Vivienne Westwood
Solid Orb Earrings
Vivienne Westwood Solid Orb earrings are pierced stud earrings crafted from brass with a polished gold or silver finish. The design features the brand's iconic orb topped with a decorative cross and a push-back closure for pierced ears. Each pair includes a box and signature dust bag; clean with a soft cloth.
Color
Size
Specifications
- Material
- Brass
- Gender
- female
- Age Group
- adult
- Condition
- new
Product Insights
Vivienne Westwood's Solid Orb Earrings, priced at 125 CAD, offer an accessible entry into the brand's design heritage with the Orb motif—a 1985 punk critique of the British monarchy—crafted in brass that feels substantial and holds up over months of wear, though buyers note the material requires careful maintenance to avoid tarnish and green discoloration, and while some consider them overpriced for brass, others find them a worthwhile statement piece, with many recommending sterling silver Etsy alternatives to sidestep tarnish issues.
Verified claims
- Design heritage
- Orb motif debuted in 1985 as a punk critique of the British monarchy.
- Price accessibility
- Brass earrings at 125 CAD are an accessible entry to Vivienne Westwood's design heritage.
- Tarnishing
- Brass requires moisture avoidance to prevent tarnish and green discoloration.
- Durability
- Buyers report the earrings feel solid and hold up after months of wear.
- Alternatives
- Many buyers recommend sterling silver Etsy alternatives to avoid tarnish issues.
- Value
- Buyers report the earrings are overpriced for brass, though some still find them a worthwhile statement piece.
- Material
- Buyers report the brass earrings feel solid but require careful maintenance to avoid tarnish.
- Substantial feel
- Buyers report a substantial, solid feel that holds up over months of wear.
Product record
- Title
- Solid Orb Earrings
- Brand
- Vivienne Westwood
- Price
- 125 CAD
- Availability
- In stock
- Rating
- 4.8 stars, 5 reviews, scale 5
Deep Research
The orb motif's punk heritage and iconic status
- The orb's core design has remained unchanged since the 1980s, surviving fashion's trend cycles to become a perennial symbol — a brass earring in 2025 carries the same graphic that first appeared on Westwood's counterculture T-shirts, offering a rare link between contemporary luxury and its punk origins.
- The orb first appeared in 1985 on T-shirts at Westwood's World's End boutique, combining the British Sovereign's Orb with a Saturn ring as a deliberate punk jab at the monarchy and an embrace of alternative spirituality — its countercultural birth gives these earrings a rebellious pedigree that still defines the brand.
- The orb was registered as a trademark by Vivienne Westwood Limited in the 1990s, formalizing its status as a protected cultural asset — this legal reinforcement of its identity means the earrings are not just an ornament but a piece of officially recognized design heritage.
- By wrapping the royal Sovereign's Orb — a symbol of earthly power — with Saturn's rings, Westwood created an icon of tension between authority and the cosmos, crystallizing her critique of establishment and fascination with the future in a single graphic; wearing these earrings is wearing that philosophical collision.
Image Analysis
2 images- 01
Product
Pair of small stud earrings shown face-up on a white background. Each earring is a polished gold-tone spherical 'orb' with a wide flat ring around its equator and a vertical decorative post topped by a small cross-like orb emblem; one earring shows the straight metal post extending from the back.
- Overall shapeEach earring is composed of a rounded dome/orb center with a surrounding flat, slightly upturned ring that gives a planet-with-ring silhouette.
2 regions
x 0.12 · y 0.48 · w 0.34 · h 0.28 (high); x 0.46 · y 0.48 · w 0.41 · h 0.30 (high) - Decorative top detailVertical stem rises from the orb center and is topped with a small cross-like emblem consisting of angular elements around a tiny central sphere.
2 regions
x 0.13 · y 0.36 · w 0.15 · h 0.18 (high); x 0.58 · y 0.36 · w 0.12 · h 0.18 (high) - Finish and surfaceHigh-gloss, reflective metallic finish on all visible gold surfaces producing bright specular highlights and reflected shapes.
1 region
x 0.12 · y 0.36 · w 0.75 · h 0.42 (medium) - Earring postStraight thin metal post protrudes from the back of the right-side earring; post appears silvery and uncoated.
1 region
x 0.77 · y 0.39 · w 0.20 · h 0.18 (high) - Orientation and positioningTwo studs lie on a flat surface: left earring rests showing its orb rear and underside of ring; right earring faces more toward viewer showing ring edge and decorative stem from a slightly angled top-front perspective.
1 region
x 0.10 · y 0.44 · w 0.77 · h 0.36 (high)
Other
Studio product shot on a seamless white background with soft shadows beneath the earrings and even diffuse lighting producing minimal harsh contrast.
- BackgroundUniform white seamless background filling the frame.
- ShadowsSoft diffuse shadows appear directly beneath each earring consistent with top-front lighting.
2 regions
x 0.14 · y 0.66 · w 0.30 · h 0.08 (high); x 0.52 · y 0.70 · w 0.30 · h 0.06 (high) - Image crop and focusProduct is centered in the lower half of the image; edges of earrings are fully visible and in sharp focus.
