Learn More About DARKGEM

Werner Häring's DARKGEM collection embraces weight, texture and individuality, creating pieces that feel as though they have already lived a life before becoming part of yours.

Designed and handcrafted in Germany, the collection reimagines contemporary jewellery through a distinctly unisex lens. Crafted from oxidised sterling silver, the rings, cuffs, necklaces and bracelets celebrate raw textures and sculptural forms, allowing the material itself to take centre stage. Rather than striving for polished perfection, DARKGEM embraces character, creating jewellery that evolves naturally with every wear.

At House of Valerie, DARKGEM is a natural extension of the designers we champion. Like the clothing collections we curate, it values authenticity over ornament and individuality over convention. These are pieces that become part of a personal uniform rather than a finishing touch, worn daily and layered instinctively with the wardrobe you already love.

One of the defining qualities of DARKGEM is the way each piece develops over time. The oxidised silver acquires a unique patina through wear, making every ring, bracelet or necklace entirely individual to its owner. It is jewellery designed not simply to be worn, but to collect memories and become more personal with age.

For those seeking jewellery with depth, character and enduring craftsmanship, DARKGEM offers an alternative to traditional fine jewellery, one that feels quietly distinctive, timeless and entirely its own.

Blackened Silver, By Design

DARKGEM was created by German designer Werner Häring, whose work has developed a devoted following amongst those drawn to jewellery with a stronger point of view.

At the centre of the collection is blackened silver, a material choice that immediately sets the pieces apart. Rather than chasing shine and perfection, Häring embraces darker finishes that reveal texture, depth, and character. The result feels timeless rather than trend-led, allowing the jewellery to sit naturally alongside both contemporary and more avant-garde wardrobes.

At House of Valerie, we love the confidence of this approach. Whilst much of the jewellery world is built around polish and sparkle, DARKGEM finds beauty elsewhere. The darker surface of the metal creates contrast, allowing every texture, stone, and detail to become more visible.

It is a simple idea, though one that completely changes the way the pieces are experienced.

Madness, Music & Memory

Werner Häring has described jewellery as something created not only through skill and technique, but through experience.

The books we read, the music we listen to, the places we visit, and the people we love all become part of the creative process. It is a philosophy that gives DARKGEM an emotional depth rarely found within contemporary jewellery.

At House of Valerie, this is one of the aspects we find most fascinating about the collection. The pieces never feel purely decorative. Instead, they carry a sense of story and personal connection, as though each design has absorbed fragments of the world around it.

There is also a refreshing honesty in the way Häring speaks about inspiration. Alongside craftsmanship sits instinct. Alongside precision sits curiosity. The collection feels driven as much by emotion as by technical expertise.

Perhaps that is why the pieces feel so individual. They are not created from a formula, but from a lifetime of influences brought together through the language of jewellery.

The Beauty Of The Darker Details

Blackened silver forms the foundation of the collection, though it is often paired with materials such as rock crystal and smoky quartz that bring additional texture and contrast. Surfaces are weathered rather than polished smooth, creating pieces that feel organic and naturally evolved.

There is a sculptural quality running throughout the collection. Rings feel architectural. Bracelets carry weight and presence. Necklaces become focal points without ever appearing overworked.

At House of Valerie, we often find that customers connect with DARKGEM because the jewellery feels personal. The pieces become part of a wardrobe rather than sitting apart from it, developing character through wear and taking on new meaning over time.

Like the best jewellery, they feel less like accessories and more like objects that happen to be worn.

DARKGEM at House of Valerie

What we love most about DARKGEM is its refusal to follow expectations.

The collection offers an alternative to jewellery designed purely for occasion or ornamentation. Instead, the pieces bring texture, substance, and individuality to the way people dress every day.

Within the wider House of Valerie edit, DARKGEM provides a natural counterpart to many of the designers we champion. The jewellery shares the same appreciation for craftsmanship, character, and independent thinking, whilst offering something entirely its own.

For those drawn to jewellery with depth, personality, and a sense of permanence, DARKGEM remains one of the most distinctive collections we stock.

Explore the latest DARKGEM collection at House of Valerie.