A Spinner Fit for ‘Frankenstein’

Was Victor Frankenstein’s monster wearing jewelry as he tormented his creator?

Probably not, but if he was to wear jewelry, he may have adorned himself with this week’s spooky Piece of the Week, the “Mother Father” spinner necklace by Heavenly Vices Fine Jewelry.

The brand looked to the past when designing this piece, which combines Victorian Era spinner jewelry with love tokens—antique coins that were planed down and engraved with names, messages, or intaglios from the late 1600s through the 1800s.

In fact, love tokens were so popular that they caused a shortage of dimes at the time, because 10 cents was not a large amount of money for people to lose, and pennies were considered too common, said Heavenly Vices.

Since “Frankenstein” is set in the 1800s, Frankenstein’s monster could have obtained a piece of jewelry very similar to this modern recreation.

The antique United States seated Liberty Dimes used in this necklace are engraved with “Mother” on one and “Father” on the other in an Old English Script font, and set in 14-karat yellow gold and accented with diamonds.

Both the Mother and Father love tokens have holes that suggest they were once components of a larger piece with multiple tokens and thus have been kept together in the spinner. The brand notes they were likely part of a watch fob.

Spinner jewelry often featured designs related to love, so Heavenly Vices said it was a natural fit for them to pair two love tokens over an intaglio or two-sided disk with a hidden message that reveals itself when spun, like a typical spinner piece.

Maybe what the monster really needed was a parental figure, someone to raise him, not to be disgusted by him like his “father” Frankenstein.

The Smithsonian magazine’s article on the Gothic novel explains the egregious relationship between Frankenstein and his monster, creator and creation, father and son.

“Yet when he saw what kind of life he’d truly created, the blessing became a burden to him, one he was unwilling to carry. Frankenstein rejected the creature, shunning and abandoning him. The scientist bemoaned his creation as a ‘miserable monster,’” said the magazine.

The monster became vengeful as a result of his creator’s neglect.

“Frankenstein is a book about pain, power, and profound solitude, among many other themes—a struggle between the creator and his creation,” said LitCharts.

“Frankenstein sees isolation from family and society as the worst imaginable fate, and the cause of hatred, violence, and revenge.”

Heavenly Vices’ Mother Father spinner necklace debuted in the “Love Stories” collection.

It retails for $3,500 and is available on the Heavenly Vices Fine Jewelry website.

Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” is out now at select theaters and will be available on Netflix Nov. 7.

Mia Goth, who plays Elizabeth Lavenza, is seen wearing jewels by Tiffany & Co. throughout the film.