Vivienne Westwood
Mini Bas Relief Earrings
The Vivienne Westwood Mini Bas Relief Earrings are pierced stud earrings featuring a bas-relief planet-orb motif set with Swarovski crystals on a brass frame. They measure 17 mm in length and use a push-back closure. Made of brass and Swarovski crystal, user reviews indicate that durability varies with care, with some reporting no tarnishing and others noting potential plating wear over time.
Color
Size
Specifications
- Material
- Brass, swarovski crystal
- Gender
- female
- Age Group
- adult
- Condition
- new
Product Insights
The Mini Bas Relief Earrings by Vivienne Westwood fuse the Sovereign's Orb with a Saturn ring in a classic, flat-profile design with pavé-set Swarovski crystals offering diamond-like brilliance, but the brass base may tarnish and cause green marks or nickel reactions, and the plating requires careful storage to avoid wear, trading material longevity for an iconic orb silhouette at $185 CAD.
Verified claims
- Design
- The orb motif fuses the Sovereign's Orb with a Saturn ring, first introduced as a pendant in 1987.
- Hardware detail
- The butterfly-back clasp is orb-shaped, and the design is part of the permanent classic collection.
- Cultural history
- Design merges royal orb and Saturn rings; popularized by Nana manga and Gen Z TikTok.
- Brilliance
- Computer-optimized facets up to 100 per stone deliver diamond-like brilliance.
- Fashion pedigree
- Swarovski crystals are used by fashion houses like Christian Dior, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton.
- Pavé sparkle
- Pavé-set 100-facet Swarovski crystals produce a dense, scattered sparkle from every angle.
- Material
- Buyers report showering without tarnish but note green marks from brass base.
- Crystal security
- Swarovski crystals stay securely set under normal wear.
- Plating protection
- Avoid water and perfume; store in a pouch to prevent plating wear.
- Nickel safety
- Nickel in brass may trigger allergic reactions if plating wears.
- Earlobe fit
- 1.7 cm by 2.7 cm flat profile and orb back keep earrings flush, stackable
- Comfort
- Weighs 6.9 g; buyers report wearing for days without irritation
- Visual impact
- Pavé crystal surface amplifies the visual presence compared to similar-size studs
- Flat profile
- Low-profile design sits nearly flush against the lobe for snag-free, stable, and comfortable daily wear.
- Side visibility
- Flush profile reduces side visibility compared to dome-shaped studs.
- Crystal density
- Mini Bas Relief has denser Swarovski crystal coverage than Mayfair.
- Silhouette
- Mini Bas Relief is a pure orb silhouette without a plaque.
- Dimensions
- Mini Bas Relief earrings: 17 mm long, 27 mm wide, oblong shape.
- Price vs alternatives
- At 185 CAD, the earrings trade material longevity for iconic design; similar-priced sterling silver exists.
- Hypoallergenic alternatives
- Sterling silver is a recommended hypoallergenic alternative.
- Orb closure
- Butterfly-back fastening is cast in the orb motif.
- Classic collection status
- Part of Vivienne Westwood's classic collection with ongoing production.
Product record
- Title
- Mini Bas Relief Earrings
- Brand
- Vivienne Westwood
- Price
- 185 CAD
- Availability
- In stock
Image Analysis
2 images- 01
Product
A pair of silver-tone bas relief earrings shown face-on; each earring is an orb with an outer horizontal ring and a small cross-shaped stud above, decorated with many small clear stones.
- Overall shapeEach earring has a horizontally oriented oval ring surrounding a textured domed orb; a small cross-shaped stud sits directly above the orb and connects the earring to the post.
2 regions
x 0.12 · y 0.40 · w 0.35 · h 0.22 (high); x 0.53 · y 0.40 · w 0.35 · h 0.22 (high) - Decorative surfaceSurfaces of the orb, ring interior, and cross stud are densely set with small faceted clear stones creating a pavé effect; stones follow curved panels on the dome and a single circular stone is visible at the dome front.
2 regions
x 0.16 · y 0.43 · w 0.30 · h 0.16 (high); x 0.57 · y 0.43 · w 0.30 · h 0.16 (high) - Metal finishMetal framework and edges appear polished and reflective with a bright silver-tone finish forming the outer ring, rim details, and cross outline.
2 regions
x 0.12 · y 0.40 · w 0.35 · h 0.22 (high); x 0.53 · y 0.40 · w 0.35 · h 0.22 (high) - Attachment/post areaSmall cross-shaped top element includes a central round stone and serves as the visible front of the post attachment; backs and posts are not visible.
2 regions
x 0.21 · y 0.33 · w 0.08 · h 0.06 (medium); x 0.68 · y 0.33 · w 0.08 · h 0.06 (medium)
Other
Studio shot on a plain white background with soft even lighting and faint shadows beneath each earring. Both earrings are centered horizontally and shown at the same frontal orientation.
- Background and lightingUniform white background with diffuse lighting; soft shadows fall beneath each earring indicating light from above.
