him to have a good luck amulet. Something that might give him strength and courage for what lay ahead.

I started straight away. Making it helped me feel close to him. Perhaps I needed it too.

It became the first anatomical heart I ever made.

I had it cast in 18-karat gold and engraved with the words Ab imo pectore, from the bottom of my heart.

This little gift meant a lot to him. He wore it all the time and never took it off.

A piece of jewellery cannot change what lies ahead. But it can be something to hold on to.

It was a way of being there when I couldn’t be.

Bjørg