Today’s review is part of a new series where I take a look at Star Wars fashion items from my own collection that ‘bring me joy’. In this time of such uncertainty, my family and I are holding on to our love of Star Wars to stay positive while we isolate at home. Some of these items are older pieces that are no longer available, but I still wish to share them and how much they mean to me.
This item brings me so much joy – the Malaika Raiss x Star Wars Naboo Starfighter Necklace. This was one of my all-time wish list items ever since it was released back in 2015, and while I wasn’t able to buy it straight away, I am so happy to finally own this beautiful piece!
I am always on the hunt for Padme’ Amidala-themed fashion and accessories, and this necklace feels like something Padme’ herself would wear – she pilots a Naboo N-1 Starfighter in Attack Of The Clones, and anything Naboo-related will always be associated with her as Queen and Senator.
Established in 2010 MALAIKA RAISS stands for sophisticated yet casual women’s wear with a fun-feminine twist. With great attention to detail, Malaika and her passionate team create contemporary ready-to-wear and accessories.
Necklace with Naboo Fighter pendant. 24ct gold plated sterling silver, 24ct gold plated brass. Nickel-free. Made in Germany. Chain length: 45 cm.
The necklace was priced at €63.03 each when I purchased it last year (approximately US$69.90 each) – though it seems at time of writing, that this necklace is no longer available, as it is not currently listed on the Malaika Raiss website.
- Naboo Fighter Necklace – €63.03 each
I love getting parcels that have obviously been packaged with care and attention. The necklace came inside a gift box, wrapped in tissue paper and closed with a little brand sticker, and postcard. As this item is from a designer brand, this presentation was not a surprise, but it just makes the purchase just that little extra bit special.
The international shipping was a little on the high side for such a small item (€45.00 – almost the cost of the necklace itself), but to be fair, this arrived very quickly via international courier – from Germany to New Zealand in only a couple of days! This is a precious metal jewelry piece, so I understand a designer wanting to send such items in tracked/insured mail.
The gift box also includes a little booklet of jewelry care instructions – gold plated jewelry should always be looked after carefully to preserve the finish (such as avoiding contact with perfumes and makeup etc). A helpful little reminder of ways customers can keep their new jewelry looking beautiful.
The necklace came packaged inside a white cardboard gift box, with the Malaika Raiss brand logo printed in metallic gold foil on the box lid. Removing the lid, the necklace is secured to a soft white foam square, with the necklace threaded through two slits in the upper corners of the foam, and the rest of the chain housed behind.
It’s always exciting to get your first in-person look at a jewelry item you have admired online for so long – it was really special to finally hold this necklace after a few years of waiting! The first thing that hit me was the stunning gold finish. I usually choose silver-toned jewelry, but gold is a perfect fit for the yellow N-1 starfighter design.
The pendant depicts the Naboo N-1 starfighter in flight, angled slightly, rather than ‘top down’. The design is flat, with recessed detail lines – just enough to define the starship, without adding too much ‘clutter’ to the clean and simple design.
I find that I tend to wear X-Wing starfighter necklaces a lot (particularly the vintage 1977 version), but they don’t really coordinate with prequel-themed apparel. I finally have a gorgeous gold starfighter necklace to wear with my Padme Amidala inspired outfits. More prequel-era jewelry please!
I should note, the orientation of the sculpt means that the ring attachment partially obscures the tail end of the starfighter most of the time, and the hole is very close to the edges of the pendant, so I intend to be very careful, just in case. The pointed ends of the sculpt are not sharp, but may snag on fine fabrics.
The back of the pendant is completely flat, with the same shiny finish as the front. A pretty standard design for pendants, as detail on the back can itch or scratch against the skin. The pendant measures approximately 2.3cm across, and 1.5cm tall.
The necklace features a beautifully slender box-style chain, which is just the right size and weight to match the pendant. The chain measures approximately 45.5cm in length (including clasp).
Most Star Wars jewelry has a standard ring-style chain, so it’s lovely to see a different style used, it really elevates the design. I own my fair share of chunky, statement necklaces, but I love the finer, classic-style designs too.
As with all designer precious metal jewelry, this necklace features identifying marks. The stamp ‘AG 925’ notes it is made from 925 Sterling Silver, while the other is most likely the maker’s mark (in this case, Malaika Raiss).
The chain closes with a standard circular jewelry clasp, which is nice and secure. The necklace also has a small gold-plated disc pendant near the clasp, with the standard ‘©LFL’ mark on one side, as this is licensed jewelry item.
As a fashion blogger, it is so easy to get caught up with the latest limited edition releases – and sometimes I miss out on older pieces that I really wanted, because I bought a new ‘important’ limited release item. A girl’s budget only stretches so far!
There were so many times I would think about this necklace, scared to check if it had sold out long ago (and breathing a sigh of relief when it was still there), only for it to be pushed a little further down my shopping list by something new. Such is the life of a Star Wars collector, so many new releases to keep up with! Finally, my husband decided I shouldn’t wait any longer and bought it for me as a gift. It was an amazing moment to finally hold it in person and try it on for the first time.
I was sad that I couldn’t afford this gorgeous necklace when it was originally released, but that is all in the past now – and in a way, waiting this long only makes it more special to finally own. This necklace is a stand-out piece that holds a special place in my heart, and in my Star Wars jewelry collection. It is an absolutely beautiful design, and wearing it brings me so much joy.
