Product Design: Bompas and Parr make jewellery out of "the shiniest substance known to man"

Date
3 April 2014

Only Bompas and Parr could phone up one morning and reveal they’ve recently heard back from someone they sent to the jungle confirming that yes, they have indeed found the shiniest substance known to man. The humble pollia berries (or marble berries to some) are "an intriguing iridescent blue colour, covered with a glossy cell matrix that reflects light equivalent to around a third the level of a silver-backed mirror " and have been used in a very odd and exciting new collaboration between Bompas and Parr and jewellery designer Maud Traon.

“Marble berries are pure, nature bling, but they are not exactly abundant – we had to commission an expedition into the Ghanaian jungle to secure a supply of them,” Harry Parr told us. “As the shiniest naturally occurring objects, birds have used pollia berries to adorn their nests, but it’s surprising that they haven’t been used in jewellery up to now, especially when you consider you don’t have to process them as you would an uncut diamond.”

Got a spare £10,000 lying around? Buy this one-off beauty for yourself or a mate and watch them glimmer for eternity.

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Bompas and Parr and Maud Traon: Pollia Cuff

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Bompas and Parr and Maud Traon: Pollia Cuff

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Bompas and Parr and Maud Traon: Pollia Cuff

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Bompas and Parr and Maud Traon: Pollia Cuff

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Bompas and Parr and Maud Traon: Pollia Cuff

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Bompas and Parr and Maud Traon: Pollia Cuff

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Bompas and Parr and Maud Traon: Pollia Cuff

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Bompas and Parr and Maud Traon: Pollia Cuff

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About the Author

Liv Siddall

Liv joined It’s Nice That as an intern in 2011 and worked across online, print and events, and was latterly Features Editor before leaving in May 2015.

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