Attention Sydney-siders, we’ve teamed up with Hype DC for our first popup retail store. Have you ever wanted to see our stuff in person or just try it on? Now you can.
Why Hype? They’re are all about short-run, limited edition shoes sourced from all over the world. They have a wide variety in small quantities so you don’t ‘see yourself everywhere’. Not unlike Oye Modern, don’t you think?
Visit the Hype DC flagship store on the corner of Pitt & Markets Sts in Pitt St Mall to check out a large selection of our jewellery for a limited time only.
We already know that jewellery has so much untold meaning to you, especially rings and the part they play in signifying a commitment to the love of your life.
When you’re looking around for an engagement ring or wedding ring, you’ll be looking for one that says something about your sense of style—something individual and memorable.
Take the lead from some of our customers who have put together stunning combinations of modern engagement and wedding rings that mean something to them.
Polished Modern Rock Diamond Ring and satin Inner Message ring
The Modern Rock diamond ring has the classic shape of the traditional diamond solitaire, but in sterling silver. Faceted and sparkly, just like the real thing. It looks absolutely stunning with the satin Inner Message Ring shown above.
Watch Joe’s video as he pops the question to his love with the Modern Rock ring.
Polished Assher Cut Diamond Ring and satin Inner Message ring
Love the diamond solitaire but looking for a bit more originality? The Modern Rock diamond comes in the square Asscher cut, too. Combine it with the satin Inner Message Ring and they look like they were designed to be together.
Nothing says individual more than a custom order for a wedding ring with your own secret message inside. The Inner Message ring by Jungyun Yoon is simple on the outside with a hidden message on the inside that leaves an impression on the finger.
Inner Message rings by Jungyun Yoon
Go with one of the options available to choose from—”always”, “marry me”, or a simple image of a heart or choose your own message like Jodi did. She thought the Inner Message wedding ring was a perfect choice for her husband-to-be who has a “conservative exterior and an energetic, fabulous other side”.
Jodi and Brendan tie the knot, read their story
Some of our customers are so in love they don’t want to wait until they can afford a real diamond ring, they’ve gone right ahead and proposed with the fabulously different acrylic diamond, instead. This fab ring is also often used as a proposal ring for girls who prefer to choose her own Engagement ring, but need something to alert everyone to their big news in the mean time.
Acrylic Diamond Ring and Inner Message Ring
Modern and affordable, the Acrylic Diamond Ring above, with a classic Tiffany shape sure has the wow factor, or go the next step with the solid sterling silver version below.
Polished Silver Diamond Ring and Satin Inner Message Ring
Beck fell in love with the Silver Diamond ring and had an Inner Message Ring modified to match. This fabulous combination of engagement and wedding rings really reflect the kind of couple that Mark and Beck are, read their story here.
Mark and Beck tie the knot, read their story
“We love that the rings are made and designed by individuals that also think outside the box, they are just so different.”
Buying jewellery online can be daunting for some, concerns about fit and how it looks on can deter people from buying online. Here are a few tools and tips to make you confident about buying online at Oye Modern.
1. Buy multiple items, try them on and return the ones you don’t want
We have a no questions asked Return Policy, so you can order 2-3 pairs of earrings, try them on with your outfit or wedding dress, and then send the other two pairs back. The only cost to you is the return postage of about $8.
2. Request a free ring sizer
Instead of traipsing to your local jeweller and pretending to be interested in their rings so you can work out your ring size, just request a ring sizer instead. It’s small enough to fit in an envelope, and it’s very accurate.
3. Send gifts to friends and family all over the world
We offer beautiful gift wrapping and can ship worldwide, so you can order the perfect gift, have it wrapped and shipped directly to the recipient, so easy!
4. In stock or made to order
Check if the jewellery you are buying is in stock or whether it is made to order. In stock items can ship same or next day, and you can have it within 2 days – perfect for last minute birthday gifts! Items made to order may take 2 or more weeks so you’ll need to plan ahead.
In a world of mass production and global economies, the popularity of design markets like Etsy and Finders Keepers indicate a movement back to unique and handmade that is growing every day. Hand crafted contemporary jewellery is attractive to people who want to wear something different; a unique product, with a unique story.
Contemporary jewellery is not a well-known term or type of jewellery. It seems to be confined to practitioners in the industry and has never quite emerged into the mainstream, most likely because contemporary jewellery has, in the past, been hard to find and hard to get. But this is changing, and finally the wonderful world of contemporary jewellery is becoming more accessible to more and more people, both in Australia and around the world, via the internet.
