Introduction: Pier9: Eurion Jewelry for Endangered Animals

By
About: Artifact Designer at Institute for the Future, and Pier 9 AiR

The unique pattern on this jewelry helps endangered animals enforce copyright claims on their image. This pattern is known as the Eurion Constellation, it is most often used to prevent money forgery, and can be found on most paper currencies around the world.

In the year 2032, the year Eurion Jewelry became a fashion trend amongst endangered animals. With new laws around endangered animals, it became unlawful to photograph, or distribute images and video of said animals without their consent. These laws were extremely difficult to enforce at first, but the introduction of Eurion Jewelry allowed AI lawyers to enforce copyright in real time.

The more charismatic endangered animals can fetch licensing fees that rival the biggest Hollywood stars. An unfortunate side effect of this technology is that some endangered animals have decided to keep their population numbers low, in order to maintain scarcity and keep the cash flowing in their direction.

This Eurion Jewelry is an Artifact from the Future, created as part of a series of objects titled Animals Doing Capitalism. For step-by-step instructions on crafting your own Artifacts from the Future, or if you’re wondering why animals have taken to capitalism, see: https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Arti...


If you want to Craft your own Eurion Pendant, You'll need the following tools and materials:

  • 1/8" Acrylic Sheet
  • Laser Cutter
  • Sand Paper
  • Primer and Gold Spraypaint
  • Two-Part Epoxy and Metallic Purple Pigment
  • Gold Necklace
  • Rhinestones

Optional tools and materials to make Panda Jewelry Stand:

  • Insulation Foam
  • Glue Gun
  • Wood Saw
  • Black and White Fake Fur
  • 1/4" Acrylic Sheet
  • Heat Gun

Step 1: Prototype Sketches and Modeling

The initial sketches for this jewelry explored several different form factors. A rhino horn cover could be interesting, and different designs were explored using Autodesk's Mesh Mixer, and Autodesk Generative Design software.

Photoshop mockups of the pendant in the wild show what would happen if someone were to attempt to photograph an endangered panda without prior consent and paid licensing fees.

A minimal design that highlighted the Eurion Constellation was chosen for the final form. Originally, the plan was to 3D print or machine the pendant, so I made a model using Fusion 630. In the end though, the laser cutter was faster, so the design was recreated to be laser cut using a vector file.

Step 2: Laser Cutting, Glue Up, and Sanding, and Priming

After laser cutting layers of the pendant, they were glued together using acrylic cement.

For the top layer, the inside piece was saved and used to get the proper spacing for the circles. After the circles were set and glued, that piece was removed.

The edges were sanded using increasingly fine grit sandpaper, ranging form 100 grit to 400 grit. A layer of spray primer was applied, the piece was sanded, primed, and sanded again to get a nice smooth finish.

Step 3: Finishing Pendant

Next, a coat of gold spray paint was applied.

Two-part epoxy was mixed with a metallic purple pigment. The uncured epoxy was flashed with a blowtorch to get the bubbles out. This had the happy side-effect of putting an even pattern in the metallic pigment. Before the blowtorch, you could see streaks left from pouring the epoxy.

Step 4: Making a Jewelry Neck Stand

To make a jewelry stand for this pendant, cut several layers out of insulation foam, glued them together with hot glue, and cut the form down with a saw.

A paper template, folded in half helped ensure that the form was symmetrical.

Step 5: Cover the Foam Shape in Fur

That form was covered in black and white fur. This was a messy process of hot-gluing the fur on, cutting the form, gluing more, refining the shape, and gluing again. To get flat coverage on this irregular form, it took five separate pieces of fur: two pieces of white on the middle and bottom, and two pieces of black on each side, and another piece of black on the top.

Step 6: Make a Plastic Stand

A stand for fur neck piece can be made out of 1/4" acrylic. To make this, first cut a pattern out of paper, tape that to the acrylic, and cut out your shape on a band saw. Use a heat gun on the area that needs to be bent. It takes a while to get the plastic up to temperature for bending - it may need to be heated on both sides.

To get the shape to hold, you will need to hold the plastic in place while it cools.

The fur will add some thickness to the back, so spacers can be used to provide a hard surface to attach the stand.

Step 7: Final Eurion Pendant

A thick gold chain from the fabric store, and some authentic rhinestones really make this piece shine.

Remember, if you see an animal wearing this jewelry you will need to ask permission before photographing them, and likely pay the appropriate royalty fees.