I recently had the opportunity to try out some of the recycled skinny rings by Nikki Stark Jewellery. Nikki Stark Jewellery is an ethical jewellery brand, specialising in contemporary, elegant pieces. I was interested in learning more about what makes jewellery ethical and how metals can be recycled to make something new. I have always absolutely adores jewellery, especially rings, which is why it is fantastic to partner up with an experienced jewellery maker who is passionate about her work. In this post I am going to take you through the beginning stages of how the jewellery is made and how to style the finished pieces.

Nikki Stark Jewellery

Nikki Stark is a jewellery designer, based in South West London. She has been making jewellery for over 12 years using traditional practices and simple hand tools. Nikki makes high quality, classic pieces out of recycled metals. All of her jewellery is handmade using solid precious metals and she specialises in sterling silver, as well as 9ct, 14ct and 18ct gold. The collection of rings was created based on her own personal tastes. There is a big focus on dramatic, statement pieces in the jewellery market, but Nikki wanted to create a range that was modern, high quality and simple. Statement pieces are wonderful, but they’re not always ideal for daily wear. I love how Nikki’s jewellery line is a modern brand offering simple, classic pieces that can be worn alone or stacked with more dramatic pieces. At Nikki Stark Jewellery you will find a wide range of ring styles such as wishbone rings, skinny rings, and curved rings. In addition to these everyday styles, you can also find a selection of wedding rings or have something custom made. For more details, feel free to email Nikki.

Here (above) I am wearing: rose gold wishbone ring, white gold hammered band, yellow gold smooth band.

What is Ethical Jewellery?

There are so many ways in which an item of jewellery can and cannot be considered ethical. Now, more than ever, there is a huge focus on preventing waste by only owning items that we want and use. One of the first and simplest ways to demonstrate conscious consumerism through our jewellery is to wear what we already own. If you’ve inherited items of jewellery of high quality that don’t suit your personal tastes then why not consider having them melted down and turned into something you’ll love and wear? While Nikki doesn’t offer this service herself, she does use recycled solid precious metals to make her jewellery, which come in plant-based biodegradable gift boxes and plastic-free envelopes. Nikki makes all of her items herself by hand and she doesn’t outsource labour to third world countries to save on costs. All items from Nikki’s line are made from high quality materials that were made to last and therefore you don’t need to keep replacing or repairing them. There is a fantastic range of temporary plated surfaces available nowadays but nothing quite beats the quality and durability of authentic metals such as gold and silver.

 
 

How to Stack Your Jewellery

Jewellery stacking is a very popular new trend at the moment. That said, I don’t really believe that any particular jewellery trend goes out of fashion. Whenever I’ve heard people talking about stacking their jewellery, in particular rings, they often try to be too careful. There really is no right or wrong way to stack your rings. The important thing is that you like the way they look and they feel comfortable for you to wear.

• Don’t worry about mixing different metals and textures.
• Despite what you may have been lead to believe, you can wear gold and silver together.
• You can also mix textures, as well as rings with and without stones.
• You don’t need any type of rings in particular in order to form an attractive ring stack. Mixing any rings you have will work. Although, adding in a couple of skinny rings is an easy way to create a simple yet stylish stack.
• Wear a simple skinny ring across all four of your fingers. This will create a tasteful gold or silver line, without you needing to add any other rings.
• Learn to master the powerstack. This is where one finger is stacked with rings while the finger next to it is left bare. This adds elegance and statement glamour. You can choose to have 1 or more powerstacks per hand of course.

 

How Do I Measure My Ring Size at Home?

Shopping online provides you with a much better choice than you can typically find on the high-street. The only issue with shopping online is selecting the right size. Some articles on the internet will advise you to measure your finger using a piece of string and a tape measure. Nikki Stark advises against this because it doesn’t produce an accurate measurement. She says that she knows of people who have been 5 to 6 sizes out when using this method! Luckily, Nikki has a convenient and accurate solution for you: her own ring sizer which you can order here before purchasing your jewellery.
 

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These items were kindly gifted by Nikki Stark Jewellery but all opinions are my own.