Severine is the most elaborately dressed woman in Skyfall, and her jewellery does much of the work. The Swarovski Black Bamboo pendant is a bamboo-shaped drop set with black crystals, made for the film’s collection, and now hard to find. It suits a particular kind of evening: dark, deliberate and a little theatrical.
In the film
Bérénice Marlohe’s Severine wears the Black Bamboo pendant in the casino scenes in Macau, and it is also visible on the poster. Swarovski released it in 2012 to mark fifty years of James Bond and the arrival of the film, as part of a collection designed in collaboration with the jeweller Stephen Webster.
The details of the Black Bamboo pendant
Pointiage setting. The crystals are set in Swarovski’s Pointiage technique, which is done by hand and is meant to give extra sparkle. The Skyfall pieces use both black and clear crystals.
A bamboo theme. The design takes its cue from bamboo, with stylised segments. Swarovski made the range as a pendant, pierced earrings, a bangle and a ring.
Size. The matching Black Bamboo earrings are 7cm long, which gives some idea of the scale of the collection; we do not have a measurement for the pendant itself.
Owning it now
This is a piece for evening wear: a black dress or a dark, plain neckline lets the crystals do the work. We would wear it with little else, perhaps a single ring, because the pendant is designed to be the focus.
Which piece? The collection also included pierced earrings, a bangle and a ring. We would choose the pendant: it is the piece seen on the poster, it is the easiest to wear on its own, and it asks the least of the rest of an outfit. The earrings, at 7cm long, are a bolder choice and better left to a woman who likes to be noticed across a room.
Care. Crystal jewellery keeps its sparkle best when it is stored in its box, away from perfume and hairspray, and wiped with a soft dry cloth after wearing. That advice matters more for a discontinued piece that cannot be replaced.
Availability. The collection is out of production and found second-hand; the button on this page searches eBay for it. It was launched in 2012 with the necklace priced at US$170. If you are buying one, ask for photographs, the original box and paperwork, and be wary of lookalikes. For similar pieces, see our Jewellery section, or read about Skyfall.
Specifications
| Collection | Swarovski Skyfall, with Stephen Webster (2012) |
|---|---|
| Piece | Black Bamboo pendant |
| Setting | Pointiage, black crystals |
| Launch price | US$170 (2012) |
| Status | Out of production; found second-hand |
Questions
Does Severine wear the Black Bamboo pendant in Skyfall?
Yes. She wears it in the casino scenes in Macau, and it appears on the film poster.
Who designed the Skyfall Swarovski collection?
Swarovski made it in collaboration with the jeweller Stephen Webster, to mark fifty years of Bond.
Can you still buy the Black Bamboo pendant?
Not new. It was a 2012 collection and is out of production, so any example is second-hand; the button on this page searches eBay for it.
