Gackt is well-known for his love of jewelry—especially silver accessories. He commonly wears rings, bracelets, necklaces and earrings, and he is rarely seen without wearing at least one piece of jewelry. Although he doesn’t often wear jewelry with stones, onyx is an exception, and the one piece that is indispensable to Gackt is his onyx bracelet. This piece, and all the other jewelry he wears, are produced under his own brand of accessories called DARTS. DARTS also includes sunglasses which he has designed himself, as well as a DARTS fragrance.

Gackt created his own brand of silver accessories because he wanted to wear jewelry that wasn’t merely made for looks, but was made with his own thoughts instilled in them. To him, jewelry must be meaningful and not used simply for decorative purposes. With that in mind, he gathered together four designers who create DARTS brand jewelry under the name Chimaera Crew. The jewelry lines are called TAUJAN, deaf breed, GIGOR and KARSHR. A fifth jewelry line called peerage was added in DARTS Version 7 (2006). Each designer has their own distinctive style, but all of the pieces are tied together by the story of DARTS. Each piece is hand-crafted and stones are hand-set on purchase. Chimaera Crew recently teamed up with New York designer, Andrew Buckler, and their jewelry was debuted at the Buckler Fall 2007 show in New York during Fashion Week. Their Japanese website is http://www.chimaera-crew.com/. They used to have a U.S. website for a New York-based store, but that website is no longer up.

The DARTS story first appeared on the h-darts website in Version 5 (translation of h-darts story). This was before DIABOLOS, and gave us just a hint of who the DARTS were. As the story was originally told, the DARTS were a clan living in the 16th century. They had special powers, but because of those powers, they were ousted from the world and lived in the “darkside”. Their name, DARTS, derives from the term “darkside inhabitants”, which is also the label used for the accessories. Of course, after DIABOLOS came out, we learned a lot more about the DARTS. See the MOON section for more information on the DARTS story.

DARTS accessories can be purchased online through the h-darts website and through the Tsutaya online shop. You can also find them at the Darts store in Japan and at A Little Village #1 The website has gone through many versions, with the latest appearing more like an online shop. Previous versions had photos of Gackt and You modeling the jewelry, as well as fancy layouts.

The online Darts shop now has an option for overseas shipping: http://www.h-darts.com/kaigai.html. You can order the goods listed in this section by sending them your request. They currently only take wire transfer payments.

DARTS Original
In addition to the silver accessories designed by Chimaera Crew, there is also a line of “original” goods. The jewelry in this line of goods include Gackt’s onyx bracelet, SixGem bracelet, Ju-ken’s model bracelet (stripe agate, crystal, red tiger eye and tiger eye), You’s model bracelet “earth” (turquoise, white agate, and crystal) and Chachamaru’s model bracelet (crystal, with skull).

Gackt’s bracelet is made up of black onyx; he believes that this stone protects its wearers. Years ago, he had given his girlfriend an onyx ring to protect her while she went overseas. She got into a bad traffic accident, but was unharmed, and the onyx ring she was wearing disappeared. Gackt believed that it was the ring that kept her safe, and he started wearing onyx after that. He also gives onyx bracelets to his “family” and friends, and you can always see his staff and members of GacktJob wearing those bracelets.

Gackt’s onyx bracelet is customized to its wearer; a gold symbol is painted onto one of the stones according to the wearer’s birth year. There are seven symbols to choose from, and they are called: Kiriku; Karn; Ban; Saku; An; Man; and Taraku. If you are born in the year of the rat, pig or dog, you get Kiriku. For rooster, you get Karn. For monkey and sheep you get Ban. For horse, you get Saku. For dragon and snake, you get An. For rabbit you get Man. And for ox and tiger, you get Taraku. When you order the onyx bracelet from the online shop, be sure to indicate the size and the symbol that you would like (you could also probably just tell them your birth year and they will give you the correct symbol).

