Mike and Maaike: Stolen Jewels

San Francisco-based design team Mike and Maaike have added to their impressive design repertoire by stealing some bling. In their new Stolen Jewels Collection, they explore the tangible versus the virtual in relation to real and perceived value. How did they do it? They used Google, that’s how. By performing Google image searches for some of the most famous and expensive pieces of jewelry in the world, then stealing, doctoring, and printing the images on scored leather, they were able to create these wild, pixelated, and — ironically enough — unique renditions. With the expense of the jewels and the intricacy of their construction stripped away, their essence and visual intensity are extracted. Some of the “Stolen Jewels” include the Hope Diamond Broach, the Golden Jubilee Diamond Broach, the Great Chrysanthemum Necklace, and Imelda Marcos’ Ruby Necklace with Diamonds. They’re available at select galleries– contact M&M to find out where.