Diamond Motif Drop Earrings

The diamond-motif drop is the piece that started the Mai&Co earring line. Mai had been sketching accessories for a while before committing to production, and this one was the first to feel right: a simplified version of the lozenge diamond at the centre of Hmong paj ntaub embroidery, translated into hammered brass with a small beaded drop below.

The design

The form is a flattened diamond — not a faceted jeweller's cut, but a geometric lozenge shape hammered from sheet brass and finished by hand. The edges are slightly rough by intent; a too-perfect edge would lose the handmade quality that connects the piece to the textile tradition it references.

Below the diamond form hangs a short beaded accent — two or three seed beads on a fine brass wire, in a colour that coordinates with or contrasts the main body depending on the colourway. The movement is subtle. The earring doesn't swing dramatically; it sits close to the face and catches light when you turn.

The ear wire is gold-filled (14 karat gold over brass base), which gives longevity without the price of solid gold. The connection point between the wire and the diamond body is soldered rather than simply looped, which keeps the earring from rotating and always presenting the flat face forward.

Colourways

The reference: the diamond in Hmong textile design

The diamond or lozenge shape is the single most recurring motif in Hmong paj ntaub embroidery. It appears in cross-stitch borders, in the geometry of reverse-applique panels, and as the basic unit of the complex geometric compositions on baby carriers and ceremonial garments.

In Hmong cosmology, the diamond represents the cosmos and the four cardinal directions. It's the foundational shape from which more complex patterns are built. Two diamonds share a point to form a double-diamond or hourglass. Four diamonds arranged around a central axis make the eight-pointed star. The same form, repeated at different scales and rotations, generates the visual complexity that makes paj ntaub so distinctive.

The earring doesn't carry that cosmological weight consciously — it's a jewellery piece, not a ceremonial object. But the choice of the diamond as the form came from that history, and knowing it changes how you see the piece. More on the textile traditions behind the collection at the Hmong textiles page.

Details and specifications

• Material: Hammered brass body, gold-filled (14k) ear wire, seed bead accent
• Dimensions: Diamond form approximately 2.2 cm tall x 1.6 cm wide. Total drop from ear wire approximately 4 cm.
• Fastening: Hook wire through pierced ears
• Nickel-free: Yes — suitable for sensitive ears
• Production: Hand-assembled in small batches of 20–25 pairs at the Warren, Michigan workroom
• Variation: Minor surface texture variation between pairs is inherent to the hand-hammering process and is not a defect

How to order

Email [email protected] with the earring name, your chosen colourway, and your shipping address. We'll confirm availability and send a payment link. Current turnaround for in-stock earrings is 2–4 business days to ship. If the colourway you want is out of stock, we can add you to a batch notification list for the next production run.

Care

The brass body will develop a patina with wear and exposure to skin moisture. Some people prefer this; it deepens the earthy quality of the natural brass finish. If you want to keep the brass bright, wipe with a dry microfibre cloth after wearing. Avoid submerging in water or exposing to hairspray or perfume. Store separately so the ear wire doesn't catch on other pieces.

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