Vivienne Westwood
London Crystal Orb Necklace
The London Crystal Orb Necklace is a Vivienne Westwood pendant necklace featuring a cubic zirconia crystal set in a spherical brass pendant with a silver-tone finish, designed as a fashion accessory. It has an adjustable length via an extender chain with a clasp, and is sold in a small signature box. Customer reviews indicate the brass base is plated and may tarnish over time, and the crystal can be prone to damage, so it should be handled with care and not exposed to water or excessive moisture.
- Color
- Silver
- Material
- Brass, Cubic Zirconia
- Gender
- female
- Style
- classic, vintage
- Category
- Apparel & Accessories > Jewelry > Necklaces
Color
Size
Specifications
Delicate pendant necklace featuring a cubic zirconia center stone in a silver orb, adjustable length, by Vivienne Westwood.
Cubic zirconia stone, brass construction, adjustable chain with extender, clasp closure, signature box packaging
- Color
- Silver · gray
- Material
- Brass, Cubic Zirconia
- Style
- classic, vintage
- Gender
- female
- Age Group
- adult
- Condition
- new
- Category
- Apparel & Accessories > Jewelry > Necklaces
Additional Attributes
- delicate pendant design
- silver orb shape
- cubic zirconia center stone
- brass construction
- adjustable length with extender chain
- clasp closure
- sold in signature box
- designer classic revamped with elegance
- refined aesthetic
Product Insights
The Vivienne Westwood London Crystal Orb Necklace at CAD 175 is the most affordable entry into the brand’s orb pendant line, blending the Sovereign's Orb with Saturn’s rings in a flat bas-relief design that is lighter and less prone to shattering than spherical glass versions. Its cultural cachet stems from its 1987 punk heritage, revival through the anime Nana, and celebrity fans like Bella Hadid and Rihanna, making it a badge of otaku and alternative fashion. However, the brass plating tarnishes quickly, cubic zirconia stones may fall out or crack, and the brand offers no repair service, so the price reflects brand equity rather than material value. Frequent counterfeits of this flat orb necessitate purchase from authorized retailers like the VW website, Worlds End, Ssense, Farfetch, or H.Lorenzo, while silver versions costing double provide better durability.
Verified claims
- Plating
- Brass plating tarnishes quickly; requires avoiding water and sweat.
- Orb integrity
- Cubic zirconia stones may fall out; crystal centers can crack.
- Care & handling
- Apply after cosmetics; avoid water and abrasives; wipe and store after each wear.
- Orb heritage
- The orb logo, blending the Sovereign's Orb and Saturn, was born from a Prince Charles jumper and debuted as a pendant in 1987.
- Cultural impact
- The orb's popularity surged due to the anime Nana and celebrity fans like Bella Hadid and Rihanna.
- Construction era
- Flat bas-relief orb with cubic zirconia — lighter and less prone to shattering than spherical glass versions
- Authenticity
- Buyers report flat bas-relief orbs are frequent counterfeits; authorized retailers are recommended
- Orb symbolism
- The orb design fuses the Sovereign's Orb with Saturn's rings, debuted in 1987 as a punk statement.
- Cultural revival
- The orb necklace is a visual badge of otaku and alternative fashion, inspired by Nana and celebrities like Bella Hadid.
- Gateway pricing
- At $175 CAD (£100), this orb pendant is the least expensive in the line, undercutting the next by more than half.
- Durability
- Tarnishes with moisture and loses crystals; no repair offered.
- Value proposition
- Price of 175 CAD reflects brand equity, not material value.
- Silver alternative
- Sterling silver versions cost about double but offer better durability and color stability.
- Design appeal
- Punk-subverted royal iconography and Nana anime popularity give this necklace cultural cachet.
- Authorized retailers
- Safe sources are VW website, Worlds End, Ssense, Farfetch, H.Lorenzo; avoid eBay and Amazon.
- Entry price
- Most affordable VW orb pendant at CAD 175.
- Design heritage
- Orb design with 30-year punk-meets-regal heritage, revived by Nana anime and TikTok.
- Wearability
- Small, lightweight pendant on adjustable chain, comfortable for daily wear.
Product record
- Title
- London Crystal Orb Necklace
- Brand
- Vivienne Westwood
- Price
- 175 CAD
- Availability
- In stock
Image Analysis
2 images- 01
Product
A delicate silver-tone chain necklace displayed hanging with a small orb-shaped pendant featuring a central round clear crystal and a horizontal ring element.
- Chain styleThin, fine-link metallic chain hung in a symmetrical V shape from top corners to the pendant at center-bottom.
2 regions
x 0.18 · y 0.02 · w 0.12 · h 0.86 (high); x 0.70 · y 0.02 · w 0.12 · h 0.86 (high) - Pendant overall shapeSmall orb-style pendant centered at the bottom of the chain consisting of a circular central stone set within a small round bezel and a narrow horizontal ring or wing element crossing behind or through the circle.
1 region
x 0.46 · y 0.84 · w 0.08 · h 0.08 (high) - Pendant detailsCenter shows a single faceted clear stone that reflects highlights; above the circle is a small vertical decorative element connecting to the chain bail.
1 region
x 0.46 · y 0.82 · w 0.06 · h 0.10 (high) - Finish and textureMetal surfaces appear shiny and reflective with small specular highlights on both chain and pendant.
Other
Product shot on a seamless light neutral background with even soft lighting, no visible props, and the necklace centered in frame.
