Zirconia-Inlaid Southern Dipper Constellation Necklace

“Let me pluck the stars from the heavens for you!”

Design Overview:

A necklace embellished with gemstones using layer pause settings, featuring six 3.5MM diameter zirconias (approximately $0.02 each, achieving 90% of the brilliance of diamonds at a fraction of the cost—a cost-effectiveness ratio exceeding a thousandfold!).

Background Story:

The Six Stars of the Southern Dipper comprise Tianfu (formerly Ling), Tianliang (formerly Yin), Tianji (formerly Shan), Tiantong (formerly Fu), Tianxiang (formerly Yin), and Qisha (formerly Jiang). Chinese mythology speaks of “the Northern Dipper presiding over death, the Southern Dipper over life,” with the Six Stars of the Southern Dipper in Taoism being the deities governing fate and longevity: the first, Tianfu Palace, is the Star God of Fate; the second, Tianxiang Palace, the Star God of Fortune; the third, Tianliang Palace, the Star God of Longevity; the fourth, Tiantong Palace, the Star God of Auspicious Calculations; the fifth, Tianzhu Palace, the Star God of Deliverance from Calamity; and the sixth, Tianji Palace, the Star God of Ascension. Because the Southern Dipper governs life, it’s known in Chinese folklore as the “Longevity Star,” with the belief that worshipping it grants longevity.

Additional Materials Required:

Six 3.5mm diameter zirconias. A pack of 100 is available on Taobao for around $2, enough for over a dozen necklaces.

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?_u=926prva514e1&id=552998248619&spm=a1z09.2.0.0.6d902e8dpHFdtZ

Assembly Video:

Print Time:
Model print time 12 minutes, with assembly totaling approximately 30 minutes.

Weight, Materials, and Cost:

Dark filaments are recommended (Starry Night PLA, Sparkle PLA, dark PLA-CF preferred, matte black and black brushed metal as alternatives). Dark filaments enhance the sparkle. The model weighs approximately 2g, making it incredibly lightweight and virtually imperceptible when worn. For the first print, you’ll likely need to purchase zirconias online; a full pack of 100 3.5mm stones generally costs under $3, averaging about $0.02 per stone, or about $0.12 for six (3.5mm moissanite is also an option, though more expensive; personally, I find the zirconias sufficiently brilliant).

Strength:

Reinforcing ribs have been incorporated, ensuring sufficient strength for typical use.

Source Files and Modification (Optional):

STL files are provided for resizing or remixing (please inform me before remixing). Feel free to leave comments or message me if you encounter any problems during modification.

Additional Services:

Custom shapes are available, with a small fee for each set of six zirconia settings (payment plans available)

Your prints and feedback are welcome. Future revisions will be based on your suggestions. Thank you.