Like so much of Takahiro Miyashita’s work at Number (N)ine, SS2007’s “About a Boy” was viscerally influenced by Kurt Cobain. The secondary principle influence was Johnny Cash, from whom the collection’s title is borrowed from. The season’s presentation was rather tranquil, with an emphasis put on the romantic side of the two men — for all of their public battles with personal demons, Cash and Cobain were also two of the century’s most famous lovers, with legendary relationships to June Carter and Courtney Love respectively.

This necklace comes from the fruitful partnership between Takahiro and Japanese jewelers Magical Design, who molded his severe iconography into elaborate heavy-weight silver pieces. As Number (N)ine expanded, these pieces became more extravagant, adorned with diamonds and jewels, and bestowed with limited production runs and exorbitant retail prices. This interpretation of a rosary features a skeleton atop the cross with gemstones throughout. The entire piece is made with heavy-weight .950 silver, and retailed for just under 100k yen. Though more subdued in appearance than this offering, rosaries were pervasive across the runway in the spring of 2007, where they were paired with preacher hats and preacher collars. A natural choice, as the season was based around Johnny Cash, whose faith was well-documented. 

Condition: 9/10. No significant flaws.