Group portrait of eight diverse people in a room with plants and windows, some sitting on a mustard yellow sofa, others standing behind, dressed in dark and casual attire, with a blue rug on the wooden floor.

Dorje’s Story

Dorje Adornments has been redefining safe piercing in Rochester since we opened the doors in our initial location beneath our friends at Love Hate Tattoo in 2006.

Founded by Nick, the first member of the Association of Professional Piercers in Rochester, his goal was to provide a beautiful and safe place for clients to express their authentic self through piercing and jewelry. Our mission is to create a space where all are welcome to explore new body modifications through piercings done with care, expertise, skill, and the highest quality materials.

Community, education, and attention to detail are part of the core of why our doors remain open.

Dorje Adornments stands out as Rochester’s premier fine jewelry and precision piercing studio. Our space spans two beautiful floors with dedicated piercing rooms in a 100-year-old historic mansion on Park Avenue. We are proud to be members of the Association of Professional Piercers.

Our Team

  • A man with a beard and glasses sitting in a room with plants and fairy lights.

    Nick (he/him)

    FOUNDER + PIERCER

    Nick has been a piercer since 1999, founding Dorje Adornments in 2006. He's traveled extensively, guest-piercing at renowned studios nationwide to refine his craft. His passion lies in personalized piercing, considering clients unique anatomy, style and personality.

    Favorite song: Blue Monday by New Order

  • A bearded man with tattoos on his arms, wearing a black t-shirt and a necklace, sitting on a yellow couch with a green cushion, surrounded by large indoor plants.

    Noah (he/him)

    PIERCER

    Noah began his piercing career in 2001 and comes to Dorje with over two decades of hands-on experience piercing in New York! He is a grounding force in the piercing room with great knowledge of techniques and sterility. Noah credits piercing for allowing him to meet and connect with his favorite people and for introducing him to his best friends.

    Favorite song: We’re In This Together by Nine Inch Nails

  • A woman with dark hair styled in a high bun with blue highlights, wearing a black pinstripe blazer over a grey top, standing in front of a lush, green, jungle-themed wallpaper, smiling at the camera.

    Christa (she/her)

    STUDIO MANAGER

    Having moved around from California to Las Vegas, Christa has now landed in Rochester! Her fun yet minimalistic jewelry taste shines bright here at Dorje and she loves helping clients do the same! With a Master’s in Liberal Studies, Christa has an extremely professional, and organized work ethic with a passion for learning. She works alongside Nick to collaborate and manage all the details of Dorje!

    Favorite song: Golden Gun Girls by Metric

  • A man with a beard and tattoos wearing a black polo shirt standing in front of a dark jungle-themed wallpaper.

    Jack (he/him)

    LEAD JEWELRY SPECIALIST
    INVENTORY COORDINATOR

    Jack, a Rochester native and our head jewelry specialist at Dorje for over five years, fosters a warm and inviting atmosphere for every visitor. He delights in connecting with clients, offering expert guidance to find their ideal jewelry, from timeless pieces to bold styles. Beyond client care, Jack leverages his sales experience to manage Dorje's inventory, merchandising, and jewelry procurement with precision.

    Favorite song: Champagne & Reefer by Muddy Waters

  • A young woman with long dark hair, wearing a black top and blazer, standing in front of a lush jungle-themed wallpaper. She has large hoop earrings, layered necklaces, and facial piercings, with makeup including winged eyeliner and dark lipstick.

    Lynda (she/her)

    JEWELRY SPECIALIST
    OPERATIONS & MARKETING SPECIALIST

    Lynda brings a decade of piercing studio expertise to Dorje, with a passion for the intersection of fine and body jewelry. She studied Advertising and Marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology, has presented at the APP Conference in Las Vegas, and traveled globally for her work. You can find her behind the jewelry counter styling or with fine jewelry, or in her office working on marketing and operations projects!

    Favorite song: Great DJ by The Ting Tings

  • A person with short curly hair and multiple facial piercings, wearing a black shirt, a black leather vest, and layered silver necklaces, standing in front of a dark green tropical foliage background.

    Rhys (he/they)

    JEWELRY SPECIALIST
    CUSTOM ORDER & BUYING COORDINATOR

    Rhys came to Dorje with a passion for the piercing and jewelry industry and a desire to be a part of it all. Their knowledge of jewelry as it pertains to body piercing is rare to come by, and they adore helping clients pick out their favorite pieces and allowing clients to use piercing as a form of personal expression. When Rhys isn’t working with clients, they’re hard at work with overseeing custom jewelry orders and designing stunning jewelry collections for the studio.

    Favorite song: The Truth by The Front Bottoms

  • A young woman with blonde curly hair tied up with a black scrunchie, wearing a black shirt, gold earrings, and makeup, stands in front of a dark green botanical wallpaper background.

    Sam (she/her)

    JEWELRY SPECIALIST

    Sam, a Rochester native, comes to us as a jewelry specialist at Dorje with a keen eye for up to date fashion and beauty trends and an infectious sense of humor. A lover of yellow gold everything, her affinity for being a piercing stylist stems from the joy brought upon clients when they find the perfect new piece for their jewelry collection. Her favorite piercing is a septum piercing as they suit so many different people.

    Favorite song: Deacon Blues by Steely Dan

  • A woman with long, wavy blonde hair and a septum piercing standing in front of a dark, tropical-themed backdrop with green leaves and plants.

    Karin (she/her)

    INVENTORY COORDINATOR

    Karin is one of our gems who fell in love with getting pierced at Dorje eleven years ago. When she isn’t busy with being a freelance costumer, designer, and wardrobe stylist, she’s hard at work managing and counting the intricacies of Dorje’s jewelry inventory that keeps our studio running. Her theatre career includes being a 30+ year member of IATSE (an international entertainment labor union) and has taken her to places like London, Seattle, Los Angeles, and New York City. With a natural love for all growing green things, Karin works alongside Nick in caring for and nurturing the plants of Dorje we all know and love.

    Favorite Song: Lose Control by Teddy Swims

  • A digital illustration of a fish wearing a colorful crown, set against a jungle background with various plants and foliage.

    Albert (all pronouns)

    PRINCE OF DORJE

    Albert comes to us from clownfish royalty — He can be seen swimming around with his crab friends among the anemones by the Dorje cashwrap. He also doesn’t mind if you call him Al. He loves to wave goodbye to our clients and let them know how fabulous their new piercing looks!

    Favorite song: Fins by Jimmy Buffet