Two-Tone Heliconia Earrings

August 2015
14 karat rose gold, 22 karat yellow gold

Heliconia isn't a native plant in Hawai‘i, but it's certainly widespread. These delicate earrings are modeled after one of my favorite cultivars, Heliconia rostrata, which I have an abundance of in my garden. Also known as hanging heliconia or lobster-claw because of the shape of the individual bracts, they've always been something I wanted to turn into jewelry. These heliconia earrings have been cast in 14k rose gold to match the dominantly red color of the plant's inflorescence, and I fused 22k yellow gold to the rose gold to mimic the yellow coloration of the bottom section of each bract of the heliconia flower.