The Original line also has three models of sunglasses. One is called Khepera (named after the Egyptian god of the rising sun); it comes in silver and black versions. The other two are simply called 05SS and 06SS (probably referring to the years they came out; 05SS for 2005 and 06SS for 2006). Both of these sunglasses have arms that hook into the top of the ear rather than sitting on top of the ears like regular sunglasses. Gackt designed these glasses so they wouldn’t fall off so easily when headbanging, etc. The 06SS has five lens colors to choose from, and the 05SS has 22 colors to choose from.

Besides the bracelets and the sunglasses, the Original line currently includes an original fragrance and a face towel and bath towel (available in black or white). In the past, there has also been a DARTS cell phone strap.

DARTS of deaf breed

DARTS of deaf breed are designed and made by Takahashi Motohiro (高橋基寛). He started the deaf breed brand in 2000, and currently has collections of necklaces, earrings, chains, buckles and other silver accessories. The deaf breed website has an online store which carries many of his other (non-DARTS) collections.

Gackt described deaf breed as a line that uses his favorite stone, onyx. Lesley Scott, of Fashiontribes, described deaf breed designs as “geometric, gothic shapes that symbolize individuality.” Many of the pieces have a sense of balance, from the circular shapes of the jewelry that incorporates onyx, to the cross shapes of many of the necklaces. These designs aren’t irregular in shape, like, for example, the Taujan and peerage designs. Deaf breed jewelry have names in standard English, and many of the names refer to animals and plants. They give the feeling of a group of people that are close to nature.

The current collection of deaf breed items includes a bracelet called “evil voice”, a necklace called “Mercy”, a ring called “Majesty”, a necklace called “blood oath” and another necklace called “cell rhythm”. Previous collections included the following:
Rings: Tenebrous; Feral Whispers; Dream; Fun; Shine; Majesty; One’s wits.
Pendants: Right Beast Sinatra; Admonition; Aim; Moon Lotus; No sense of smell.
Bracelets: Dual Nature; Brainsnake; Dance; Depravety; Recognize Snake; Winding Lotus; Time sense.
Necklaces: Flick; Animalism; Drawing out the beast; Bloodbath; Bloom; Bulletproof; Circle Snake; Kneel.
Earrings: Perception; The first city.

DARTS of KARSHR

DARTS of KARSHR are designed and made by Gon Houryu ((権 法龍). He first started designing jewelry in 1996, with the concept, “there is no need to be like anyone else.” He established a website for KARSHR in 2004 and opened a webshop in 2005; however that website has not been updated since 2005. It appears that his jewelry is currently sold in his shop, called Dicky & Grandmaster Silver Works, located in Aichi prefecture. There is also an online shop at the Dicky & Grandmaster website.

Gackt described the KARSHR line as boldly using stones, but being simple in design. Lesley Scott stated that KARSHR designs “symbolize the human ability to persevere and rise to a challenge during periods of suffering.” All of the KARSHR designs have a sharp, angular look. The lines of each piece are smooth and simple, and not as elaborate or intricately carved as some of the other designs. Many of the designs are also round and symmetrical, with a single, large stone set in the middle. The majority of KARSHR jewelry are named after ancient gods, and there are also many references to various myths from around the world.

The current collection of KARSHR items includes rings called “Ogier”, “HETERO” and “Cliche”, a necklace called “Machaira”, and an earring called “Bria”. Previous collections included the following:
Rings: Adonis; Orphism; Procyon; Queer; Entire; Hades; Helma; Lilith; Nagy; Zu; Bazilis.
Pendants: Buer; Thoth; Electra; Hexa Shield; Jargon; Mamo.
Bracelets: Crious; Dupeesquire; Eden; Ethno Aerthusa; Boraq; Eden.
Necklaces: Deianeira; Halpas; Mamo; Zeeba.
Earrings: Acro; Caim; Mria; Mastema; Thoth.

