Vivienne Westwood
Bas Relief Pearly Bead Necklace
This Bas Relief Pearly Bead Necklace by Vivienne Westwood is a single-strand necklace composed of synthetic pearls with a central metal orb pendant set with Swarovski crystals, crafted from silver-plated brass and synthetic materials. It measures 20 inches (51 cm) in length, with a pendant height of 20 mm and width of 30 mm, and fastens with a signature clasp. The necklace comes with a box and dust bag; note that it is classified as costume jewelry with a plated brass base, so consumer reviews recommend gentle handling to avoid tarnishing and preserve the crystals.
- Material
- Silver plated brass, synthetic pearls and Swarovski crystals
- Style
- glam, edgy, vintage
- Category
- Apparel & Accessories > Jewelry > Necklaces
Color
Size
Specifications
A statement necklace featuring an oversized Vivienne Westwood orb pendant adorned with Swarovski crystals, set on a strand of pearly beads.
Oversized orb pendant with Swarovski crystals, secure signature clasp, includes box and dust bag.
- Material
- Silver plated brass, synthetic pearls and Swarovski crystals
- Secondary
- glass, plastic
- Style
- glam, edgy, vintage
- Gender
- male
- Age Group
- adult
- Condition
- new
- Category
- Apparel & Accessories > Jewelry > Necklaces
Additional Attributes
- Oversized orb pendant with Swarovski crystals
- String of pearly beads
- Silver plated brass construction
- Synthetic pearls
- Signature clasp fastener
- Includes box and dust bag
- Length: 20 inches (51 cm)
- Pendant height: 20 mm
- Pendant width: 30 mm
- Iconic Vivienne Westwood branding
- Bold statement piece
Product Insights
The Bas Relief Pearly Bead Necklace by Vivienne Westwood is a subversive fashion icon: its Orb pendant, fusing a sovereign’s orb with Saturn’s ring, debuted as an anti-monarchy badge in 1987 and as a pearl necklace in 1990. Culturally loaded—featured in Nana manga, revived as a TikTok sensation after Dua Lipa’s 2021 Brit Awards—it serves as an entry-level badge of punk, manga, or TikTok-aligned pride. Made from brass, silver plating, synthetic pearls, and genuine Swarovski crystals (over 30% lead for diamond-like sparkle), it offers a warm vintage-white bead tone matching product photos at $315—under half the cost of the brand’s three-row choker and similar to real-pearl alternatives. The tradeoff: costume-jewelry construction demands delicate handling (remove before water, sweat, perfume), the brass can tarnish and leave skin green, and the glued crystals and clasp are not repairable, making it a statement piece that prioritizes cultural cachet over durability.
Verified claims
- Design origins
- Debuted as a pendant in 1987 and with pearls in 1990, fusing royal and celestial iconography as an anti-monarchy badge.
- Cultural cachet
- Worn as an entry-level badge of subversive pride, featured in Nana manga, and revived as a TikTok necklace in 2021.
- Heritage
- Orb pendant merges sovereign's orb with Saturn ring; first appeared as a pearl necklace in 1990.
- Cultural relevance
- Cult status from Nana manga; revived as TikTok icon after Dua Lipa's 2021 Brit Awards.
- Materials
- Brass, silver plating, synthetic pearls, and Swarovski crystals; brass can tarnish and leave skin green.
- Durability
- Costume jewelry clasp and glued crystals require careful handling; not repairable.
- Crystal quality
- Swarovski crystals contain over 30% lead for a diamond-like sparkle.
- Bead color
- The white colorway is strung with pearly beads, and the silver colorway uses glass beads.
- Care
- Remove before water, sweat, or perfume to prevent tarnishing and damage.
- Price context
- $315: under half the three-row choker; real pearls cost similarly.
- Material quality
- Genuine Swarovski crystals are precision-cut with over 30% lead, and the strand is made of synthetic pearls.
