Callista Gingrich’s physics-inspired ear clips

In today’s New York Times I read that Callista Gingrich, the third wife of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, owns a pair of gold starburst ear clips described as “inspired by electrons orbiting in the nucleus of an atom.”

The ear clips are among several pieces of jewelry that the Gingriches have bought from Tiffany and Co of New York City. That the couple had a $500 000 line of credit from the famous jeweler was revealed last week by the website Politico. The ensuing explosion of news coverage has damaged the former Speaker’s bid to become the next Republican presidential candidate.

Politics aside, what are physics-inspired ear clips like? According to the entry on Tiffany’s online catalog, the clips are made from 18-carat gold and contain round brilliant diamonds that weigh a total of 5.69 carats (1138 mg) and are pavé-set in platinum.

If we take the gold loops to represent orbiting electrons, then “inspired by,” rather than “resembling,” is an accurate description. A physicist might quibble that the designer, Jean Schlumberger, has put all the electrons in one big s orbital, which is unphysical.

On the other hand, by artfully making each golden loop slightly different, Schlumberger embodies—intentionally or not—the quantum uncertainty that prevails in atomic orbitals. What’s more, the 12 loops in each ear clip connote carbon, an appropriate choice for diamond jewelry.