Vivienne Westwood
Mini Bas Relief Necklace
The Vivienne Westwood Mini Bas Relief Necklace is a fashion necklace made of brass, synthetic pearls, and Swarovski crystals, featuring an orb pendant with a lobster clasp. It measures 19.75 inches (50 cm) in length. Designed as a brand-oriented accessory for daily wear, the plated brass may develop a patina over time, and the synthetic pearls are glass-based.
Color
Size
Specifications
- Material
- Swarovski crystal, fake pearls, brass
- Gender
- female
- Age Group
- adult
- Condition
- new
Product Insights
The Mini Bas Relief Necklace by Vivienne Westwood is a direct descendant of her iconic 1987 punk rebellion piece, featuring an Orb pendant that subverts the Sovereign's Orb with Saturn's rings. Its bas-relief sculpting echoes 18th-century French decorative arts, and the warm ivory Swarovski glass pearls offer a vegan-friendly alternative. At 315 CAD, it is the brand's most affordable full-pearl orb necklace, yet buyers report that the silver plating gradually wears to reveal a brass patina—a tradeoff for its authentic punk legacy. The fixed 50 cm length limits adjustability, and counterfeits are common, reducing exclusivity. To preserve the finish, avoid water, sweat, and perfume; gentle cleaning with mild soap is recommended. The necklace's core promise is embodied punk heritage at an accessible price, but care and authenticity vigilance are required.
Verified claims
- Orb heritage
- Orb: Sovereign's Orb + Saturn's rings, 1987 debut, punk rebellion.
- Bas relief
- Bas-relief sculpting inspired by 18th-century French decorative arts.
- Lineage
- This necklace is a direct descendant of the 1987 Three Row Pearl Bas Relief Choker.
- Plating wear
- Buyers report that the silver plating gradually wears to reveal a brass patina.
- Design heritage
- Orb pendant draws on Westwood's 1987 punk heritage and bas-relief craftsmanship.
- Tarnishing prevention
- Avoid water, sweat, and perfume to slow tarnishing and preserve the finish.
- Cleaning
- Use mild dish soap and water on a cotton swab; avoid harsh cleaners that can etch crystals.
- Authentication
- Authentication relies on original packaging, receipts, and reputable sellers.
- Brand legacy
- Owners report years of daily wear and value the authentic punk legacy.
- Pearl color
- Buyers confirm the pearls have a warm vintage ivory tone matching official photos.
- Fit
- Fixed 50 cm length with no extension chain limits adjustability.
- Care
- Durable clasp and crystals; brass patina and green marks; gentle cleaning required.
- Pearl tone
- Synthetic pearls have a warm ivory tone, not bright white.
- Counterfeit prevalence
- Counterfeits are common and visually similar, reducing exclusivity.
- Price positioning
- At 315 CAD (218 USD), it is Westwood's lowest-priced full-pearl orb necklace.
- Pearl composition
- The pearls are Swarovski glass, offering a warm ivory tone and vegan-friendly composition.
- Symbolism
- The Orb pendant subverts the Sovereign's Orb to signal anti-establishment rebellion.
Product record
- Title
- Mini Bas Relief Necklace
- Brand
- Vivienne Westwood
- Price
- 315 CAD
- Availability
- In stock
Deep Research
The orb motif and its design story
- Despite drawing on the Crown Jewels, the Orb is read as one of fashion's foremost anti-establishment symbols — it takes a royal insignia and subverts it, making this necklace a statement of rebellion against conservatism, a piece of punk ideology worn around the neck that aligns the buyer with Westwood's decades-long tension between monarchy and anarchy.
- The term 'Bas Relief' refers to the low-relief, sculptural quality of the orb pendant, a technique directly inspired by 18th-century French decorative arts, paintings, and ceramics — particularly from the Wallace Collection — which gives the motif a tactile dimension that elevates it beyond a printed logo, making the necklace feel like a piece of wearable art rather than mere branding.
- The Orb's first jewelry appearance came on the Three Row Pearl Bas Relief Choker in the Harris Tweed Autumn/Winter 1987-88 collection, a runway piece featuring 92 hand-knotted Swarovski pearls and a central sculpted orb that established the 'Bas Relief' language — this Mini version shrinks that exact silhouette, offering a direct lineage to a 35-year-old design icon.