- Clasp type
- The necklace uses a secure signature clasp fastener, typically a lobster claw clasp with the Vivienne Westwood orb logo.
- Skin contact
- The brass base can oxidize and may leave green marks on skin if exposed to moisture or sweat.
- Wear precautions
- Do not shower or sleep in the necklace; it is costume jewelry and not water-resistant.
- Pendant construction
- The orb pendant is likely hollow, as it is made of silver-plated brass and is 20 mm tall by 30 mm wide.
- Replica comparison
- Replicas vary; some users claim high-quality fakes can match or even exceed the authentic in durability and appearance, but the authentic has brand prestige.
Product record
- Title
- Bas Relief Pearly Bead Necklace
- Brand
- Vivienne Westwood
- Price
- 315 CAD
- Availability
- In stock
Buying Guide
1 comparison · 13 sourcesUses
A bold statement necklace for standing out
Vivienne Westwood's iconic orb sits oversized at the centre of a string of pearly beads, making this an imposing accessory that carries the British label's distinctive bold style. A secure signature clasp keeps it fastened while you wear it.[2]
Product comparison
Compared within this brand.
| Bas Relief Pearly Bead Necklace: Choose this if you want a bold, statement-making necklace centered on Vivienne Westwood's oversized signature orb, set with Swarovski crystals on a single strand of glossy pearly beads. It measures 51 cm (about 20 inches) with a 20 mm by 30 mm pendant and a lobster clasp with an oval tag, and it comes with a box and signature dust bag; one wearer reports it has satisfying weight and shines even more in hand than in photos. Note it comes in one size with a fixed length, so it suits those comfortable with that fit.[1,2,3] | Lancelot Signature Orb Necklace: Choose this if you want a delicate, gold-tone necklace featuring Vivienne Westwood's iconic orb rendered in 3D perspective with a vintage gold-plated effect over 100% brass. It offers detailed craftsmanship — engraved lettering on the outer ring reading LONDON 44 CONDUIT STREET MAYFAIR, raised VIVIENNE text, star- and heart-shaped cutouts, and a cross-shaped bail — on a chain measuring 31.75 inches (81 cm) with a signature snap hook closure, in one size. It comes with a signature storage box and dust bag, though the brass base with gold plating is not solid precious metal.[4,5,6] | Crystals And Pearls Orb Choker: Choose this if you want an iconic orb choker look — a Swarovski crystal pavé orb atop a single strand of pearls — in silver or gold brass finishes with two length options (14.5 inches / 37 cm or 16.25 inches / 41 cm) in White or Golden Yellow. A long-term owner reports it holds up over roughly two years of frequent wear, with a comfortable weight, though the silver plating wears to a patina over time and the interlocking clasp is not the most secure. Note that the pearls are synthetic, and one shopper who saw it in person found the pearls looked cheap even while liking the orb, so it suits those drawn to the designer look rather than fine materials.[7,8,9,10,11,12,13] |
Image Analysis
1 images- 01
Product
Single-strand necklace composed of round pearly beads with a small silver-tone central orb pendant and a lobster clasp with an oval tag; beads are glossy and uniformly spaced along a fine string or wire.
- Beaded strandContinuous single strand of uniformly sized round pearly beads forming an oval necklace; beads have a glossy, reflective finish and appear off-white/pale ivory.
1 region
x 0.06 · y 0.18 · w 0.88 · h 0.70 (medium) - Central pendantSmall horizontal silver-tone orb pendant suspended at the front center of the strand; pendant has an oval base with a raised cross-like element on top and is set with multiple tiny clear stones or textured dots across its surface.
1 region
x 0.38 · y 0.72 · w 0.24 · h 0.12 (high) - Pendant attachmentsTwo small metal loops connect the pendant to adjacent beads on either side; short chain links or small jump rings are visible between the pendant and beads.
