Gothic silver Jewelry Manual - Everything you ever needed to know about Biker jewelry a.k.a. Gothic silver jewelry and more

Define: Biker Jewelry (pronunciation: \'bi-ker 'ju-el-re\ noun) – biker jewelry, alternatively sometimes known as rocker jewelry, gothic jewelry, rock and roll jewelry, rock n roll jewelry deviates hugely in comparison with normal forms of delicate jewelry, carrying more weight and substance than its traditional counterpart. Rock & Roll jewelry is easily identifiable owing to the boisterous statement it makes with its deliberately masculine look. It is commonly forged using thick and heavy precious metals; in particular sterling silver, the craftsman’s prime choice of material. It is not unheard of to see genuine sterling silver wallet chains weighing in at an entire lb made by a famous biker jewelry outfit. The magical combination of leather (sometimes alligator or snake skins), silver and loud designs comprises the essential elements of the born-to be-wild image. Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to be a biker or live the biker lifestyle to appreciate biker jewelry. The biker is simply a cultural icon which epitomises the ability to ride freely, to feel the wind blowing hard against your skin, to express your own individual style without boundaries and to live without restriction. Wearing gothic silver is about making a resounding statement of freedom and independence.

The biker jewelry of today has evolved from simple traditional wallet chains and  skull rings into highly intricate, custom, handcrafted, gorgeous pieces of wearable art made in pure sterling silver and other precious metals. In the world of biker jewelry, boldness, designs and motifs matter. The most frequently seen designs include an entire range of animal jewelry, skull jewelry, cross jewelry, fleur de lis jewelry, hearts jewelry and fire jewelry. Experts on biker jewelry treasure good silver designs rather than brands just like tattoo lovers value great ink designs. Patina on silver creates a unique and beautiful polished black accentuating a background of glistening silver; a uniquely quirky effect no other metal can recreate.

LA and Tokyo are the biker jewelry capitals of the world. Known as "silver freaks" in Japan, the first Japanese to admire biker jewelry were young tourists visiting Los Angeles in the 1990's who instantly took to the magic of the pioneer Gaboratory’s very first gothic silver designs.

First Generation Biker Jewelry and Leather Designers from Los Angeles:

GN - Gabor Nagy started Gaboratory
TW - Travis Walker (Gabor's student and employee) started Double Cross Jewelry
BWL - Bill Wall (Gabor's partner) started Bill Wall Leather or BWL
DP - Dennis Pollicino started Leathers and Treasures
RS - Richard Stark started Chrome Hearts or CH
RM - Ryk Maverick founded Starlingear
VAL - Jerry Van Amburg started Van Amburg Leathers

Popular Los Angeles Hideouts for Biker Jewelry: Santa Monica; Venice; Malibu; Melrose
Popular Countries for Biker Jewelry: USA; UK; Germany; Hong Kong; Japan; Taiwan

Biker jewelry, or rock n roll jewelry, was the first of its kind in that it catered almost exclusively to men, incorporating bold motifs and masculine designs to symbolize strength, freedom & rebellion. Once thought to be reserved for bikers, renegades and rockers, biker jewelry has today entered the realm of mainstream fashion suitable for both men and women alike. Gothic silver jewelry designers and sterling silver aficionados deserve much credit for the rising popularity of men’s jewelry, rock 'n' roll accessories, and skull motifs in fashion.

Gone  are the days when watches and neckties were the only accessories men could look forward to wearing. Today, jewelry has become an important staple to any respectable man’s wardrobe, with sterling silver as the metal of choice. The magnetic combination of leather, sterling silver and bold designs comprise the essential elements of the biker image, and increasingly, men and women alike are being drawn to biker-inspired fashion as a theme for casual wear. Designers are answering to the call by designing novel lines for both sexes which include biker-style leather jackets, clothing, caps, shirts and, of course sterling silver jewelry. Biker jewelry, regardless of what naysayers of the past decade have claimed, is surely here to stay.

In recent years, prices of biker jewelry have risen so painfully that fans are increasingly unable to afford it. In response to this development, attractive alternatives to mainstream labels are being offered by small time jewelers, who utilize the same sterling silver to create almost identical or similarly styled (inspired) designs as the originals.

Everything you ever wanted to know about gothic silver jewelry and real silver alternatives to designer labels is available at Chrome Hearts.

The author is a New York-based veteran jewelry craftsman with 10 years of craftsmanship experience under his belt. He specializes in jewelry craft and fashion analysis. To learn more about Chrome Hearts, replicas, inspired alternatives and other recent challenges facing the brand, visit Chrome Hearts