Reina Earrings

Verified claims

Durability

Buyers report breakage within a month and plating wear causing skin discoloration.

Value

At CAD 175, the earrings offer less durability than solid sterling silver alternatives.

Repairability

Re-silvering by a jeweller is possible after the plating wears.

Material

Sterling silver-plated brass core with cubic zirconia stones.

Orb origin

Orb logo originated as a 1986 Prince Charles jumper with added Saturn rings.

Construction

Handcrafted brass with cubic zirconia in a prong setting.

Storage

Store in an airtight bag with anti-tarnish paper and chalk.

Cleaning

Clean with a Blitz cloth or baking soda paste.

Wearing

Wear earrings last and remove first to protect plating.

Setting

Cubic zirconias are hand-set in a prong mount for secure fit and maximum sparkle.

Brand heritage

Orb logo introduced in 1986 on a jumper for Prince Charles.

Comfort

Earring weighs 3.45g and is 1.2cm high for low fatigue.

Weight and size

At 3.45g and 1.2cm, the Reina is smaller than Westwood's statement earrings.

Stone quality

Prong-set cubic zirconia is hand-mounted for high brilliance and secure fit.

Design

Juxtaposes punk and femininity, using cubic zirconia as an anti-luxury statement.

Wearability

Lightweight (3.45 g) and compact (1.2 cm) for all-day wear, blending punk and feminine styles.

Skin reactions

Buyers report green staining and irritation from the brass core.

Alternatives

Solid sterling silver earrings are a safer alternative for sensitive ears at a similar price.

Product record

Title

Reina Earrings

Brand

Vivienne Westwood

Price

175 CAD

Availability

In stock

Cubic zirconia clarity and sparkle

• The Reina earrings hold their cubic zirconia stones in a prong setting rather than a bezel or glue-in mount, allowing light to reach the stone from multiple angles and maximizing the CZ's inherent brilliance — a detail typically found on fine jewellery rather than fashion studs.
• Vivienne Westwood opts for cubic zirconia — a synthesized material with a refractive index of 2.15–2.18 and a Mohs hardness of 8–8.5 — instead of softer glass rhinestones, giving the Reina earrings a brighter, more durable sparkle that resists surface abrasion better than typical fashion jewellery crystals.

Handcrafted details and construction

• The crystal cross top and cubic zirconia centre on the Reina earrings are not simply glued; they are hand-mounted by a jeweller using stone-mounting skills, which typically entails shaping a seat or prongs for each stone individually—resulting in a more secure setting that reduces the risk of stones loosening with wear and provides a cleaner, light-reflective frame around each crystal.
• Vivienne Westwood’s entire jewellery range, including the Reina earrings, is built using hand-applied techniques of engraving, piercing, fine-soldering, and stone mounting—methods that demand personal jeweller attention for each piece, giving the earring a level of refinement and slight uniqueness that purely automated brass stamping and assembly cannot replicate.

Sterling silver-plated brass care for longevity

• Placing a piece of plain white chalk in the storage container or jewelry box works as a sacrificial desiccant, pulling humidity out of the air before it can combine with sulfur to form tarnish; replace the chalk every three to four months to keep it active.
• For oxidized spots that a dry cloth won't touch, a paste of two parts baking soda to one part water gently scours tarnish through mild abrasion; the key is to rub lightly and rinse immediately—any prolonged scrubbing risks thinning the plating over intricate details like the orb's cross.
• Applying the 'last on, first off' rule—putting the earrings on after all cosmetics have dried and removing them before washing your face—shields the plating from the alcohol, acids, and surfactants that accelerate wear, a discipline that buys extra months of bright silver tone.
• If the plating eventually wears through to the brass, a jeweller can often re-silver the earrings; the base metal remains intact, so the organic orb design can be restored to its original finish without replacing the piece, which extends the realistic lifespan of this design beyond the initial plating's life.
• Earrings experience far less friction than rings or bracelets—they aren't grasped or dragged across surfaces—so the silver layer on this pair degrades primarily from chemical exposure rather than physical abrasion, meaning that diligent avoidance of perfume, hair products, and skin creams is the single most impactful preservation step.
• A dry wipe with a silver polishing cloth like a Blitz Sterling Silver shine cloth removes tarnish without the abrasives that can strip the micro-thin plating; a soft, untreated microfiber cloth is adequate for daily lustre.
• Moving the earrings into a zip-top plastic bag with an anti-tarnish paper strip (such as Shine-On) outperforms a fabric pouch: the sealed environment blocks airborne sulfur gases that cause tarnish, and the strip actively neutralizes what little air is trapped, preserving the polished finish for weeks or months at a time.

The Reina collection's design story

• Cubic zirconia doesn't just keep the Reina affordable; it continues the brand's anti-luxury logic — by capping the orb with a diamond simulant instead of precious stones, the earring outwardly mimics the Crown Jewels' priceless gems while deliberately undercutting the hierarchy of 'real' versus costume jewelry.
• Liberty London's listing explicitly tags the Reina earrings as handmade, signaling that each piece carries the potential for subtle variation — a deconstructionist touch that aligns with Westwood's punk roots and sets the earring apart from uniform mass production.
• At just 3.45 grams apiece, the Reina earring is engineered for all-day wear without the lobe-pulling fatigue common to heavier statement studs, making the orb motif comfortable enough for a full workday or a night out.
• At just 1.2cm high, the Reina stud is deliberately scaled down as an everyday alternative to the brand's larger, more imposing pieces like the multi-layered Armour ring or the Three Row Pearl Bas Relief Choker — it's the orb stripped to its essence for those who want the symbol without the physical volume.
• Liberty London's editorial note positions the Reina as 'a juxtaposition of punk and femininity,' succinctly capturing the earring's ability to fuse delicate crystal details with the brand's raw subversive energy — for the wearer, it means you can telegraph an edge without sacrificing polish.