The love language that has us smitten

An Airbus A350 (considered one of the best, most efficient commercial aircraft) can fly about 10,000 nautical miles in a single journey. But so can albatross. And with zero technology.

This amazing capability is greatly made possible by the species’ unique wing anatomy. Not only do their wingspans easily average upwards of 10 feet but they have a locking mechanism that keeps them in a horizontal position, allowing the albatross to fly at high speeds and for up to eight hours straight with minimal energetic effort. One grey-headed albatross was even recorded to circumnavigate the world in just 46 days, consistently maintaining speeds of around 80 miles per hour.

Like airplanes, refueling is necessary at some point and albatrosses have at least one fascinating way of doing so … plunging more than 50 feet into the ocean to capture fish (that they can smell from miles away!) with their sharp, hooked beaks. Because they also drink the ocean water, their beaks are equipped with special glands that remove the salt and excrete it through tube-like passages.

But their remarkable anatomy isn’t the only quality that draws us to these big birds — we’re also besotted by their love language.

To catch glimpses of their loving nature, you can tune into the Royal Cam hosted by the Department of Conservation in New Zealand — home to the indigenous Māori people who call albatross toroa in honor of the species' incredible display of strength and freedom.

The live stream offers views of albatross nests during the breeding seasons and captures everything from the long egg incubation periods (roughly 80 days) to parents taking turns guarding their offspring and even their courtship rituals that, depending on the genus, often include an elaborate performance of preening, rattling, and synchronized dances. After taking their time (around 4 years) to select a lifelong partner, the couple performs the same mating ritual each time they reunite, reaffirming their love and dedication to each other (awww 💗). These strong relationships are sometimes also formed between two females who unite to raise their chicks together.

In our own honor of these extraordinary endangered creatures, we’ve created an inseparable pair of opals that come together in a twinkling pink and lavender display of limitless love and freedom. The arches of each opal heart earring are poised like an albatross soaring purposefully through endless skies in devoted pursuit of its beloved.