Like butterflies of silver, the crown rested upon her brow with grace, woven by Elven hands with mythril shaped as though it were threads of starlight. It was set upon her in the hour of Aragorn’s crowning, but its meaning reached beyond the triumph of a king’s return. It was a symbol of choice, of love beyond the reckoning of time, filled with hope beneath fading stars.
Arwen was to appear from behind a banner as a vision of spring, gowned in pale green, crowned in silver butterflies. The brief from costume designer Ngila Dickson was for a crown like no other.
That vision began with one of Ngila's own drawings. "The crown's design began with a drawing of mine that followed the theme of a butterfly wing," she recalls. "It needed to have the vein-like quality, with the sense of a stained-glass window to the colour, and the beading was to drape in three layers around her Elven ears." Over three weeks, Ngila and Jasmine Watson refined it together. In Ngila's words, "Jasmine's work on this crown took it to an extraordinary level, allowing a dream to be realised, that an Elven queen's crown would be like no other."
The crown is built entirely in sterling silver. As with many Elven pieces, the whiteness of the metal was a challenge in itself: in Middle-earth, mithril is described as silver, yet brighter and more beautiful than any earthly kind. To replicate this, a depletion plating process is used to bring a fine layer of pure silver to the surface, whiter than normal.
Fine wires trace the veins of each butterfly wing, a process based on Jasmine’s experience with traditional cloisonné technique. The wirework earns its place twice over, defining the detail and fencing each section of colour cleanly apart, which keeps the hues separate and lifts the stained-glass effect. The colour itself is a cold enamel, a lacquer varnish laid in by hand in the same way as the original, rather than the fired glass enamel of true cloisonné.
The beading is the patience of the piece. The strands are glass seed beads threaded with faceted Swarovski crystals. "I transfer the silver crown onto a mannequin head, then I start threading the strands, these long strands, and then connect them up," she explains. The framework comes first, then the colour. The beads are hung last, so the drape settles true.
Made once more by master jeweller Jasmine Watson, the Crown of Arwen carries meaning beyond mere beauty: a symbol of the coming spring, and a choice made beneath fading stars.
FEATURES
- Extremely limited edition size of just 25;
- Made primarily from sterling silver, with Swarovski Crystals and glass beads;
- Depletion plating process leaves a fine layer of pure silver, creating a brighter “mithril-like” effect;
- Created by the same jeweller using the same design as the original used in The Lord of the Rings, with improved techniques;
- Each piece is handmade by master jeweller Jasmine Watson;
- Comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by Jasmine Watson.
JASMINE WATSON
Jasmine Watson is a master jeweller whose lifelong dedication to making began in childhood, evolving into a dual practice that spans both studio jewellery and internationally renowned film work. As principal jeweller for The Lord of the Rings and contributor to productions including Narnia, Mulan and The Rings of Power, she brings cinematic storytelling and meticulous craftsmanship to every piece she creates. Her work bridges traditional enamelling and contemporary methods, resulting in finely detailed jewellery that reflects both artistic heritage and imaginative design.
PLEASE NOTE: Minor variations will occur as this is a handmade crown.
Every crown is carefully packed in a wooden box for the safest delivery with an accompanying display stand.
A Certificate of Authenticity signed by Jasmine Watson will also be enclosed.
MASTER JEWELLER’S COLLECTION
Patience is the greatest tool on the jeweller's bench. Under close light and a steady hand, each piece is brought into being, shaped and set with a precision that allows no approximation.
These pieces of jewellery for The Lord of the Rings were created by master jeweller Jasmine Watson, under the direction of costume designer Ngila Dickson. Twenty-six years on, Jasmine has returned to that work, recreating a selection of her pieces for the Master Jeweller’s Collection. Nothing about the method has been shortcut. The same processes and intent; the same hands guide the work; each decision led by experience rather than haste.
The aim is simple: to make each replica as it was, and as it should be. To hold one is to hold the closest expression of the original that can exist.
PRICING
Crown of Arwen: USD $29,999
HOW TO ORDER
Orders can be placed by e-mail. Please include the following information:
- The Crown of Arwen will be made to order, therefore we do require a non-refundable deposit of 50% of your order - we will send you a secure link to make the payment.
- Delivery address
- Contact telephone number
Freight costs vary according to destination. Your order will be shipped directly from Wētā Workshop in Wellington, New Zealand. Any Import Duties and Taxes due are the responsibility of the Purchaser.
As this is a made-to-order item, there are no Wētā Dollars available for this item, nor can Wētā Dollars be used to purchase it.
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