WHAT'S IN A ROSE? THE ANSWER BY NAK ARMSTRONG
“People where you live," the little prince said, "grow five thousand roses in one garden... yet they don't find what they're looking for… And yet what they're looking for could be found in a single rose, or a little water… But eyes are blind. You have to look with the heart.”
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince
The Rose and Stem Earrings from Nak Armstrong's Florapiega collection, drawing inspiration from the world of botany, are a tactile ode to the rose flower.
Made from recycled 20k rose gold, the earrings are an elegant amalgam of Ethiopian opals, peach and green tourmalines, rubellites, and rubies – a delicate, if thorny, example of Nak's innovative metalworking and stone-setting techniques, capturing his unique ability to deftly manipulate spaces and gradients of precious stones.
Nak Armstrong’s ambition is to disrupt the monotony often found in design, infusing his creations with a distinctive blend of beauty and intellect, shunning mediocrity and the commonplace.
It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince
Indeed, Nak's philosophy resonates with Saint-Exupéry's words: it is the investment of time and effort, the quest for originality, and his thoughtful attention to detail that gives each piece its unique character and significance.
Each element of the Rose and Stem Earrings is carefully arranged to resemble a rose in full bloom, showcasing a unique, pixelated color spectrum, with its strong stem, sharp thorns, vibrant leaves, and the ultimate symbol of its allure – its soft, fragrant blossom.
The earrings feature detachable rose buds that can be worn separately as minimalist stud earrings, adding a layer of versatility to the piece, which can be adapted for different occasions, from casual daytime events to formal evening receptions.
You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince
One interpretation of Saint-Exupéry's timeless and nearly mythological novel looks at the narrative through an ecological lens, where the Little Prince's care for his little planet points towards environmental responsibility, a perspective that has gained traction in more recent years.
As much as the Rose and Stem Earrings are a tribute to nature's beauty, they are also a cautionary tale, reminding us of the inherent danger represented by the thorns, counterbalanced by its innate fragility. But however thorny the days and events of our lives might become, we all need to remember to take care of our Rose.
