Alexandra Hakim

The method: cast the object, do not imitate it

What separates Alexandra Hakim from every other designer working with recycled materials is that the waste is not melted down, it is cast. A mould is taken from the real spent match, the real cane, the real chilli, so the finished metal carries the grain of the wood and the pitted skin of the fruit. You are not looking at a drawing of a matchstick. You are looking at a matchstick, in gold.

That approach came out of her training. She took an Art Foundation at Central Saint Martins in London, then a BFA in Jewellery and Metalsmithing at the Rhode Island School of Design, where she specialised in design innovation and worked out the process she still uses. She launched in Beirut in 2016, working alongside the city’s goldsmiths and craftsmen in a trade that was almost entirely male.

Because every piece is made by hand, one at a time, no two are identical. The brand is explicit about this: the organic forms and the small irregularities are fundamental to the designs, not defects to be polished out.

The signature lines

• Matchsticks. The founding idea, from the spent matches in her studio ashtray. Available as earrings and pendants in gold-plated brass and sterling silver.
• Khaizaran. Hoops and cuffs cast from the woven cane of a traditional Lebanese chair. Khaizaran is the Arabic word for that cane.
• The market. Chillies, lemons, tomatoes, strawberries and raspberries, cast from the real produce that feeds her travels through Mediterranean and Mexican markets.
• Good Karma. All twelve zodiac pendants, plus a customisable version and the charms and chains built to carry them.
• Canter. The horseshoe collection, hammered and set with cubic zirconia, as earrings, a linked chain and a lapel brooch.

Materials and what to expect

The gold pieces are recycled brass finished in a warm 22K gold plate, with 18K gold posts on the earrings, so the metal sitting in the piercing is solid gold. The silver pieces are sterling silver. Stones are cubic zirconia in white, yellow and mixed colours, alongside freshwater pearls and enamel on some styles.

This is demi-fine jewellery rather than fine jewellery, and the pricing reflects that honestly. Plating is a wearing surface, so keep the pieces dry, put them on last after perfume and lotion, and store them in their pouches. Looked after, they last years, and a worn plate can be redone by a jeweller.

Editor’s styling guide

• Wear one piece. These are cast from real objects and carry real texture, so a single piece against a plain neckline reads as sculpture. Three at once reads as clutter.
• By day, the 3 cm hoops carry a white shirt and tailored trousers without announcing themselves. Hair back so the earring is visible.
• After dark, the 6 cm statement earrings want a bare neck and nothing at the wrist.
• Avoid pattern behind a cast piece. Texture against print cancels both out.
• Mixing metals is fine. Pick one as the lead and let the second appear once.

Sizing

Every piece is one size, so there is no conversion to worry about. What varies is scale, and the measurements are the thing to read before ordering.

Shop by category

• Earrings, 38 styles, the largest part of the collection
• Necklaces, 28 including the full zodiac set
• Bracelets and cuffs
• Brooches, from the Canter collection

Read the guides

• Who is Alexandra Hakim?
• Alexandra Hakim review: quality, sizing and who it suits
• Is Alexandra Hakim a luxury brand?
• How to care for the jewellery
• The Canter horseshoe collection
• The matchstick earrings
• The khaizaran collection
• The zodiac necklaces, all twelve signs
• The edit: 12 pieces worth knowing
• Brands like Alexandra Hakim

Compare designers

Shoppers considering Alexandra Hakim also look at Schiaparelli for object-led surreal jewellery, Jennifer Behr for handmade atelier pieces, and Magda Butrym for a single signature motif carried across a collection. All three are stocked at Coveti alongside the wider designer jewellery edit.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Alexandra Hakim?

A British-Lebanese jewellery designer who casts found and spent objects directly into metal. She trained at Central Saint Martins and the Rhode Island School of Design, launched her label in Beirut in 2016 and now works from Madrid.

Is Alexandra Hakim jewellery handmade?

Yes. Every piece is made by hand, one at a time, and the brand states that no two are identical. The organic forms and small irregularities are part of the design.

Is Alexandra Hakim jewellery real gold?

The gold pieces are recycled brass with a 22K gold plate, and the gold earrings use 18K gold posts. The silver pieces are sterling silver. This is demi-fine jewellery rather than solid gold fine jewellery.

How much does Alexandra Hakim jewellery cost?

At Coveti, between 179 and 752 US dollars. Most earrings sit between 250 and 470, and the zodiac pendants start at 232.

How should I care for the pieces?

Put jewellery on last, after perfume and lotion. Do not wear plated pieces when swimming and bathing. Wipe with a soft dry cloth after wear, use a polishing cloth on the silver, and store each piece in its own pouch.

Is Alexandra Hakim a sustainable brand?

Yes, and it has worked this way since 2016. The method is zero waste by design, because the waste is the raw material, and the chains are made from recycled brass. Production is small and by hand.

What is khaizaran?

The Arabic word for cane, specifically the woven rattan used in the seats of traditional Lebanese chairs. Alexandra Hakim casts it into gold hoops and cuffs.

Does Coveti ship Alexandra Hakim internationally?

Yes, worldwide, through DHL Express and FedEx International Priority, insured and signature required. Most regions ship Delivered Duty Unpaid, so local duties and taxes fall due on import.