Small Mayfair Orb Pendant (Platinum x Red)

Brand:

Vivienne Westwood

Web Documentation:

1. 2015 GLB lolitahistory.com link

The classic orb pendant is a resin piece ornamented in crystals wearing a ring frame composed in brass, engraved with Westwood's name as well as the street its sold from. The chain is linked onto a stout, stoned cross and uses the brand's original lobster clasp design to link.

This marks my first orb, and I received it in red as opposed to the classic clear variation as it felt more intimate to have something in my color.

2025.01.07

Had appraised, so feel free to use the pictures for reference.

I know Vivienne Westwood's jewelry receives a lot of criticism for the "cheap" material they use but the reality is that the credit goes into the piece's commission as each piece is handcrafted in London. Like any artwork, you need to take care of it and ensure it lives a long life regardless of the materials the artist decided to use. Honestly you still need to polish silver and steel, its just that brass needs more attention.

With the jewelry I own I always store them in a plastic zip-top bag and inside their dustbags when I'm not using it and I'll polish them all the time. Even then I wouldn't have these pieces in any other metal since if treated right, brass can take on an antique gold look. I like it when it shows a little age.

Anyway the brand heritage also just specializes in plated jewelry which is why they haven't switched to stainless steel, but consumer culture often leads people into believing they shouldn't take care of their shit or that designer brass can't be worn to the casket.

From how I see it Vivienne Westwood's work was created with "fit" in mind, and is bought to be modified. Hence the orb's simplicity and proclivities to change. The brand has grown out of its "punk" roots for way longer than I've been interested in it (as well as having gained a homophobic profit hound for a CEO). Still, the orb was created to desecrate the sanctity of "luxury branding" and it still manages to age with grace. That shit's brilliant.

I think my purchase was worth it. If I ever crack the resin or the ring starts to develop some patina, I at least know it's what the dame would've wanted to see.