N°120 Statement Earrings

I’ll never forget the moment I locked eyes with the squid that inspired these earrings. Suspended just beneath the surface during a snorkel in Vanuatu, it hovered there, watching me as much as I was watching it. With an iridescent shimmer along its mantle and feathery undulating fins, it was a living illusion—both bold and elusive at the same time. This squid was not just floating; it was performing, shifting in colour and texture, a master of disguise and drama. That fleeting but mesmerizing encounter became the blueprint for these earrings.

The deep, velvety black feathers replicate the squid’s sleek, elongated body, mirroring the way light disappears into its inky skin when it moves through the water. The rust-colored down at the base of the feathers is inspired by the subtle, shifting hues along its fins, where reddish-brown tones emerge when the squid catches the right angle of light. Just like the fine, hair-like structures that line the squid’s body to enhance its movement, these soft details add texture and depth, ensuring that the earrings move dynamically rather than sitting statically.

At the top, the silver caps with intricate woven patterns are a direct nod to the complex skin of the squid, which is covered in chromatophores—tiny pigment-filled cells that create its hypnotic colour shifts. The silver is not just decorative; it embodies the biological detail of the squid’s ability to transition between tones and textures at will. The small black onyx bead represents the squid’s piercing eye, an organ so sophisticated it can detect changes in light, contrast, and even polarization—making it one of the most intelligent hunters in the sea. Meanwhile, the deep red pearl is a tribute to the bioluminescent glow that some squid species produce, creating a final touch of mystery and depth in the design.

 There’s something about the way they move—never quite still, catching the light at unexpected moments—that reminds me of the way marine creatures exist in constant motion, adjusting and adapting but always remaining effortlessly themselves.

So if are you looking for elegant black & chocolate brown earrings, these  feather, Pearl & Onyx  earrings might be for you! I used to struggle to mix the weight of stone and metal with feathers, but these are perfectly balanced through the pearls and ornate silver-plated cones . At 12.5 cm - they are long... but that's just the way I like it. Naturally - they are featherlight and like all natural materials never fully identical.