The two largest planets in our solar system are Jupiter and Saturn. When they’re closest to the earth in their orbit, Jupiter is 365 million miles and Saturn is 746 million miles from us. Eleven planets the size of earth could fit across Jupiter’s middle. Both Jupiter and Saturn are colossal in size and, much like the sun, are made mostly of dense hydrogen. Each planet has a menagerie of moons orbiting it: Saturn has 82 known moons, Jupiter 79.

With the Jupiter and Saturn Hoop Earrings, I’ve drawn attention to the many moons of these planets by focusing on a handful. Jupiter’s moon Europa could have a liquid water ocean under its icy surface. With more than 400 volcanoes, Jupiter’s moon Io is the most geologically active known object in the solar system. Ganymede’s internal ocean may contain more water than all of the oceans on earth combined. Saturn’s moon Titan is bigger than the planet Mercury and is the only moon known to have a dense atmosphere. Saturn and Jupiter with their moons are like their own solar systems in a way, their gravitational pull heating the insides of their surrounding moons so that they teem with activity. It’s believed by many that if we’re going to find another within our solar system where life could form or already exist, it’s here.

The Jupiter and Saturn Hoop Earrings come as a pair with one earring depicting Jupiter with moons and the other featuring Saturn with moons. Gold earrings are made of bronze with 14k gold-filled ear wires that are hypoallergenic. Silver earrings are made of sterling silver with sterling silver ear wires. These planets may be huge in real life, but these earrings’ 2-D design makes them lightweight and comfortable to wear. Each piece may have slight variations, as is the nature of handmade jewelry.