Jewelry in “Star Wars”, or how the galaxy sparkles
Jewelry … I am aware that this is not the first thing a typical “Star Wars” fan thinks of. And even if there is such a peculiar one (of the pica pica species, of course!), they will not admit it, at least not from the start. Perhaps they will pass a few precautionary remarks to avoid accusations of heresy: “Ah, this Han Solo… Oh, BB-8!” However, I know well that your Magpie eye shines like a star in the dark when in this multi-episode galactic turmoil a jewelery ornament comes out of nowhere – certainly worthy of those few female protagonists. At once you sit more comfortable on a branch of an armchair, and in your heart… a new hope lights up.
Let me start with it.
“New Hope” – timeless necklace
It’s 1977. George Lucas serves the world with cosmic opera which revolutionizes cinema our parents had known. The action of the “Star Wars” (subtitle “Part IV: New Hope” was added in 1981) focuses around the activities of the Alliance of Rebels seeking to annihilate the Death Star – a space station, and at the same time devastating arms belonging to the Empire. Princess Leia Organa takes over the construction plans of the weapons and… very quickly falls into the enemy snares. The conflict at the top also usually affects the lives of ordinary people, including Luke Skywalker, a young farmer from the sandy planet Tatooine. After a sudden loss of family and possessions, Luke meets Obi-Wan-Kenobi, the Jedi master, who starts training him. Together with Han Solo (“Oh!”), hairy Chewbacca, and C-3PO and R2-D2 droids, Skywalker goes to save the princess. As you probably remember, dear Magpie, the mission is a success. The triumphant fanfares resound in the final scene, and Leia hands Han and Luke the medals for courage. But these are not catching the Magpie’s eye the most…
In the “Star Wars” canon Leia’s necklace was called chalcedony waves and was worn by women in Organa family, the royal family of the planet Alderaan. In fact the jewelry was made by Björn Weckström, designer cooperating with Finnish jewelry brand Lapponia. In the spring of 1976 Weckström received a phone call with a proposal not to be rejected. In six weeks, he would produce a set of silver jewelry for the movie taking place in space. The designer had not heard of Lucas before, but he got curious with his vision of the interplanetary adventure. He had already made his first sketches when the phone from America was ringing again: deadline was reduced to… a week. In such a situation, the only real solution was to select something from the already existing collection. The “New Hope” crew was then filming at Elstree Studios near London. Someone was sent immediately to Bond Street’s Lapponia shop to look at the options available. After some time Björn Weckström received the good news: George Lucas was amazed by the jewelry his team chose. Sam did not know, however, which items would be on the film tape. “Star Wars” came into theaters in Finland on December 16, 1977. The designer’s friend present at one of the screenings immediately recognized his work: Planetoid Valleys necklace and Darina bracelet made it to the final scene of the film. Weckström raced to the Maxim cinema in Helsinki to see in his own eyes how his designs become a part of cultural phenomenon.
Planetoid Valleys (€ 2,225.00) i Darina’s Bracelet (€625.00) | source: Lapponia/ Kalevala Koru Oy
“Phantom Menace” of a wooden talisman
Not only princess Leia had a chance to wear an interesting necklace in Lucas’ productions, but also her own mother, Padmé Amidala. You could see it when watching 1999 “Phantom Menace”, that is the first part of prequel trilogy. Natalie Portman played the role of fourteen-year-old queen of planet Naboo. As always in such cases the great power entails great danger and in fact Padmé is captured by Federation forces. Luckily, with the help of Jedi master Qui-Gon Jin and his padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi she manages to escape. On the desert planet Tatooine Amidala gets to know her future husband, then nine-year old slave Anakin Skywalker… The resolute blond-haired boy gives her a handcrafted pendant on a leather strap. “I’ve made it for you so you would remember about. I’ve sculpted it in a piece of japor. It will bring you luck” – we hear Anakin, the young promoter of DIY…
Japor was a kind of light-colored tree growing on Tatooine. Padmé kept that simple ornament treating it as a talisman for the challenges of unsure future. Pity that it didn’t defend her from the dark side of the Force. The next parts of the trilogy, that is “Attack of the Clones “(2000) and” Revenge of the Sith” (2005) reunited the characters. The couple was connected by a strong forbidden feeling that ended with a secret wedding and pregnancy. However, love didn’t cure Anakin from dark tastes or open Padmé’s eyes. Even at the death bed she believed there was still good in her husband. Maybe after giving birth to two children (Luke and Leia) she has suddenly remembered the innocent boy who once gave her only good thoughts sculptured in a humble necklace… The protagonist’s body was moved to Naboo capital and prepared for the funeral ceremony in such a way to keep the twins hidden from angry lover (aka Lord Vader). In an open coffin carried in a public procession in the streets of Theed, Amidala looked stunning. In her hand she was still holding the pendant which symbolized to her so much: hope.
Crystal structure
I am going to make a full circle in my jewelry lecture – I haven’t told you yet aboyt Jyn Erso’s necklace! The protagonist of the latest film adventure in the “Star Wars” series devoted her life to give the Alliance the plans of the already mentioned Death Star. In the production “Rogue 1. Star Wars – Stories” (2016) little Jyn gets a necklace from her mother, Lyra, with a request to trust the Force. Because a little after that the girl gets separated from her family, the pendant becomes for her a tangible symbol of bond – keepsake from childhood which was so suddenly taken from her.
The “Rogue…” spectator learns that the heart of the adornment is a cracked Kyber crystal – the same that powers Jedi knights and Sith’s lightsabers. The mines of this mineral were on the planet Ilum and the moon Jedha – holy places for pilgrims who believed in the Force. On StarWars.com you can read a lot of additional trivia about the mysterious necklace. Allegedly on the stone is the inscription “Trust in the …”. On the cracked part there surely was the word Force. According to “Star Wars: Rogue One – The Ultimate Visual Guide”, Lyra found the crystal in her husband Galen’s research materials. Seeing it as a good omen, she took it and transformed into a pendant (long live DIY!). However, the mystery is that the crystal given to Jyn was white. Those which powered the light sabers were colorless until they “got used to” their owner (and creator), the young Jedi. When they once adopted the color, it never changed again. In turn, the Sith swords were red and “bleeding” because they were forced to disgraceful service for the dark side of the Force. So you see, Magpie, that even in the distant galaxy the crystals were feeding on the energy of their owners. How unusual…
The large chalcedony waves necklace was given to Leia by queen Breha Organa, who adopted her and brought up like a daughter. The Princess then gifted the jewelry to a reformed trafficker and then Rebellion pilot Nien Nunb. It was then a symbol of appreciation which escaped the straight line of inheritance. Padmé’s simple pendant, although given with a good word, became a rosary of the buried love, put in hand for the final journey. In turn Jyn’s crystal talisman was a spark of courage in the dark ages, and as you probably remember – “the strongest stars have Kyber hearts”.
Three women, three completely different examples of cosmic jewelry. It is plausible that when life is hanging by a thread, a piece of chalcedony, tree or crystal can straighten up women’s morale… Actually, it does not surprise me at all. I hope, dear Magpie, that your own amulets – current, future and even those resurrected from the distant galaxy of history – will remind you in times of doubt that in you there is the Force … of reaching the stars.
Trust it, Magpie.