Unboxing: Artist-Made Collection by BTS — Guitar Pick Necklace by SUGA

As many ARMY will know, it was like the Hunger Games (Squid Game?) trying to purchase something from BTS' Artist-Made Collection, maybe even more than trying to acquire their concert tickets. In case you didn't know, the Artist-Made Collection by BTS was a curation of items designed by the members themselves from concept to execution. Each member created two items, of which the processes are documented here. This collection was originally launched in January — each members' items had a staggered release over the course of three weeks. And each item sold out within an hour (some in less than 5 seconds) on its original launch day. (Seriously, I was on Weverse Shop right at release time for four of the launches and it went from "Coming Soon" to "Sold Out" within the time it took to load the product page.) 

I'm not sure exactly how much of each piece was made because some of the items are definitely more difficult to mass produce, which leads me to believe that the quantity released during the original launch dates were extremely limited. But when hundreds of thousands of people are trying to purchase such a limited amount, it leads to an outrage. (And ARMY are loud.) So about a week after the original launch dates, HYBE announced a second run — except this time, all items from all seven members would be released at the same time. Enter the second round of Hunger Games. 

Artist-Made Collection by BTS — Guitar Pick Necklace by SUGA
Outer Box
Artist-Made Collection by BTS — Guitar Pick Necklace by SUGA
Outer Box

There was an intense amount of frustration with this second release in a different way than the first one. A significant amount of people couldn't even get the Weverse Shop app to load. It would try to launch the home page and just give people an error message. For some, the app wouldn't even open, let alone try to load a page. For others, they managed to get the item they wanted in their cart, but by the time they tried to check out, it was already sold out. (This happened to me three times.) The trick this time around — assuming the app loaded — was to purchase each item separately. Not "Add to Cart," but "Buy Now." But that meant if you wanted more than one item, it was going to get extremely pricey. Because that also means paying individual shipping for each item. So, yes, I managed to get three items — but paid a small fortune for them.

Now, if you managed to get any items during the initial launch dates in January, you would've gotten your products in March. But for those of us who snagged items during the second run, they're being shipped over the next two months depending on which items you ordered. And thus, I present the first item that arrived: SUGA's guitar pick necklace. (For the record, it retailed for $82.68 USD, which is not unreasonable, but international shipping was $33.21, which is highway robbery. Plus another $33.37 for duties and taxes, which highway robbery at gunpoint.) 

Artist-Made Collection by BTS — Guitar Pick Necklace by SUGA
Slide Out Compartment
Artist-Made Collection by BTS — Guitar Pick Necklace by SUGA
Pouch with Necklace
This necklace is packaged in a sliding white paperboard box. The outer box has the words "Artist-Made Collection by BTS: SUGA" on the top in black, as well as images of guitar picks embossed on the top and the words, "Artist-Made Collection" embossed around the side. Inside the box contains a fabric pouch, also with the words, "Artist-Made Collection by BTS" printed on the front flap. In the pouch is, of course, the necklace designed by SUGA. It has a guitar pick-shaped pendant (this pendant is quite a bit smaller than an actual guitar pick) strung on a beveled cable chain with a spring ring clasp. Near the clasp is a little tag with the words, "By BTS" engraved into it. 

Artist-Made Collection by BTS — Guitar Pick Necklace by SUGA
Pendant (BTS Logo Side)
Artist-Made Collection by BTS — Guitar Pick Necklace by SUGA
Pendant (ARMY Logo Side)
Artist-Made Collection by BTS — Guitar Pick Necklace by SUGA
Necklace Chain with Tag
The pendant came in two different styles, one black and one silver. I chose the silver one because it looked cleaner and more sleek to me, but both of them have the BTS logo engraved on one side and the ARMY logo engraved on the other. The chain is adjustable to three lengths: 45cm, 50cm, and 55cm. Most important of all, the necklace is entirely made out of 925 sterling silver ("925" is engraved on the other side of the tag), which is vital because I am severely allergic to nickel. So even jewelry that is silver-plated is a big no-no for me.

Artist-Made Collection by BTS — Guitar Pick Necklace by SUGA
Envelope
Artist-Made Collection by BTS — Guitar Pick Necklace by SUGA
SUGA Photocard (Front + Back)
Artist-Made Collection by BTS — Guitar Pick Necklace by SUGA
Making Log: Guitar Pick Necklace
Artist-Made Collection by BTS — Guitar Pick Necklace by SUGA
Making Log: Guitar Pick Necklace

The other contents of the box is found in a single brown paper envelope that has Suga's name written in his handwriting on the front. The first item in this envelope is a photocard of Suga wearing the final necklace on the front and the words, "Guitar Pick Necklace by Suga" on the back. And the second item is a "Making Log" fold out, which shows the entire process of making this necklace in sketches and photos, from product planning to final review. This necklace was one of my top 3 choices out of all the members' creations. I knew it was my style just upon looking at sketches of it. A little edgy but extremely wearable, nostalgic but timeless, a bit delicate but totally rock 'n roll, and completely unisex. It screams "BTS!" but in a way that isn't obvious to everyone. And most importantly, I'm not allergic to it! (It's Day 3 of me wearing it without taking it off once and we're still rash-free!) It is literally everything I want in a necklace. I'm particularly glad I got this one.