Fine line black tattoo of concentric orbit rings with small planet dots and a dotted outer ring, placed centrally on a woman's upper back.

Orbital rings and planets on upper back

Fine line · Back · Black and grey · Photo

A fine black linework tattoo shows concentric circles with small dots and star-like marks along the orbits, suggesting a solar system or orrery. A dotted outer ring has a small rectangular clasp-like detail on the right side. The design is in black ink on pale skin, centred on the upper back with the subject's hair up and a black top with white cross pattern visible below.

Fine line Geometric Back Solar system Orbit Planet Circle Celestial Ring Dot

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Take it to an artist as a reference. A good artist will make it yours rather than copy someone else's tattoo.

A story inspired by this tattoo · fiction

Dear Nell, your grandmother would have told me off for leaving the back of the case open until the night before the wedding, but the outer ring would not sit true until I had fitted the clasp, and the clasp took me a fortnight. Enclosed is the thing I promised. Fold the ring shut until the hinge catches on the little notch, and it will close like a book that has decided to keep its secrets.

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The inner rings are Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars, which I know looks like an odd family tree to give a bride, but I cut every orbit to the proportions in the almanac I borrowed from the reading room and forgot to return. Each planet is a bead of silver no bigger than a lentil. The dotted border and the small stars along the tracks are the ones your grandfather pointed out from the top of Clifton Down the summer we were courting, when the sky was clearer than the coal smoke allowed for long after.

Wind the key at the back and the beads will move at their true speeds, which means the planets never meet and never hurry. I used to think that was a sad arrangement. Now I think it is the only sensible one, and it is the lesson I would most like to pass on. Set it on the windowsill of the flat where the morning light comes through, and let Michael do the winding on Sundays, because he has the steadier hands and you will only fuss.

The clasp came from the box your mother kept her letters in, the one she never let anyone open. I thought you should have the catch even if you cannot have the contents. When you are cross with each other, close the ring and let the planets stop. In the morning, open it again and see where everything has got to. Love, Grandad Walter.