About NICKI

As a young girl, Nicki spent countless hours collecting beads and sequins that had fallen off the inventory and onto the floor of “Mimi & Natalie,” her Grandmother’s Women’s Accessories store in Rockville Center, New York. These findings were her earliest treasures that she would transform into beloved pieces of jewelry.

Over time, this passion for creating evolved, as did her use of materials. From beadwork and wire wrapping to cast metals and set gemstones, she took classes to learn new techniques that piqued her curiosity. Of particular interest was the lost wax technique; she found dripping wax into positive forms and then carving it away into the shapes of her ideas to be indescribably rewarding.

Her favorite part of the creation process is searching for fantastical gemstones; they're the heart of the piece. She designs with the philosophy that the best settings will enhance the stone's beauty without detracting from it. Nicki believes that the subtleties of a design are critical, so she embraces the special details — nuance is everything.

While she works with a variety of gemstones, Australian Opals are her favorite to create with.

“The excitement unfolds in the gemstone discovery process — not knowing what I’m going to find, and then exploring the possibilities of the unearthed. Each Opal is distinct, in a way unlike any other gem. They ignite my imagination and inspire the stories I weave around each extraordinary stone.”

Nicki currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two children, and wears a storied ring she once made for her grandmother. It’s based on an experience they shared and says, “With all my love, in one fell swoop.”