- Background and lightingPlain light gray to off-white seamless background with even diffuse lighting and soft shadows; no texture or props.
- CompositionNecklace is photographed hanging so the chain forms a symmetric V leading to a centered pendant near the lower third of the image.
- Image qualityHigh resolution with clear detail on chain links and pendant; no visible text in the image.
Colors
polished silver· chain and pendant metalclear crystal (bluish highlights)· central stone#F2F1F2- Chain styleThin, fine-link metallic chain hung in a symmetrical V shape from top corners to the pendant at center-bottom.
- 02
Product
A fine silver-tone chain shown flat with an oval metal brand tag and a lobster clasp; chain includes small round link rings and an adjustable extension section.
- Chain constructionFine curb-style linked chain with small round interlocking links running diagonally across the image
1 region
x 0.02 · y 0.58 · w 0.96 · h 0.36 (medium) - Lobster claspSmall metal lobster-claw clasp attached to the end of the chain, polished finish with visible hinge and lever detail
1 region
x 0.62 · y 0.46 · w 0.18 · h 0.13 (high) - Adjustment ringsTwo larger circular jump rings spaced along the chain that serve as adjustable attachment points
2 regions
x 0.18 · y 0.36 · w 0.10 · h 0.10 (high); x 0.36 · y 0.26 · w 0.08 · h 0.08 (high) - Oval brand tagFlat oval metal tag with raised or engraved text and a small connecting ring attaching it to the chain; text not legible at this scale
1 region
x 0.74 · y 0.09 · w 0.18 · h 0.11 (high)
Other
Studio product shot on a plain white background with soft directional lighting from above-left producing faint soft shadows; image is a close detail view cropped to show chain ends and tag.
- Background and lightingUniform white background with soft even lighting and subtle shadows beneath the chain
- Shot compositionDiagonal layout of two chain segments across the frame showing both the clasp end and the tag end in a closeup crop
- Image qualitySharp focus on metal details with low visible noise and neutral color balance
Colors
bright silver· chain and rings#EDEDECbright silver· oval tag and clasp#CCC9C4- Chain constructionFine curb-style linked chain with small round interlocking links running diagonally across the image
Documents & Data
Reddit Insights
6 threads · r/viviennewestwood, r/jewelry, r/AskMeufReddit users love the iconic punk aesthetic of Vivienne Westwood orb necklaces but frequently warn that the brass-based costume jewelry is overpriced, prone to tarnishing and stone loss, and requires delicate care.
While some users praise the design and are willing to accept the trade-offs, the majority of comments highlight quality issues such as brass tarnishing, plating wear, stone loss, and cracking orbs, leading to a predominantly negative sentiment about value for money.
Themes
Use Cases
- Fashion statement for punk/alternative style
- Special occasion or gift (e.g., matching couple jewelry)
Watch Out For
Compared To
vs Sterling silver jewelry
Sterling silver VW pieces are more durable and retain color, unlike brass which tarnishes; many recommend only buying VW in silver.
vs Freshwater pearl necklaces
Real freshwater pearl necklaces offer better material quality and are often cheaper than VW's Swarovski glass pearl necklaces.
vs Other luxury costume jewelry brands (e.g., Alexander McQueen)
VW is similarly priced and uses comparable materials; many luxury fashion jewelry brands use brass and glass.
Source Threads
Cracked orb in Worlds End necklace
The crystal ball centers can at times crack, though not super common. If you can find a ball the same size snd take it to a jewelers they may be able to replace it, or they may be able to stabilize it to prevent it from falling to pieces.
u/ChicnahueCoatl1491r/viviennewestwoodView thread →
VW jewelry uses brass and plating; you pay for the brand
The metals are entirely brass and only plated. So the platinum version of the choker is brass plated with platinum to make it appear silver. Again, that's fine, but know you're paying for the brand.
u/jaderustr/jewelryView thread →
Brass pieces rust and lose crystals without care
I own a few brass pieces, and as long as you take care of them (don’t wear them in the shower, to sleep, when you sweat heavily), they’ll be perfectly fine. I ignored all of that advice when I bought my first necklace (same one in the picture), and now it’s rusted beyond belief and has half of the crystals missing
u/Specific_Month1113r/viviennewestwoodView thread →
Fast oxidation and stone loss on VW orb necklace
Le bracelet a oxydé a une vitesse folle, j'ai d'autres bijoux plus cheap qui ont mieux tenu. Les boucles d'oreilles ça va niveau oxydation mais par contre toutes celles qui ont des pierres/strass, les pierres tombent au bout d'un moment donc c'est très énervant. Niveau collier j'ai une orbe argent plate, j'y fais gaffe et pourtant là encore une pierre est tombée.
u/vncntvangothr/AskMeufView thread →
Where to buy authentic VW orb necklaces
Ig message Worlds End: https://www.instagram.com/viviennewestwoodworldsend/?hl=en. Usually better selection and pricing depending on your location. Reputable third party such as Ssense, Farfetch, or H.Lorenzo. There's always the option of checking if you have a VW boutique near you. Call ahead.
u/Pink_Custardr/viviennewestwoodView thread →
Color variations can indicate fake orb necklaces
I have seen this color variation mostly on fakes. That's actually a good method to recognize fake orbs as the overall fake orb necklaces are made well if you buy them from a 'good replica store'. Also i have seen a lot of fake unboxing videos. There are color variations in the crystals when the orb has another color, too, but for the clear orb, i have never seen another color variation.
u/art_of_hellr/viviennewestwoodView thread →