Marie Curie Radium Earrings
- Marie Curie's handwriting, preserved
- Cut from recycled acrylic with hypoallergenic stainless steel ear wires.
- 1¼ inch drop — compact and graphic, like a lapel pin for your ears.
She carried test tubes of radium in her pockets. She kept glowing samples in her desk drawer. Marie Curie was so intimate with her discovery that her personal notebooks, more than a century later, are still too radioactive to handle without protective clothing. That kind of devotion — reckless, obsessive, world-altering — doesn't fit neatly into a textbook. It belongs somewhere closer to the body.
Curie remains the only person in history to win Nobel Prizes in two different sciences. She isolated radium in a leaking shed in Paris, working with her bare hands in conditions that would horrify a modern chemist, and she did it at a time when the scientific establishment barely acknowledged women could think. The element she discovered glowed pale blue in the dark. She called it beautiful. It killed her, and she never stopped loving it. There is something in that — in the refusal to separate beauty from danger, knowledge from sacrifice — that feels essential to who she was.
These earrings render the radium molecule in vivid, unapologetic color.
Cut from recycled acrylic with clean precision, each pair hangs 1¼ inches from stainless steel ear wires in silver — hypoallergenic and nickel-free, so they're as considered in craft as they are in concept. At 5 grams per earring, they carry just enough weight to feel intentional without dragging. The acrylic holds bold, saturated color that reads like a vintage science poster, the kind you'd find pinned to the wall of a midcentury university lab.
Handcrafted in North Carolina by Bold Standard.
Specifications
- Material: Acrylic
- Metal: Stainless Steel
- Length: 1 1/4 inches including the ear wire
- Weight: 5 g
- Made in North Carolina
- Economy shipping is FREE with orders of $95 or more.
- All items are kept in stock and ship from our warehouse in North Carolina.
- We personally inspect every single item we sell, pack it by hand, and deliver the boxes to the post office.
- Orders generally ship the day following placement.
- We ship primarily via US Mail, but may use other carriers depending on package value and destination.
- Returns on items not marked Final Sale are accepted within 30 days of delivery. Read the full policy.
THE HAROLD & HAZEL DIFFERENCE
Every piece here has earned its place.
QUALITY MATERIALS
Sterling silver, genuine gemstones, and solid metals — no plastic or cheap materials.
REAL MAKERS
Every artist on this site has been personally verified for their talent and creativity.
LIMITED RUNS
Most pieces are made in small batches. When they're gone, they're often gone for good.
BOLD BY DESIGN
Every item here was chosen because it has color, character, and something to say.
BEAUTIFUL AND DANGEROUS
Marie Curie discovered radium, won two Nobel Prizes, and changed the course of modern science — all while being told she didn't belong in the room. Bold Standard, a woman-owned studio in North Carolina, turns her legacy into something you can carry with you.
Inspired by the molecular structure of Curie's most famous discovery
Precision-cut from recycled acrylic by a woman-owned studio
Lightweight and hypoallergenic — built for all-day wear at 5 grams per earring
THE REVIEWS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES
The best way to know if you'll love our Marie Curie Radium Earrings? Hear from someone who already does.
Got questions?
We've got answers
Find fast answers about shipping, returns, and our unique jewelry.
How long does shipping take?
Most orders ship within one business day of placing your order — sometimes the same day. Economy shipping typically takes about a week via USPS, while standard shipping (Priority Mail) arrives in 2-3 business days. We're based in North Carolina, so East Coast orders tend to arrive a little faster. You'll receive a tracking number as soon as your order ships.
Will the jewelry fade or tarnish?
Our jewelry is made from a variety of materials, including sterling silver. Sterling silver will eventually tarnish, but you can slow that process by storing it in a small airtight bag or container, or in a special anti-tarnish bag. If it’s lost some shine, it can be gently washed with a soft cloth, warm water, and a drop of mild soap, such as blue Dawn. If you still see tarnish, use an anti-tarnish cloth. Do not use commercial jewelry cleaners unless they are specifically labeled safe for sterling silver. The best way to keep your sterling silver shiny is to wear it often! The more you wear it, the less tarnish you’ll see. And never wear sterling silver in the swimming pool or hot tub! Chlorine will cause it to tarnish almost instantly.
Most other metals don’t exactly tarnish, but they can get a little dull if they’re not worn. Washing with a tiny amount of mild soap is the best way to bring them back to life again. You can prevent this by putting on your jewelry last, after you apply hairspray or perfume, and don’t wear them in the shower or bath.
Genuine pearls do require extra gentle care. Don’t ever use commercial jewelry cleaners on them; you will almost certainly damage the nacre and destroy their unique sheen and iridescence. Be very careful about hairspray, cosmetics, and perfume, and absolutely never put them in an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner!
Can I return or exchange?
Yes. You have 30 days from receipt to return or exchange anything that isn't marked Final Sale. Items need to be in new condition. Exchanges ship free, with no minimum order required. Returns are refunded minus a $5 shipping fee (once per shipment, not per item). We don’t ever charge restocking fees.
Is your jewelry hypoallergenic?
Most of our pieces are hypoallergenic, but not all. You can filter to only show hypoallergenic pieces when browsing, and you will also see an icon on all pieces certified hypoallergenic and nickel-free by their makers.
Can I track my order?
Yes — as soon as your order ships, you'll receive a tracking number by email so you can follow it the whole way to your door.
What makes your jewelry different?
Honestly? Most of it comes down to Amanda. Every maker on this site has been personally researched and verified — she checks that pieces are genuinely handmade, by the person who claims to have made them, using the materials listed. These are small-batch pieces in sterling silver, gold-filled, and genuine gemstones, mostly made in the USA. They aren’t factory pieces, aren’t from resellers, and are not the same thing you'd find on a hundred other sites. When something sells out here, it often stays sold out.
THE MOMENT IT CLICKS
That "oh, I love it" feeling! This is what finding the right jewelry feels like.
WE THINK YOU’LL ALSO LOVE…
More pieces we adore – and that we reckon you will, too.