leather – Shine & Starfire

Long time no post! Featuring Northskull, a men’s jewelry fashion brand based in London.

I originally was not going to post about this brand simply because I was not too much a fan of their designs. But recently, Northskull of London released a new collection that upped its appeal. Northskull brand signature bracelets feature quality leather, fine metals on bracelets with two skulls head to head. I do believe they have a few stingray leather leather pieces as well as beaded bracelets aswell.

Their newest collection entitled Construct/Disrupt of SS16 features sleek new bangles and bracelets. I’m a crazy bangle/ bracelet fiend and Northskull delivers such beautiful minimal and simplistic pieces with subtle design flare! They have a few aged silver cuffs in a sort of matte finish as well as 18k gold plated brass rings etc.

As far as pricing wise, Northskull is a luxury men’s fashion jewelry line so pieces range usually $100+USD. In my opinion, if a guy is going to buy jewelry for himself he is not going to buy like a gazillion different bracelets like I would… so it is worth it(?) I mean… some of these pieces feel very unisex… so I would totally go wild if sales were in play.

** I could totally see myself stack Northskull’s newest The End Cuff in gold with a Cartier LOVE bangle or Vita Fede‘s Mini Titan for a lovely arm stack!

This particular post was one that I was going to post later on… but upon close inspection and recent findings, I thought why not now.

I first heard about Miansai through popular fashion blogger Chriselle Lim of thechrisellefactor.com. I was introduced not via her blog but through instagram on her 2014 Christmas Giveaway post. Needless to say, I entered and didn’t win but it was to win a pair of rose gold colored cuffs (yes I enter all these contests because I’m a sucker for jewelry). I’m not particularly a fan of their ever popular Screw cuff bracelet (see below) because the design honestly reminds me of a pair of shackles.

Please see the following images and continue to read:

Do these designs look familiar to you? Hint: Nautical themed, nuts and bolts, nautical cord? Hello James Barts anyone? Tell me they do not look alike! Okay, okay some of you might be saying the nautical theme is free for all and I get it. But at the same time, personally I like to find unique designs and credit/ buy them from the masterminds. I hop on to their website and click on their ‘About Me’ section- all I find is a generic description of Miansai being made in America and a store in NY, nothing about when it was established and by who. (Later findings found this Q&A on racked.com)

My only question is, who had the idea first. I have yet to receive my James Barts bracelet in the mail but looking at pictures, I’d say Swedish quality looks better… (or do they just have better packaging?) ~~Would it be too bold to say Miansai copied James Barts?~~ Suffice to say, there are some very clear similarities in these designs and in my opinion James Barts takes the cake.
Pricing on Miansai’s bracelets are also a little on the pricey side $55+ USD. Options include rose gold plated, gold plated, silver plated, sterling silver, and full 14k gold (alongside various colored cords and leathers).

I am most definitely not a fan of the ‘D’ shape that are Miansai’s most famous screw cuff bracelets. In addition, their leather and cords look a little thin. There only one design I truly adore but it does not help that my expensive eyes dart immediately towards the $2.5k solid rose gold fish hook cuff bracelet.

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