A 7 x 5 cm dragonfly with a silver-tone body, a spine of four clear crystals running down the back of the thorax, four wings painted in matte black and grey enamel with white-painted "veins" running outward from the body, and an articulated tail set with small crystal accents. Magnetic clasp, no pin. A statement piece in the colourway of Butler & Wilson's "Large Crystal Dragonfly" but with a graphic black-on-silver palette.
The dragonfly is one of British costume jewellery's recurring statement motifs, from the Large Crystal Dragonfly that Butler & Wilson have made for decades to the sterling silver dragonfly brooches of independent makers like The Secret Garden or Martha Jackson. This piece takes a more graphic approach: a silver-tone metal body holds the silhouette, the thorax is set with four clear crystal stones running in a line down the spine, and the four wings are painted in matte black and dark-grey enamel with a series of white-painted "veins" radiating outward from the body, mimicking the actual wing structure of a real dragonfly. The articulated tail is engraved silver with three small crystal accents along its length. 7 x 5 cm in total.
The dragonfly is broadly read as a symbol of transformation, adaptability and lightness, with Native American traditions adding renewal after change and several East Asian traditions reading it as a good omen. In Western costume jewellery it carries a softer reading: a small wearable reminder that things can change quickly and well, often given to mark a recovery, a new chapter or a transition. Some wearers connect it to the Art Nouveau Lalique tradition, where the dragonfly recurred as a near-magical figure; others simply enjoy the silhouette.
Three placements where the black-on-silver palette delivers especially well: on the lapel of a charcoal or navy blazer, where the silver outline catches the light and the black wing fields read as a graphic contrast; on a pale cashmere scarf or wrap, where the dragonfly becomes the single anchoring point; on the front band of a wool hat or beret, where the long tail traces an unexpected line. For more dragonfly designs with the same magnetic system, see the dragonfly brooches sub-collection; for the wider magnet-only edit, magnetic brooches; for all insect motifs, animal brooches.
The brooch is two pieces: a silver-tone front holding the entire design, and a small disc with two rare-earth magnets for the inside of the fabric. The two snap together through the textile, no pin. The pull handles fabrics up to about 4 mm thick, which covers silk crepe, cashmere knit, light wool coat and quilted jacket. The articulated tail does not interfere with the magnet (the magnet sits behind the thorax), so the dragonfly sits flat and stable.
Zinc alloy body with silver-tone rhodium finish. Clear crystal rhinestones for the thorax spine and tail accents, set in cups and sealed. Matte black and dark-grey enamel for the wing fields, with white-painted vein lines, sealed against dust. Store the brooch flat in a soft pouch away from other metallic jewellery, wipe with a dry microfibre cloth, avoid perfume, hairspray and chlorinated water.
| Dimensions | 7 x 5 cm |
|---|---|
| Material | Zinc alloy, silver-tone rhodium finish |
| Decoration | Four-crystal spine, matte black/grey enamel wing fields with white veins, three small crystals along the tail |
| Fastening | Two-part magnetic clasp, no pin |
| Suitable fabrics | Silk, knit, wool, denim, felt, faux leather |
The dragonfly is broadly read as a symbol of transformation, adaptability and lightness. Several Native American traditions add the meaning of renewal after change; in many East Asian traditions it is a good omen. Most contemporary wearers treat it as a small personal reminder rather than a doctrinal symbol.
In several cultural traditions, yes. Japanese folklore in particular reads the dragonfly as a sign of strength, courage and good luck (it was a recurring motif in samurai design). Western Art Nouveau jewellery (Lalique, Galle) elevated it as a near-magical figure. A dragonfly brooch is often given to mark a positive transition.
As with any magnetic accessory, we advise customers with a pacemaker, implanted defibrillator or insulin pump to keep the brooch at least 15 cm from the device and to check with their physician before regular use.
A wearable rainbow dragonfly, 6.5 x 4.5 cm, drawn in gold-tone metal with a body fully paved with small multicolour crystals running from head to tail-tip, and four wings divided into radial stained-glass enamel bands (plum, red, olive green, orange and deep navy). Magnetic clasp, no pin. A more everyday-scale rainbow dragonfly than a 9 cm statement piece, with a colour density that reads well on neutrals and dark wool.
A large 9 cm dragonfly designed as a statement piece, with a long silvery silver-tone body and four textured "feathered" wings painted in an ombre rainbow palette: coral orange, lavender pink, golden yellow and blue-grey. Magnetic clasp, no pin. A bold festival-leaning brooch in the colourful boho tradition, more wearable sculpture than discreet accessory.