DARTS of GIGOR

DARTS of GIGOR are designed and made by Arakawa Gigor (荒川じごろう). He first started designing silver jewelry in 1996, with the thought, “I want to continue making things that I like, things that I feel are good.” His silver accessories can be bought at his online store. Most of the GIGOR designs are intricate and complex, with flowing and overlapping lines. The most memorable GIGOR design is the Reverse Cross necklace, which was inspired by the song 届カナイ愛ト知ッテイタノニ抑エキレズニ愛シ続ケタ... (Todokanai Ai to Shitteitanoni, Osaekirezuni Aishitsuduketa...). Gackt wore the Reverse Cross necklace in the PV for the song, and during performances of it on various television shows.

Most GIGOR items have names that are either nouns or adjectives that have positive connotations. Taken together, the names feel almost like they are from a world that existed long ago.

The current collection of GIGOR items includes rings called “Orein”, “emit shine”, a cuff called “Buruto”, a earring called “Seoulslt”, and the “Reverse Cross” necklace. Previous collections included the following:
Rings: Two Pulses; Unity; Particular; Mumble; Sharpness; Sleek Flow; Sleek Line; Filter; Vein; Soortval.
Pendants: All Scenes; Talisman; Soortval; Talisman; Vein.
Bracelets: Chain; Core Palse; Three Arrows; Wrap Flow; Filter; Soortval; Vein.
Necklaces: Prosperity; Filter.
Earrings: Aile; Eternity; Prosperity; Illegality; Quill.

DARTS of TAUJAN

DARTS of TAUJAN are designed by Hara Tatsuhiro (原龍啓). There is a website for TAUJAN, but the site does not have any information about the designer. The website has an online shop where many items including rings, pendants, bracelets, earrings, buckles, etc., can be bought.

Gackt described the TAUJAN line as being dangerous, intense and provocative; a style that chooses its wearer. Lesley Scott stated that TAUJAN designs “symbolize the warmth of the human touch and the elegance of the pulse of life in the flames of silver.” TAUJAN designs are large and dramatic, having a very solid and heavy appearance. The most well-known TAUJAN design is probably Adonai, which is the silver and onyx necklace that Gackt often wears.

Like KARSHR, TAUJAN jewelry have names that refer to gods and various myths. Many of the TAUJAN jewelry have names in Hebrew and Semitic languages.

The current collection of TAUJAN items includes a pendant called “Derek”, rings called “Thurs”, “Rho” and “Chasmalim”, and necklaces called “Adonai” and “Psi”. Previous collections included the following:
Rings: Iomin; Shin; Nun; Sandalphon; Chasmalim; Seraphim; Golohab; Vav; Yod.
Pendants: Lamed; Abba; Levanah; Ayin; Daleth.
Bracelets: Shabbathai; Shekinah; Tiphareth; Aheireh; Monad.
Necklaces: Qadisha; Shaddai.
Earrings: Matrona; Malachim; Tarshishim; Gimmel.

DARTS of peerage

DARTS of peerage is the newest line from Chimaera Crew. Little has been said about it, and there doesn’t appear to be a peerage website that identifies who the designer is. The peerage line debuted in 2006.

DARTS of peerage have jewelry names that are in standard, straightforward English. The two prominent themes are snakes and water, which can be seen from the designs of the jewelry as well as their names. Many of the peerage jewelry are shaped like snakes, and flowing water. An overarching theme seems to be spirals, which are formed by both the snakes and the streams in the jewelry. The spirals could be seen as symbols of immortality and eternity. The image of a snake biting its own tail (forming a spiral) was also commonly used in alchemy books, hinting that perhaps the DARTS of peerage, as a people, were alchemists.

The current collection of peerage items includes rings called “Crest” and “Glowing Eyes” and a necklace called “Nobility”. Previous collections included the following:
Rings: Stream line; Serpent; Perpetuity.
Bracelets: Stream rose; Adder; Drift ice.
Necklaces: Stream cross; Fume; Two Surge.
Earrings: Stream snake; Crescent; Twine.

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