“Worn by Prince,” Comet and Moon and Star Ear Wraps up for auction. My Comet Ear Wrap design is a blast from the past!
Screen Shot, Comet Ear Wrap worn by Prince Auction
In March of this year, (2016) prior to Prince’s death, Mayte, Prince’s first wife, auctioned two pairs of “Worn by Prince”, Marty Magic Ear Wraps. The Comet Ear Wraps pictured above had a starting bid of $5,000. The auction description is “ Ear cuff in the shape of swirling feathers, personally worn by Prince. The fanciful piece of jewelry is most likely gold plated sterling silver. Reverse of ear cuff contains designer imprint that reads: “Marty” Measures 2.5”. Minor tarnishing, otherwise near fine condition. From the collection of Mayte Garcia.”
I made several pairs of these Comet Ear Wrap for Prince personally, gold plated and set with CZ’s. I like the auction description of swirling feathers but there are clearly 4 stars involved in this design and my vision was a blazing comet. I created this design in 1985 and it was SO 1980’s! I set 1 CZ in the vortex of the Comet and 4 smaller CZ’s in the cascading stars. The photo below of the Comet Ear Wrap with a Shooting Star accent earring was taken in the mid 1980’s by my mother, Betty Crowell.
Vintage Gold Plated Comet Ear Wrap with CZ’s
Pictured below is the iconic pair of Moon and Star Ear Wraps, worn by Prince at the 1998 NBA All Star game with the starting bid of $7,000. The auction description is “The playful pieces of jewelry are gold plated sterling silver with silver percentage stamp, designer and date marked: “925/ Marty 1994”. Measures 1.75”. Some wear and tarnishing but overall very good condition. From the collection of Mayte Garcia.
Screen Shot Moon Ear Wrap Prince Auction
In late 1998, Prince and his band wore pairs of my Moon and Star Ear Wraps with the free swinging star both in sterling silver and in Vermille. (gold plated sterling silver.) Paisley Park ordered several hundred pairs to resell on their fan based website and at concerts and events. Over the course of several years, Prince’s costume designers ordered variations of this design in sterling silver and vermille; both with and without CZ’s. I also made a pair or three of this design in solid 14K gold set with diamonds in the cheeks of the Moon Face as well as in the free swinging star.
Left and Right Comet Ear Wrap Masters
I am reissuing the Comet Ear Wrap design that Prince wore and it will be available for sale on my web site by the end of June. I keep the masters to my designs in a safety deposit box. Let me explain the image of the Comet Ear Wraps above. I sculpted the originals in wax and subsequently they were cast in sterling silver. A rubber mold was made off the masters above and the mold making process oxidizes the sterling silver. For this photograph, I gently polished the comet on the left but did not polish the comet on the right. The bars you see protruding from the ear wraps are called sprues and are instrumental in the lost wax casting process.
Makers Mark Comet Ear Wrap Reverse
Above is the image of the back side of my Comet Ear Wrap masters, The left master is dated 1985 and signed Marty Macklin. (Macklin was my previous married name.) I created a right version of this design after I remarried and changed my business name to Marty Magic.