Moonage Daydream

a. 7 x 1.5 x 1 cm, b. 9 x 1.5 x 1 cm

reticulation silver, sterling silver, brass, smoky quartz, reticulation, rivets, tube setting, handmade findings

Do you ever look up at the moon on a clear night and think about how there's nothing between the two of you? These earrings are inspired by the feeling of intimacy to be found in that direct sightline, the sense of the space being immense but also being nothing but space. If you look for long enough you can almost feel the full moon tugging at you the same way it tugs at the ocean, creating the tides an endless interplay of gravity and inertia, never-ending movement that coexists with ultimate stillness. These are a statement accessory for those who gaze at the moon and daydream about gravity.

These earrings are formed from reticulated silver, using a special alloy of 80% silver and 20% copper that allows for dramatic results from this special texturing technique. The metal is prepared by raising a layer of pure silver to the top of the metal through a series of repeated heatings. Once the metal is coated in this layer of pure silver, the entire sheet is heated. The alloy below has a lower melting point than the pure silver above, allowing it to liquify and move fluidly beneath the skin of pure silver surrounding it. This creates a unique texture of ridges and valleys, evocative of the surface of the moon. However, with a difference of only 67C between the melting points of the metals, this process must be done with immense precision and care to successfully create these completely organic patterns which can never be exactly repeated.

The reticulated silver is highlighted with a tube-set smoky quartz that catches the light with the movement of these dangle-style earrings. Handmade sterling silver findings and elegant brass rivets add sophisticated finishing details to the piece.