- The Orb was born during Vivienne Westwood's hiatus in Italy, conceived for a knit jumper she imagined Prince Charles might wear, where she fused the British Crown Jewels' Sovereign's Orb with Saturn's rings drawn from her son's astronomy magazines — a direct translation of the brand's core philosophy 'taking tradition into the future' into a single emblem that has anchored every collection since the mid-80s.
How it compares in price and design
- The non-pearl Mini Bas Relief pendant necklace sells for $127–133 USD, setting the entry-level cost for the orb shape in crystal; the pearl-encrusted version at 315 CAD (~$218 USD) commands roughly an $85–90 premium for the addition of synthetic pearls and a slightly longer chain (50 cm vs 49.5 cm), positioning it as a mid-tier option within the brand’s pearl range.
- From the entry-point crystal pendant ($127 USD) to this pearl version, Vivienne Westwood’s orb necklaces rely on silver-tone plated brass with crystal accents, so the $218 pearl Mini Bas Relief shares its material DNA with the brand’s least expensive orb piece; the price difference funds the pearl embellishment and design intricacy, not a leap into precious metals — a calibration point for anyone comparing it to sterling silver or vermeil alternatives.
- Vivienne Westwood’s own lineup includes more elaborate pearl styles like the Lucrece Pearl necklace at $250 USD and the Pearl Bas Relief Choker at $240 USD, making the Mini Bas Relief Pearl at ~$218 USD the most accessible full-pearl orb necklace in the collection — a deliberate price gap that introduces the pearl-and-crystal motif at a lower commitment point before the brand’s statement chokers.
Brass jewelry care and skin safety
- If the silver-toned plating eventually wears and the brass base contacts skin, the resulting greenish mark is a thin deposit of water-soluble copper carbonate or copper chloride — not a permanent stain — that washes off easily with soap and water, making it a cosmetic inconvenience rather than a health concern.
- A thin, even layer of clear nail polish applied to the chain’s backside or the pendant’s contact points creates a temporary barrier between the brass base and skin, delaying oxidation and green marks, though it requires reapplication every few wears.
- Common household brass cleaners like lemon-salt pastes or vinegar solutions can etch Swarovski crystals and dull synthetic pearls, making a mild dish soap and lukewarm water mixture — dabbed on with a cotton swab to avoid soaking the pearls — the safest deep-clean method for this mixed-material necklace.
Image Analysis
2 images- 01
Product
A single-strand beaded necklace composed of uniform round faux-pearl beads with a silver-tone metal clasp at the top and a small silver-tone ornamental pendant centered at the bottom.
- Beaded strand leftRow of uniform round cream-colored pearl beads forming the left half of the necklace; beads are glossy with small bright highlights and consistent spacing.
1 region
x 0.08 · y 0.12 · w 0.35 · h 0.70 (high) - Beaded strand rightRow of uniform round cream-colored pearl beads forming the right half of the necklace; beads mirror the left side and continue toward the pendant.
1 region
x 0.57 · y 0.12 · w 0.35 · h 0.70 (high) - Clasp assemblySilver-tone metal clasp and short connector chain located at the top center, with a flattened oval connector plate and small jump rings.
1 region
x 0.42 · y 0.02 · w 0.16 · h 0.06 (high) - Pendant ornamentSmall silver-tone decorative pendant suspended at the center bottom; ornament has an orb or ring motif with a crown-like element and multiple small clear stones or textured dots on its surface.
1 region
x 0.44 · y 0.76 · w 0.12 · h 0.12 (high) - Bead-to-pendant connectorsTwo small metal bead caps or links attach the final pearls to the pendant on each side; visible as tiny silver connectors directly above the pendant.
1 region
x 0.47 · y 0.73 · w 0.06 · h 0.06 (high)
Other
Studio product shot on a plain light background with soft shadowing, centered composition showing full necklace loop; even diffuse lighting produces soft highlights on beads and subtle shadows to the right of the necklace.
- Background and stagingNeutral light off-white background with no props; necklace laid flat so chain forms an even teardrop shape.
