Lovely Birthday Gift

This little, rare treasure is one of my birthday gifts from this year. I received it from a dear acquaintance, to whom I would like to take this opportunity to send a heartfelt thank you.

As this friend mentioned in an accompanying note, he discovered this lovely brooch in one of the SCT charity shops in East London. These charity shops support people who have experienced homelessness, often due to poverty or addiction. 

For that reason alone, this gift is a thoughtful gesture.

Those who know me are aware of my fondness for vintage items—objects that carry a story. Combined with a conscious approach to our resources – such as buying secondhand goods – it's my small contribution to more responsible consumer behavior and greater environmental awareness..

So I am all the more delighted when I can inspire others to follow my example. Furthermore, this hunt for "The Unique and The Rare" releases a great surge of "happy hormones."

For me personally, it is not just the garment, the piece of jewelry, or the vinyl record in my possession that is of interest; the real joy stems from the research I undertake—long before I even begin to enjoy the object itself.

An online search turned up two different pictures of jewelry with a similar design to my brooch, although these are gold-colored, unlike mine.

@WingsofGrace222 (reddit).

The set in the photo highlights Westwood's signature logo—the Sovereign Orb and the rings of Saturn—integrated onto a functional punk-style safety pin base. This specific iteration features clear and light pink rhinestone embellishments embedded along the cross and the central band of the orb. Hanging from the loop of the safety pin is a textured, five-point star charm filled with dense metallic gold and vibrant turquoise/cyan embroidery threads.

The striking piece in the photo below is a Vivienne Westwood vintage safety pin orb pendant, featuring the signature punk-inspired safety pin base adorned with pink rhinestone accents on the Saturn orb. Suspended from the pin is the five-point star dangle that showcases a unique textured pink embroidered pattern.

Vivienne Westwood Japan Archives 

These special accessories come from an older fashion era that is highly sought after by collectors. Many of these fabric-filled or embroidered pendants were released in limited editions in the late 2000s or early 2010s (similar to the corresponding jewelry collections, for example the Autumn/Winter 2010 lineup).

Because fabric and embroidery elements show natural wear and patina over time, well-preserved examples are exceptionally rare to find on the secondary vintage market.

I almost never wear gold, so my brooch—made from a copper alloy—is absolutely perfect. Furthermore, this specific material, combined with the fact that the star charm hangs from the side (rather than being positioned in the center, as seen in the images I’ve found), leads me to believe that my brooch is definitely from an older collection.

I would love to hear your opinion on this..