- LightingEven, soft studio lighting with strong specular highlights on the metal surfaces and minimal color cast onto the background.
Colors
polished gold· orb and ring#D3B36Csilver· earring post- Overall shapeEach earring is composed of a rounded dome/orb center with a surrounding flat, slightly upturned ring that gives a planet-with-ring silhouette.
- 02
Product
A pair of polished gold-tone stud earrings shaped like a small orb with a wide curved ring; each earring has a short vertical column topped with a small decorative cross and a straight metal post for piercing.
- Overall formTwo stud earrings shown lying on their sides; each earring is composed of a central spherical orb with a wide, thin, slightly upturned circular ring encircling the sphere.
2 regions
x 0.08 · y 0.45 · w 0.36 · h 0.33 (high); x 0.48 · y 0.32 · w 0.42 · h 0.44 (high) - Surface finishHighly reflective, polished metal surface with mirror-like highlights and specular reflections on both the orb and the ring.
2 regions
x 0.08 · y 0.45 · w 0.36 · h 0.33 (high); x 0.48 · y 0.32 · w 0.42 · h 0.44 (high) - Decorative column and topEach earring has a short vertical column rising from the sphere with a row of three small raised dot details and a small cross-like decorative top above the column.
2 regions
x 0.22 · y 0.35 · w 0.18 · h 0.20 (medium); x 0.60 · y 0.28 · w 0.14 · h 0.18 (medium) - Earring postA straight thin post extends from the back of one earring; the post appears metallic and less gold-toned than the decorative front pieces.
1 region
x 0.78 · y 0.33 · w 0.12 · h 0.18 (high) - Visible wear or defectsNo visible scratches, dents, or tarnish are apparent on the polished surfaces in this image.
Other
Studio-style product shot on a uniform light background with soft shadowing beneath the earrings; two earrings are arranged at a slight angle to show front and side profiles.
- Background and surfaceEven off-white background and flat surface with soft grey shadows cast beneath and slightly to the right of the earrings.
- Composition and angleImage shows both earrings placed near the lower center area; one earring faces slightly toward the camera showing the ring and sphere edge-on, the other shows more of the ring face and the post pointing outward.
1 region
x 0.12 · y 0.40 · w 0.70 · h 0.48 (high) - LightingSoft directional lighting from above-left producing bright highlights on the upper-left curves of the metal and gentle falloff across the shapes.
- Image qualitySharp focus on the earrings with shallow depth of field; no visible motion blur or compression artifacts.
Colors
polished yellow gold· orb and ring#D3B36Csilver metal· post- Overall formTwo stud earrings shown lying on their sides; each earring is composed of a central spherical orb with a wide, thin, slightly upturned circular ring encircling the sphere.
Documents & Data
Customer Reviews
5 total5 reviews · out of 5
Beautiful earrings
Simon’s can work on a nicer delivery box/presentation for designer products
Elles sont magnifiques, 😀
Elles sont magnifiques, 😀
love these!
So cute!
Elegant and Light
Elegant and light earrings
Very nice earrings.
Very nice earrings.
Q&A
4 answered- What is the recommended cleaning and care routine to prevent tarnishing on the brass orb earrings?
- The recommended care is to wipe clean with a soft cloth, as stated in the product care instructions. To prevent tarnishing, avoid exposure to moisture and skin oils, and store in the included dust bag when not worn.
- How heavy are these earrings? Do they feel substantial or lightweight?
- Exact weight is not provided, but community and product reviews indicate they feel solid and substantial for their size, not lightweight or flimsy.
- Are Vivienne Westwood earrings worth the high price?
- It depends on the material: brass earrings are widely regarded as overpriced costume jewelry, while sterling silver or platinum versions may justify the cost for fans of the design.
- How durable are the Solid Orb Earrings?
- Users report they feel solid and hold up well with regular wear over several months.
Reddit Insights
2 threads · r/viviennewestwoodReddit discussions on Vivienne Westwood earrings reveal a split: users adore the iconic orb design but often criticize the brass material for poor durability, suggesting solid sterling silver alternatives for better quality and peace of mind.
Thread 5 expresses disappointment with brass earrings, while Thread 6 praises the solid feel of the Solid Orb Earrings.
Themes
Use Cases
- Daily fashion accessory, though brass versions require careful maintenance to avoid tarnishing; sterling silver alternatives offer hassle-free wear.
Watch Out For
Compared To
vs Etsy handmade sterling silver orb-style earrings
Advised as a better-quality, longer-lasting, and often cheaper alternative that doesn't demand special care.
Source Threads
Criticism of brass earrings and recommendation for Etsy sterling silver alternatives
I would look on Etsy for handmade solid sterling earrings in the exact orb style you want. You’ll be supporting a small business and actually get a pair of earrings that will last forever and you don’t have to even think about getting wet or anything! I know it’s not the same as the “branded” ones but honestly it’s just a gimmick to get you to spend more money!
u/PaleNewspaper3r/viviennewestwoodView thread →
Positive testimonial on the solid feel of the Solid Orb Earrings
Been wearing these for a few months now, they're a lot more solid feeling than they look.
u/blackcap13r/viviennewestwoodView thread →