
Who started it? London-based jewellery designer Maria Black was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, to an Irish father and Danish mother. The minimalist style of her homeland and Black’s travels to exotic destinations such as Brazil and India inspired her to pursue a career in jewellery. In 2010, she launched her eponymous line, Maria Black Jewellery, which quickly became an editors’ favourite, with its unconventional, understated designs. Fans include Scarlett Johansson, Rihanna, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Lady Gaga.
Why we love it: like many other Scandinavian designers, Black’s creations are minimalist, with clean, geometric shapes punctuated with unusual textures and repeated patterns. Her creations have been dubbed as “Lego for fashionistas” because many of the styles are interchangeable – for example, earrings can be worn alone or matched with other styles while rings can adorn fingers or toes. The final look is delicate yet edgy and never fussy or overdone.
What we’d pick: the gold Vera earring (above right; HK$1,800 a pair) features three adjoining triangles for a funky twist on your classic ear stud. Stack several pieces of the oxidised silver Nicks bracelet (top right; HK$1,800) for a cool look or opt for the Castro ring (above left; HK$2,500) decorated with gold chains.
Where can you get it? Maria Black is available at Vein (Lee Gardens Two, Causeway Bay, tel: 2528 4988) and Vein on the Yard (2 St Francis Yard, Wan Chai, tel: 2804 1038).