5.6 x 4.4 x 0.9 cm
2.2 x 1.7 x 0.3 inch
Low tarnish sterling silver, Titanium, Stainless Steel
Hand drawn, CAD modified, laser cut, hand finished
The microscopic marine creature namesake of this brooch inspired the layers of low tarnish sterling silver and titanium.
The thin layers keep the brooch lightweight and the stainless steel fasteners remind us that humankind’s activities on land affect even the tiniest of sea creatures. Pure titanium layers provide color contrast to the low tarnish sterling silver.
See the brooch in person in one of 9 European cities beginning in the Netherlands in Nov 2024 through Jan 2026 as part of the traveling exhibit + sale “Alegría, jewels” organized by artist and educator Luis Acosta of the Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam.
I modified the creature as I redrew the two microscopic creatures by hand; based on the drawings below. I digitized the new hand drawing, modified it again in CAD and sent the design to a laser cutter where it was cut in 30 gauge low tarnish sterling silver and Titanium. I textured, burnished and hand finished each curve and cutout by hand.
The Titanium is grade 2 pure Titanium. The low tarnish sterling silver resists tarnishing. The niobium ear wires are non-allergenic.
Learn more about how my radiolarian designs are created by watching the short video
