DYNE
1. HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE JEWELRY INDUSTRY?
I initially thought I would study law but knowing my character and sensing my strong creativity (I would spend hours locked in my room drawing), my mother suggested we visit art schools. I was resistant at first, considering ‘art’ as a hobby. However, wondering around the rooms and seeing the Masters Show at Central Saint Martins in London I had a resounding change of heart. Surprising myself, I felt a very strong connection to the jewelry exhibition and felt I could project my future self into this space. For me, jewelry bridged the gap between fashion and fine art. At the same time it is extremely technical and detail orientated and requires a lot of problem solving skills - things that continue to excite and challenge me today.
2. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT JEWELRY?
What I love the most is its story. In fact, my first connection to jewelry was through my family’s jewelry pieces. My maternal great-grandmother and grandfather were prisoners of war in Singapore – my grandfather was nine when they were taken captive and sent to war camps. My great grandmother had been a collector of jewels and precious objects, and managed to hide some of her jewelry on herself by tying a small bag around her waist. During the frequent bouts of malaria and sickness, she would exchange jewelry for glasses of milk or medicine in a bid to save her son. Miraculously, they both managed to survive, and some of the precious few remaining pieces were passed on to my mother. I remember as a child being in awe of the stories the pieces carried with them. I would repeatedly ask my mom to retell me the stories of the pieces – their origins, their meanings, where they had been. I was truly mesmerized, and I still am today. It's such a beautiful and powerful way to connect emotions to physical objects.
3. WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO START YOUR COMPANY?
Coming out of Saint Martins, I dreamed of having my own brand, but when I was offered a role at Alexander McQueen, I felt I couldn’t turn it down. After McQueen, I worked at the British brand Stephen Webster. Eventually I moved to New York and following my studies at the GIA, I joined Marina B to work with one of my mentors, Guy Bedarida. I loved working for Marina B and with Guy, as it reconnected me to my Italian roots, which still form a big part of my design aesthetic. Following Marina B, I joined industry icon, Lorraine Schwartz. She was a fantastic female role model to work under and she will always remain a great inspiration.
On a separate but very similar note, I am a firm believer that you have to run and create opportunities for yourself – don’t expect them to be handed to you. One of the biggest things that helped my career was that throughout my four years at Saint Martins, every summer, I did at least one internship which in the end, lead to my first two jobs.
4. WHERE ARE YOU BASED?
New York.
5. WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
My father is Italian and my mother British-Singaporean. I grew up in Milan but when I was 10, we moved to Cheshire and then when I was 18, I moved to London.
6. ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE YOUR JEWELRY.
Two words: Ancient and futuristic. With every piece I try to commemorate a present moment with the idea it will be survive long into the future - like a cabinet of curiosity or a time capsule. My father at one point worked with NASA and the connection to outer space never left me. I am equally attached to hyper futuristic things as I am to ancient history and this tension is something that I strive to include in my pieces.
7. IS THERE A UNIQUE STORY BEHIND YOUR BUSINESS NAME?
Dyne is my mother’s maiden name and given my first true emotional connection to jewelry was through my mum’s family history and their jewels, I thought it was very fitting.
8. WHAT’S THE FIRST PIECE OF JEWELRY YOU FELL IN LOVE WITH?
So, my mother had a few tie pins that were Qantas frequent flyer gifts. They were little Koalas with opals in their bellies - they sound pretty grotesque now, but I was obsessed with them. I would demand to see them when we were in her room. As I got older, I guess opals stayed with me, because I grew fascinated with another one - it’s an amazing 60ct opal set into an antique brooch. I felt like you could see the universe inside of it. Opals always seemed otherworldly to me.
9. WHAT IS YOUR SPIRIT ANIMAL?
The horse: Freedom is an important concept for me, and I was born the year of the horse.
10. WHO IS YOUR JEWELRY ICON?
Ted Noten, the Dutch Jewelry Artist. He is very adventurous with his materials and his work is laden with wit and satire. I can look at his pieces for hours.
11. DO YOU HAVE A PIECE(S) OF JEWELRY YOU WEAR EVERY DAY AND IF SO, WHY?
For a jewelry designer, I wear little jewelry, but my staples are:
My engagement ring and wedding band.
My personalized LOVERGLYPHS ring.
I have a few little yellow pear diamonds that I set as studs and wear in different piercings in my ears. I love colored diamonds, particularly rare ones, but they hold a very special place for me as they commemorate a very special friendship.
12. ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE.
Minimal Maximalist.
13. LAST PIECE OF JEWELRY YOU BOUGHT AND LOVED?
I just bought a few strands of emerald beads.
14. THE BEST GIFT YOU’VE RECEIVED RECENTLY?
I would say two pieces of jewelry by two of my very dear friends:
Bea (Bea Bongiasca) gave me a pendant that spells out ‘Rafi’ in her signature colorful style.
Ananya (Ananya Malhotra) made my son Rafi a beaded anklet with tanzanite to bring him protection; her design sensibility is deeply rooted in the codes of Indian spirituality.
15. THE THING YOU ARE COVETING NEXT?
A 2ct. neon tennis-ball colored diamond.
16. FAVORITE DISH?
Savory: anything involving Gambero Rosso (THE taste of Italian summers). Sweet: KINKAN DAIFUKU (but anything from Minamoto Kitchen).
17. LEAST FAVORITE FOOD?
Things with too much cream or cheese.
18. WINE OR CHEESE?
Definitely wine!
19. COFFEE OR TEA?
Both – being Italian and English, I can’t choose one over the other.
20. YOGA OR BOXING?
Pilates.
21. FAVORITE SEASON?
Summer.
22. FAVORITE CITY?
New York to work, Marseille to escape, Milan for connection to home.
23. SUPERPOWER OF CHOICE?
Flying.
24. SECRET SKILL?
Let’s keep it a secret.
25. WHEN DO YOU FEEL HAPPIEST?
Freedom but specifically having the creative freedom to bring to life my designs and creative visions. The idea of creating for the sake of being able to create is such a freeing feeling.
26. WHEN DO YOU FEEL STRONGEST?
Newly, being a mother – it gives me a feeling and appreciation of strength I didn’t realize I had before.
27. YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Spiders!
28. HOW DO YOU PICK YOURSELF UP FROM A LOW DAY?
Family and friends.
29. WHAT PIECE(S) OF JEWELRY MAKES YOU FEEL HAPPIEST?
My engagement ring.
30. WHAT PIECE(S) OF JEWELRY MAKES YOU FEEL STRONGEST?
My engagement ring.
31. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
Now that I’m a mother…be nicer to your mom!
32. WHAT IS ONE THING PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU?
TBD
33. WHAT DOES ‘JOY’ MEAN TO YOU?
Being free to do the things you love.