1 region
x 0.00 · y 0.00 · w 1.00 · h 1.00 (high) - Image compositionTwo earrings arranged side-by-side with even spacing; image is cropped with generous white space above and below the pair.
1 region
x 0.05 · y 0.20 · w 0.90 · h 0.60 (high) - Shadows and reflectionsFaint soft shadows and small specular highlights are visible on the metal surfaces, consistent with studio lighting and reflective finish.
Colors
polished silver· metal framework and ring#CDCEC9clear/white rhinestone· decorative stones#D4D3C4- Overall shapeEach earring has a horizontally oriented oval ring surrounding a textured domed orb; a small cross-shaped stud sits directly above the orb and connects the earring to the post.
- 02
Product
Close-up of two metal planet-orb motif stud earrings with concentric ring detail and multiple small faceted clear stones. Right earring is fully visible and foregrounded; left earring is partially visible at left edge.
- Overall shapeOrb/planet silhouette composed of a domed central sphere with an encircling flattened ring tilted diagonally and a small cross-like finial above the sphere.
2 regions
x 0.55 · y 0.45 · w 0.38 · h 0.40 (high); x 0.00 · y 0.56 · w 0.38 · h 0.36 (medium) - Metal finishHighly reflective polished silver-metal finish on all visible structural surfaces including ring, sphere, and finial.
1 region
x 0.52 · y 0.46 · w 0.36 · h 0.34 (high) - Pavé crystal detailingMany small round faceted clear stones set in rows across the ring edge and in triangular panels on the dome, creating a pavé pattern.
2 regions
x 0.60 · y 0.52 · w 0.28 · h 0.24 (high); x 0.08 · y 0.60 · w 0.30 · h 0.28 (medium) - Top finial detailSmall cross-like decorative finial mounted above the dome; the finial has a central round stone and squared petal-like lobes.
1 region
x 0.66 · y 0.30 · w 0.12 · h 0.14 (high) - Earring backs and postsButterfly-style clutch backs and short posts are partially visible behind the right earring, indicating stud construction.Partial
1 region
x 0.74 · y 0.56 · w 0.10 · h 0.12 (medium)
Other
Studio product shot on a clean white background with soft shadows beneath the earrings; image crops the left earring partially and centers the right earring. Lighting is diffuse and highlights metallic reflections.
- Background and surfaceSmooth white background and surface with soft gray cast shadow under each earring.
1 region
x 0.00 · y 0.00 · w 1.00 · h 1.00 (high) - Shot compositionClose-up detail shot framing both earrings near the lower half of the image with substantial negative space above.
- Shadows and reflectionsSoft diffuse shadows and subtle specular highlights on metal surfaces indicating studio lighting from above-left.Partial
1 region
x 0.48 · y 0.68 · w 0.38 · h 0.18 (medium)
Colors
polished silver· metal surfaces#C4C4BBclear crystal· faceted stones#CDCEC9- Overall shapeOrb/planet silhouette composed of a domed central sphere with an encircling flattened ring tilted diagonally and a small cross-like finial above the sphere.
Documents & Data
Customer Reviews
6 total6 reviews · out of 5
LOVE THEM
LOVE THEM
So pretty!
These are beautiful earrings and very comfortable to wear for hours.
Great gift!
It was a hit for my daughter and delivery was faster than expected. Exactly as shown.
Beautiful but overpriced
Beautiful but overpriced
Beautiful
I love it but they are heavy on the ear
Larger than expected
These earrings are very pretty but are very wide, making them look a bit awkward on my ears.
Reddit Insights
3 threads · r/viviennewestwoodRedditors have mixed feelings about Vivienne Westwood earrings, praising the iconic design but criticizing the use of brass and plating that can tarnish, with some reporting no issues when properly cared for.
While some users find the earrings durable and stylish, others feel they are overpriced for the materials, leading to a cautious overall sentiment leaning slightly negative.
Themes
Use Cases
- Fashion earrings for special occasions
- Everyday wear with precautions
- Collectible brand pieces
Watch Out For
Compared To
vs Sterling silver earrings from independent makers (e.g., Etsy)
Better quality and durability for similar or lower price, but without the brand name.
vs Helmut Lang earrings
Similar issue with plated brass causing skin discoloration.
vs Mayfair Bas Relief earrings
Mayfair has fewer crystals and geometric patterns vs Mini Bas Relief's more crystals.
Source Threads
User reports no tarnishing on VW earrings even with rough use
I'll admit, I can be a bit lazy and leave the smaller ones on for days and wear them in the shower. Oops. 🫣 None have tarnished or turned green after many wears.
u/sluttypockyr/viviennewestwoodView thread →
Comparison between Mini Bas Relief and Mayfair designs
They’re two different designs. The mini bas relief design has more crystals, while the Maifair has less with geometric patterns. “Better” really depends on your preference.
u/ChicnahueCoatl1491r/viviennewestwoodView thread →