NVK Guardian Ruru necklace

This unique necklace is from renowned Auckland based jeweller Nick Von Klarwill.

The Morepork or Ruru is the native New Zealand Owl, known in Maaori tradition as a watchful Guardian, and as it is a bird of the night it is widely thought to have spiritual connections.

This pendant features a Ruru Owl holding a 10mm round cabochon of NZ Pounamu in between its wings, in solid sterling silver and hung on an adjustable fine sterling silver, 45-50cm length chain.

"The inspiration for this collection comes from my love of Owls in general and having recently seen a couple of our native Ruru on Waiheke last winter. Seeing an Owl in the wild is amazing as they hold you in their gaze with their great big eyes, they are quiet and peaceful but they watch you intently, it's a special experience"

Presented in a custom NVK gift box.

Artist statement:

"I’ve been making jewellery for 25 years. I started in my bedroom when I was 18, then a friend and I built a tiny ramshackle shed out the back of my flat for me to work in. I was selling at weekend markets and not making much money at all. It was very humble beginnings!

My first big milestone was meeting the designer of Ricochet clothing in 1999 and her taking me on as their freelance jewellery designer and producer. We worked together for 10 years, it was very successful and I learned a lot about the fashion industry, and about quality and style. I also learned about numbers, costs, retail prices, events, deadlines - so much. It was all extremely valuable; like doing a business degree in marketing and design, but just in the real world.

Then Ricochet was sold at the end of 2009 which put me at a crossroads, and that was the moment I decided to start my own brand - calling it Nick Von K. The name is in memory of my grandfather Peter Von Klarwill. He was a Baron in Austria, but also a Jew so he fled to NZ when the Nazis’ invaded. For me he encapsulated a fabled air of old European aristocratic art and culture that has always inspired me.

In 2011, I moved into the current studio premises in the La Gonda Arcade on K Road in Auckland, with a retail showroom as a part of the studio space. We have been here ever since!

We have a team of in-house jewellers and other collaborators and some custom pieces we create from start to finish here in New Zealand. However we produce most of the seasonal collections in one boutique production house in Bali where they cast their own metal and also fabricate and finish. When I first travelled to Bali more than 15 years ago, I developed connections with this production house and also with a handful of local artisans who I still work with to this day. These relationships are the lifeblood of the Nick Von K brand, evolving over time from creative partnerships into lasting friendships.

It’s been an amazing journey so far, but I’m always most interested in where we are going next! The future is filled with possibilities.