Recommendations

Rock n' Roll jewelry to-die-for -
custom and ready made.

Strengths

• Exhibitionist is the sexiest gothic jewelry I've ever had the pleasure (and pain -ouch- hurts so good!)of wearing. This is the place to go for fine ready-to-wear or couture jewelry that is well made, chic, totally affordable, and tough-looking in a girlie sort of way.
• Rock the Chrome Hearts vibe for an iota of the price.
• Michael Spirito (the designer) makes skulls seem delicate and femme with his addition of diamonds and pearls in dainty settings.
• There is a reason Exhibitionist is on top of every hot stylist's list – the stars crave this stuff. Regular clients (do they really need last names?) like Fergie, Gwen, Beyonce, Britney, Pink, and Shakira, don his baubles, from the covers of Rolling Stone, to award shows, to panty-less after-parties.
• The “Lord” and “Lady” rings are utterly adored amongst my posse.
• There is something incredibly covetable and powerful about this line of jewelry that trumps all the other couture, rocker jewelry lines crowding the magazine pages the past few seasons. Skulls are so popular now, I almost yearn for the days when tough, rocker jewelry was still saved for the punk and strung out; luckily Michael's collections don’t stop at the clichés. His new collection is full of richly hued stones in elaborate settings, made for a Queen (or King – suit yourself).
• You can wear this stuff to an IDF benefit and Sin-E equally with ease. Its cross-over (casual to dressy) appeal lets you keep your favorite ring on for days.

Shortcomings

• This isn’t Tiffany’s, dear. You won’t get oohed and ahhed over – but you will get friendly enough help. It’s the L.E.S - they are a little jaded, deal with it.

Insider tips

• Michael will do custom work, no problem.
• Many a (now divorced) superstar couple have had their wedding rings made here. For a completely one-of-kind stunner, have your husband hustle downtown for a private consultation with Michael.
• You can have an old stone reset in one of his gorgeous pieces.

Anecdotes

• I got a necklace from here for my birthday that says “Angel” and “Devil” on two separate dog tags that overlap each other. I can usually sense my daily naughty odometer by which dog tag falls where. It’s uncanny! Dare I say – this jewelry also has superpowers??!

Perfect for

• Too much of a princess for a skull-and-cross bones nose ring? You’ll find the tough-lite version here.
• Your edgy, artsy friend who knows better than to wear the silver rings from Saint Marks Place.
• Your boyfriend who has indie film star aspirations, but – alack – he works in Finance. Buy him the dope Cross Bones Cufflinks ($260) and he’ll squeal like the little boy you know he really is.

Credentials

• The first collection was launched in 2001 to immediate lauds.
• Michael won the 2002 Gen Art International Design Vision Award for accessories.