Spark to Sparkle: Inspiration Behind the Facet Earrings

Welcome to the second edition of my blog series, Spark to Sparkle.

Spark to Sparkle

As a designer, I collect inspiration from all different places and translate it into wearable jewelry. I have files, folders, notebooks, and camera reels full of images and sketches. I thought it would be fun to look behind the scenes and share.

The Facet Earrings

The inspiration for these front-facing, faceted earrings comes from the south Caribbean nation of Curaçao, part of the ABC islands, located about 65 km/40 miles north of Venezuela.

I visited the capital city of Willemstad in Curaçao with my family in the summer of 2022. Though the trip was mostly spent snorkeling, sunbathing, and exploring Shete Boka National Park, I did leave a little time for shopping and exploring the city itself. 

In the neighborhood of Punda, I came across New Market (Marshe Nobo) or the round market building. It's filled with trinkets and souvenirs, colorful things that my kids loved, but nothing particular in terms of treasures that had to come home with me. We purchased some smoothies and some colorful woven bracelets. But my biggest take home...

...was the look of the building and structure itself. In particular, it was the undulating angles of the roof overhead that caught my attention. Simple, elegant lines and angles. It allowed for a floating effect, though made of concrete (?) and an open-air structure,  so it felt accessible, an indoor/outdoor market in a circular format. 

In a location that is known for it's hot, oppressive, and windy climate, the market was no-doubt designed for shade, but with an open structure for air flow. 

Quite the View

The Facet Earrings took their shape based upon this. Angled facets, arranged in a circle, and I added the cutout hole in the middle, and decided to give them a post-backing so they would face forward. They've since become a best-selling design and permanent part of my collection.

I love it even more now, knowing the current initiative to renovate this space and help small businesses grow.

You can visit Spark to Sparkle: Mopani Earrings to read another of my (more nature-based) design inspirations.