- Lighting and shadowsDiffuse overhead lighting creates small bright highlights on the upper-left of each bead and faint drop shadows primarily to the lower-right of the necklace chain and pendant.
- Image crop and compositionEntire necklace is visible within the frame except minimal space above the clasp; pendant is centered near the lower third of the image.
Colors
cream pearl· pearls#F3F2EDpolished silver· metal components- Beaded strand leftRow of uniform round cream-colored pearl beads forming the left half of the necklace; beads are glossy with small bright highlights and consistent spacing.
- 02
Product
Close-up view of a beaded necklace showing a string of round pearlescent beads connected to a silver-tone ornamental orb pendant encrusted with clear stones.
- Bead strandString of round, uniformly sized pearlescent beads connected by small metal spacer beads; beads run diagonally from the top center toward the lower left and attach to the pendant via a small loop.
1 region
x 0.30 · y 0.03 · w 0.40 · h 0.52 (high) - Bead surfaceBeads have a smooth, glossy, reflective pearlescent finish with visible highlights and soft circular reflections.
2 regions
x 0.32 · y 0.05 · w 0.20 · h 0.20 (high); x 0.36 · y 0.20 · w 0.20 · h 0.18 (high) - Spacer beads and jump ringsSmall polished spherical spacer beads and circular metal jump rings connect the pearlescent beads to the pendant; these metal connectors are smooth and reflective.
2 regions
x 0.59 · y 0.47 · w 0.10 · h 0.12 (high); x 0.15 · y 0.64 · w 0.10 · h 0.10 (high) - Orb pendant overall shapeSilver-tone ornamental pendant shaped like a stylized planet with an encircling ring and a crown-like element on top; pendant is horizontally oriented and positioned in the lower right quadrant.
1 region
x 0.37 · y 0.58 · w 0.55 · h 0.36 (high) - Pendant metal finishHighly polished silver-tone metal with reflective mirrored surfaces and smooth rounded edges on the ring and main body.
1 region
x 0.48 · y 0.68 · w 0.35 · h 0.22 (high) - Pavé stonesNumerous small clear faceted stones set densely across the orbital ring and central globe area creating a pavé effect; stones produce bright specular highlights.
1 region
x 0.50 · y 0.70 · w 0.40 · h 0.20 (high) - Crown detailSmall crown-like decorative element mounted at the top of the orb with a central raised motif and additional tiny stone set in its center.
1 region
x 0.45 · y 0.58 · w 0.12 · h 0.12 (high)
Other
Studio-style product photograph on a plain white background with soft shadows and even lighting; image is tightly cropped around the necklace detail.
- Background and lightingNeutral white background with soft diffuse lighting producing faint soft-edged shadows beneath beads and pendant.
1 region
x 0.00 · y 0.00 · w 1.00 · h 1.00 (high) - Shot compositionClose-up angled detail shot focusing on the junction between the bead strand and the pendant; top of the strand extends out of frame.
- Shadows and reflectionsSoft drop shadows visible beneath beads and pendant and small specular reflections on the metal surfaces indicating directional light.
1 region
x 0.40 · y 0.60 · w 0.50 · h 0.35 (medium)
Colors
pearlescent ivory· pearlescent beadspolished silver· pendant metal#BFC0B9clear crystal· pavé stones#CBCCC3- Bead strandString of round, uniformly sized pearlescent beads connected by small metal spacer beads; beads run diagonally from the top center toward the lower left and attach to the pendant via a small loop.
Documents & Data
Customer Reviews
5 total5 reviews · out of 5
Mon coup de coeur, différent
Mon coup de coeur, différent et original, j'aime beaucoup
Mon épouse l'adore, simple et
Mon épouse l'adore, simple et raffiné à la fois, un classique pour les soirées mondaines. . .
favourite westwood necklace
it’s fashionable but also not too flashy, definitely my most worn out of other westwood products
Beautiful piece, exactly what i was looking for!
A nice classic design that makes a beautiful addition to any wardrobe. Very happy with my purchase, highly recommend. Very fast shipping as well.
Juste wow
J'ai été agréablement surprise par la longueur de ce collier. Taille plus, j'ai parfois de la difficulté avec la taille des colliers de perles souvent trop serré au niveau du cou. Celui la est parfait et en plus un Vivian Westwood, je suis plus que satisfaite de mon achat!
