When I first planted my peepers these delicate little heart and cat rings from Bittersweets NY, I was instantly charmed. So fragile and confectionary, I just had to suss out the entire collection.

So I was a bit surprised to learn that the majority of Bittersweets’ pieces are anything but twee. In fact, the overall vibe is a gothic one, delicate with a gruesome tongue-in-cheek twist, all of which made me enjoy it even more. Launched in 2002, BSNY is the product of artist Robin Adams’ ghoulish imagination and extensive background in welding and metalsmithing. While living above a strip club in Queens, NY, she used her spare time to create tiny scupltures of everyday objects, everything from twigs to earthworms. Eventually, these itty bitty artworks morphed into wearable pieces and thus began Robin’s “accidental” foray into the jewelry business.

Today, Bittersweet NY’s macabre baubles look as though they were discovered in some dusty little curiosity shop in the middle of nowhere. Maggot and heart valve charms may sound ew gross but they become precious when crafted in rose or white gold. The simple, yet exquisite, sprig-ish bangles and hoop earrings are a lesson in finely tuned craftsmanship. Memento Mori is a collection of rings that can be inscribed with the birth and death dates of a lost loved one, a contemporary spin on Victorian mourning jewelry. It’s Robin’s vigilant attention to detail which makes these pieces so special because let’s be honest, no matter if your personal taste runs bitter or sweet, I dare you not to squee at that little skeleton curled up inside the ring.