Nick von K

General information

New Zealand jewelry brand Nick Von K is synonymous with going against the grain and embracing the unconventional. The mystique and magic which surrounds one of the country’s most innovative and appreciated jewelry lines is due to the rich history of the brand, as well as the vision of the enigmatic founder and designer Nick Von Klarwill.

The name Nick Von K stems from the legend of Nick’s grandfather, Baron Peter Von Klarwill.

“My grandfather was the last of an aristocratic family line that stretches back to the Hapsburg Court in Austria. I don’t really remember him as he died when I was young, but through family stories and my imagination he has become somewhat of a legend. He always made me think of old European aesthetics; churches, castles, museums, art collections and gothic architecture, which are all a big influence on my style.”

Designer Nick Von Klarwill, who founded Nick Von K in 2010 with his debut collections See You There and Jungle of Eden, has become locally and internationally renowned for creating intricate jewelry pieces with a dark and bold undertone, as well as building a reputation for doing the unpredictable. The Figures of Speech and Viva La Victory collections followed in 2011 and 2012 respectively.

“The Nick Von K style is very eclectic. I did that on purpose when I launched the first two collections simultaneously so that I would never be boxed in as a designer. I always wanted the freedom to explore new territory and have the fans understand that about the brand.”
In November 2013 Nick Von K threw an exclusive party in inner city Auckland, New Zealand. At exactly midnight a flash mob broke out in the center of the venue, revealing to media and the public Nick Von K’s first ever watch collection. Klarwill has promised surprises across his fashion, jewelry and lifestyle brand even bigger for 2014…

This was over and above the release of his 2013 jewelry collection Midnight Carnival, which was released to critical acclaim in both New Zealand and New York. Nick Von Klarwill flew to New York in October 2013 for a collection launch party in fashion designer Nicole Miller’s SoHo retail boutique. Nick Von K is stocked throughout Nicole Miller boutiques across the United States.

“I wanted to really stretch myself creatively this time around, to make diversely different pieces to what I’ve made before and the Midnight Carnival idea with its crazy characters certainly pushed me to do this. This collection is still very ‘Nick Von K’ but it’s also very unique, which is exciting for me and my customers,” says Klarwill.

Stars including Lady Gaga, Clive Owen, Heather Graham, Adam Lambert, Florence Welch (from Florence + the Machine) and Bam Margera are owners of Nick Von K jewelry pieces.

The next Nick Von K collection is slated for a September 2014 release.

A self-confessed collector, Nick surrounds himself with a rare and interesting mix of inspirations, all of which influence his jewelry range. All Nick Von K jewelry pieces are designed in Auckland, New Zealand, and manufactured in Bali, Indonesia.