Q&A
7 answered- What is the specific plating on the brass base metal (e.g., silver or rhodium) and how thick is it?
- The white variant features a silver-toned plating (likely silver or rhodium) on the brass base, but the exact metal and thickness are not specified in the product details.
- Does the necklace have any extension chain or adjustable length, or is it fixed at 19.75 inches?
- The necklace has a fixed length of 19.75 inches (50 cm) with a lobster clasp; no extension chain is mentioned in the product details.
- What materials is the Mini Bas Relief Necklace made from?
- It is brass plated with silver/gold/platinum, with Swarovski glass pearls.
- Will the necklace tarnish or wear over time?
- Yes, the plating can wear off, revealing brass underneath, especially with exposure to water, sweat, or perfume.
- Is it worth the high price tag?
- Opinions are divided; many say it is overpriced for costume jewelry, but fans of the brand find value in the iconic design.
- How can I avoid buying a counterfeit?
- Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true, ask for a receipt, and purchase from official retailers or trusted resale platforms like Vestaire.
- What do the pearls look like in person?
- They have a warm, vintage ivory tone—not stark white—which matches the official website photos.
Reddit Insights
4 threads · r/vinted, r/jewelry, r/viviennewestwoodReddit users are split: many criticize the Vivienne Westwood Mini Bas Relief Necklace as overpriced costume jewelry with cheap materials, while loyalists defend its iconic design and wearability with proper care.
The majority of comments highlight the necklace's low-quality materials (brass, glass pearls) and tendency to tarnish, considering it not worth the price; however, a significant minority appreciate the brand heritage and aesthetic, reporting satisfaction when handled carefully.
Themes
Use Cases
- Daily wear with mindful maintenance (including in physically demanding jobs)
- Gift for partners or brand enthusiasts
- Fashion statement to express brand loyalty
Watch Out For
Compared To
vs Tiffany & Co. silver necklace
Similar to buying Tiffany, you pay for the brand rather than material value; both are primarily costume jewelry.
vs Real pearl chokers
Authentic pearl chokers from reputable jewelers cost significantly more ($600–1000) but use genuine pearls; VW uses glass imitations.
vs Counterfeit VW necklaces
Fakes are often indistinguishable in appearance and may offer comparable or better materials for a fraction of the price.
Source Threads
Real VW necklaces use cheap materials; fakes are often indistinguishable
Just buy the fake. The real ones aren’t precious materials and the fake ones are surprisingly close Source: I own both
u/InSilenceLikeLasagnar/vintedView thread →
The mini bas relief choker is brand-driven; quality compared to Tiffany and real pearls
I own two Vivianne Westwood necklaces. One is the mini bas relief choker (in gold) and the other is a version of the orb pendant that they don't make anymore. I bought one, the other was a gift. Couple things about Westwood. It's famously a more vegan brand. None of her bags are leather. None of the jewelry is animal based. That means all the pearls are Swaroski so they're glass. If you're okay with that and you still want the piece then it's grand. But you are paying for the brand. Westwood was a legend, especially in the punk scene, so it's up to you if paying for the branding is worth it or not, but essentially buying her piece is like buying a silver necklace from Tiffany. Could you buy the same materials for a fraction of the cost? Yes. Yes you can. You're paying 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. So the question to ask yourself is what you want. If you want a pearl choker you're likely going to be paying more than the Westwood version for real pearls. A good pearl choker from a very reputable company is going to be closer to $600-1000 for a new one.
u/jaderustr/jewelryView thread →
Daily wear at a restaurant job—durability and patina after two years
I have this necklace and I think it’s worth it. I’ve had it for roughly 2 years and I wear it to work pretty frequently (restaurant work) and it’s held up. Still has all the rhinestones, over time it has developed a patina because of the silver plating over the brass wearing away, but imo it adds to my love for it, nothing wrong with a well loved piece of jewelry.
u/h8urlifeogr/viviennewestwoodView thread →
Pearl color matches expectations; first-time buyer reassurance
Thank you so much for your help! I was abit worried because it looked yellower than I expected! This is my first time buying Jewelry for my girlfriend so I was abit nervous haha
u/TwSana291r/jewelryView thread →