Glacial I reimagines the familiar stone stud through a precise tension setting. A brilliant-cut stone is held between two perpendicular bodies, creating a crisp architectural silhouette without conventional claws.

Material & variants

Available as a pair in sterling silver with cubic zirconia: small, large, or a mixed-size duo. Platinum with lab-grown diamond is available in small and large pairs.

• Small silver/CZ pair: 6 mm wide × 13 mm high × 5 mm deep; approximately 1.18 g each. Each earring has a 6 mm diameter round brilliant-cut CZ (approximately 0.7 ct CZ; diamond equivalent weight approximately 0.5 ct).
• Large silver/CZ pair: 8 mm wide × 18 mm high × 6.5 mm deep; approximately 2.5 g each. Each earring has an 8 mm diameter round brilliant-cut CZ (approximately 2.7 ct CZ; diamond equivalent weight approximately 2 ct).
• Mixed-size silver/CZ duo: one small and one large earring, using the corresponding small and large specifications above.

Platinum and lab-grown-diamond variants are made to order; their physical specifications are confirmed separately.

Design & Making

Designed by Kevin Hailiang Yu in Auckland; constructed and assembled by a specialist manufacturing partner in China, then brush-finished in the Auckland studio.

About Glacial I

Glacial I began with a practical question: how can a stone be held without relying on a traditional setting? Its tension setting reworks the relationship between metal and stone, turning a familiar stud into a more independent, architectural form.

Developed through 3D printing, scanning, and repeated prototyping, the setting was resolved around stone-cutting accuracy, casting shrinkage, tolerance, security, and practical wear. It is a direct expression of Unbound from convention. Shaped by intent.

Explore Glacial Ring to see this setting developed into a substantial square-band form.

Care

Clean sterling-silver variants with a suitable silver dip, following the cleaning product’s instructions for general sterling-silver items. Environmental and chemical exposure may tarnish the silver; this can be cleaned. Store earrings in soft fabric or a bag, and avoid the stone edge contacting other hard materials or objects. For platinum and lab-grown-diamond variants, use a cleaning dip formulated specifically for those materials and follow that product’s instructions.

Wear guidance

Suitable for everyday wear. Remove before sleeping. Showering and swimming are acceptable, but clean the earrings afterwards; sterling silver may tarnish after chemical exposure.