2 regions
x 0.46 · y 0.72 · w 0.08 · h 0.06 (high); x 0.34 · y 0.72 · w 0.08 · h 0.06 (high) - Clasp and tagSilver-tone lobster clasp at the top of the necklace with a small oval metal tag adjacent to it; the tag has fine engraved characters or a logo but the text is too small to read at this resolution.Partial
1 region
x 0.43 · y 0.04 · w 0.14 · h 0.08 (high) - Bead reflections and shadowsEach bead shows specular highlights and small cast shadows to the lower-right, indicating directional top-left lighting and a slightly elevated placement above the background.
1 region
x 0.06 · y 0.18 · w 0.88 · h 0.70 (medium)
Other
Studio product shot on a plain light neutral background with soft directional lighting from the upper-left; necklace laid flat in an oval with the pendant centered at the bottom of the frame.
- Background and stagingPlain matte light gray or off-white background with no visible props; product centered in frame and photographed from above.
- Shot compositionTop-down view showing the full necklace in an oval arrangement with the pendant at the lower center and the clasp at the top center.
- LightingSoft directional lighting from upper-left producing small specular highlights on beads and faint shadows to the lower-right of beads and pendant.
- Image qualitySharp focus on beads and pendant with even exposure; small fine details on the pendant are visible though tiny engraved text on the clasp tag is illegible.
Colors
pearl ivory· beads#F4F4F4polished silver· pendant and clasp- Beaded strandContinuous single strand of uniformly sized round pearly beads forming an oval necklace; beads have a glossy, reflective finish and appear off-white/pale ivory.
Brand PDP Lookup
- Brand
- Vivienne Westwood
One Row Bas Relief Pearl Necklace
Variants
2 SKUsDocuments & Data
Reddit Insights
5 threads · r/jewelry, r/viviennewestwood, r/AskMeuf, r/DHgateReddit discussions reveal that Vivienne Westwood's Bas Relief Pearly Bead Necklace is widely considered overpriced costume jewelry with quality concerns, though some fans value its iconic design and are willing to baby the piece.
While many users criticize the brass construction, fake pearls, and rapid tarnishing as not worth the price, a minority defend the brand's aesthetic and report satisfaction when carefully maintained.
Themes
Use Cases
- Fashion accessory for special occasions
- Gift for partners/friends who like the brand
- Daily wear if extremely careful
Watch Out For
Compared To
vs Real pearl jewelry (freshwater/akoya)
Many suggest buying real pearl jewelry instead, which offers better quality and value for a similar or slightly higher price.
vs Other Vivienne Westwood jewelry (sterling silver pieces)
Sterling silver VW pieces are considered more durable and worth the extra cost compared to the brass pearl necklaces.
vs Counterfeit replicas (from DHgate, Etsy, etc.)
Some users argue high-quality replicas offer nearly identical aesthetics at a fraction of the price, questioning the value of the authentic piece.
Source Threads
Detailed breakdown of materials and brand value
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 →
Mixed review specifically on the pearl necklace
Par contre j'ai le 1 rang de perle dont tu parles : lui je le trouve plutôt bien et solide, et même si les perles ne sont pas vraies, elles ont une couleur qui est vraiment différente des contrefaçons cheap qui sont blanches éclatantes, là ça fait un peu plus "naturel" même si ça ne l'est pas. En résumé : tout est méga cher pour une qualité vraiment pas ouf et c'est un peu décevant.
u/vncntvangothr/AskMeufView thread →
Positive review of a replica, implying authentic is overpriced
I was actually surprised, i was expecting some cheap necklace but this necklace screams quality, it has weight to it and shines really nice. I tried to capture a picture of the shine of the crystals and was pretty hard, in hand it shines even more than in the picture. The perals have a nice glow to them, the clasp and tag are really detailed and even the back of the necklace has good quality and it's not like those hollow cheap replicas.
u/manelelelr/DHgateView thread →
Reassurance about pearl color against website photos
I checked against the website photos - I wouldn't be worried! They look like how I'd expect - Warm/"vintage white"
u/moth-peachr/jewelryView thread →