Ophelia Eve's Scroll Pendant Blends Victorian Sentimentality with Modern Design

Ophelia Eve, the brainchild of co-founders Samantha and Beth Yorn, has introduced a new piece that resonates with historical significance and personal intimacy: the ‘Scroll’ toggle pendant. This striking creation is designed as a deeply sentimental vessel, intended to hold a private message, mantra, or love letter written on washi paper, offering a modern interpretation of emotional jewelry traditions.

A Nod to Historical Intimacy

The design draws inspiration from the rich history of sentimental jewelry, particularly pieces from the Victorian era. Samantha Yorn explained, ‘We’ve always been drawn to the symbolic practices and meanings embedded in Victorian jewelry—not just for its ornament, but for its intimacy. Many of those pieces were designed to carry something inward: a message, a name, even a lock of hair—something quietly significant to the wearer.’ This ethos of carrying personal significance is central to the Scroll pendant.

The pendant’s silhouette features the modern appeal of a toggle form, combined with a scroll element that acts as a historical reference. ‘It also reflects something I think about often, which is jewelry as a vessel of time—not just marking a movement, but carrying it forward and allowing it to evolve with you,’ Samantha added. The idea is that the message within can resonate differently with the wearer over time, becoming a personal archive that evolves with them.

Modern Craftsmanship, Personal Expression

Crafted from brushed 18-karat yellow gold with diamond accents, the ‘Scroll’ pendant boasts a modular construction. The inverted diamond-set ends and brushed gold tubes can be unscrewed, allowing for multiple ways to wear the piece. The personalized scroll, handwritten on traditional Japanese washi paper, is housed within these tubes. Washi paper was chosen for its soft texture and durable plant-based fibers, ensuring the longevity of the inscribed message.

For her own pendant, Samantha chose a short phrase from a Joni Mitchell lyric, describing it as a way to ‘keep a sweet secret’ with herself. The brand also highlights the appeal of short, mysterious phrases for secret messages, and the possibility of including notes from loved ones to make the piece even more personal and unique.

The custom calligraphy process involves a follow-up to ensure the message fits and is formatted correctly, with short phrases, names, or mantras being ideal. The pendant and chains are ready to ship within 5-7 business days, while the calligraphy creation requires an additional 2-3 weeks.

A Unique Heirloom for Today

The concept for the scroll necklace was inspired by elements like Torah scrolls and the brand’s own aesthetic, which often draws from Victorian and Edwardian eras and literature. ‘Something with some sort of writing, I thought would be really fun,’ Samantha noted.

The pendant represents a step towards intricate gold work and engravings for Ophelia Eve, moving beyond their signature settings for gems. This focus on detailed craftsmanship, combined with the brushed gold finish, helps the piece seamlessly blend with both antique and contemporary jewelry styles, creating a visual connection from past to present.

The ‘Scroll’ toggle pendant retails for $11,720, or $15,720 when presented on an 18-inch large cable chain. It is available for purchase on the Ophelia Eve website. The brand will also be exhibiting at Couture in Las Vegas, located in the Design Atelier at booth DA26.