Caviar collection by Andrea Corson
So what is contemporary jewellery? In the broadest definition, contemporary jewellery sits between fashion jewellery and fine jewellery. It doesn’t follow the catwalk trends. It’s timeless, and the craftsmanship and materials are of a much higher quality than that of disposable fashion jewellery. At the high end of contemporary jewellery, gem stones and pearls are presented in unusual or non-traditional settings which stand them apart from traditional Fine Jewellery.
Surface style ring by Andrea Corson
Typically, contemporary jewellery is hand made in precious metals such as silver and gold, in small quantities, making it truly unique—rare and exclusive. Contemporary jewellers are able to push the boundaries with manufacturing techniques and materials, giving us the opportunity to acquire unique and fabulous jewellery.
Bubbles ring by Pip Keane
For jewellery handmade in small quantities, the problem of course, is price. The design process can take months, and then the actual production of a piece from creation of the wax mould, to casting & plating, to stone setting, and then finishing and polishing can take a few weeks with multiple vendors. But with the explosion of online bloggers writing behind-the-scenes articles illustrating a designer’s process from concept to production, people are gaining a much better understanding and appreciation for hand made. This kind of indirect education of contemporary jewellery lovers will be a key factor in them wanting to buy into the story of the piece at a reasonable price.
Hugs and kisses ring by Cinnamon Lee
Contemporary jewellery is made by a broad range of people—from full-time independent jewellers, to product designers who make jewellery on the side, to emerging designers working evening and night to develop their collections outside of their day jobs.
Independent jeweller Nicola Bannerman in her studio
Due to the limited retail options for contemporary jewellery, up until now it has been extremely difficult to make a living as a full-time jeweller. So much talent and potential flows out of the jewellery schools each year, but few are able to stay in the industry, let alone make a living. Hats off to the handful that have been able to do this, companies such as Dinosaur Designs, and independent designers such as Iris Saar Isaacs from Melbourne’s in-sync design.
Pebble necklaces by Melbourne Design award winner in-sync design
But amazing and wonderful as it is, contemporary jewellery has been hard to find, and hard to get. Traditionally it’s only been available in galleries such as e.g. etal in Melbourne, Object in Sydney and The Jam Factory in Adelaide, but now online stores are emerging, increasing the awareness of contemporary jewellery and making the whole category more accessible, to more people. This is a wonderful, game-changing opportunity for contemporary jewellers in Australia and abroad to expand out of the limited-few galleries to a wider customer base. The chance for an independent Australian designer to gain International awareness and sales, and in turn grow their business is momentous.
Oye Modern is one of the leading online contemporary jewellery stores in the world. Based out of Sydney, Oye Modern has a large international following, with jewellery by emerging and independent designers from Australia and all over the globe.
So if you love contemporary jewellery, want to wear something truly unique and not mass-produced, then support emerging and independent contemporary jewellers and help bring great design to more people.
We are so delighted to be able to share with you Jodi and Brendan’s wedding photos. The happy couple were married in February this year, and what an incredible wedding it was!
In the lead up to the big day, we worked closely with Jodi on designing a custom ring for Brendan to be presented as his wedding ring on the day. Here’s a little history behind the couple and Jodi’s ring choice.
How did Brendan propose?
We went to the Zoo to see Mr Shuffles – the new elephant at the time. After the Zoo, we were leaving and Bren said he had made a reservation for lunch at a restaurant at Chowder bay, we arrived a little early and were told we could not be seated, so instead went for a walk. Brendan was clearly too impatient/excited and as we got up the stair adjacent to the restaurant, looking over the water, he politely turned in his shy way and said “I would like you to marry me”, lunch didn’t happen! Maybe we will get there on our first anniversary.
Brendan is quite conservative and I wanted to surprise him with his ring. I figured, from the outside it is plain enough for him to be comfortable, but on the inside it is quirky and fun. It also resembles Bren’s conservative exterior and energetic, fabulous other side.
Jodi had B+J embossed and 27.02.11 engraved on the opposite inner side of the Inner Message Ring.
When did Brendan know what ring you had found for him and what was his reaction?
Bren only knew after the ceremony (as men do not get a ring in the Jewish wedding ceremony, it is more a traditional thing for a man to wear a ring). The photograph below is of the moment I gave it to him and showed him how it works.
You looked like you were both having a great time at your wedding, what was your favourite part?
Our favourite part was just before the ceremony. In the Jewish wedding ceremony, the groom comes to check he is marrying the right person, as in biblical times, Jacob married the wrong bride. It is traditional for the bride and groom to have not seen or spoken to each other in the week leading up to the wedding. The energy in the air was electrical as Bren came forward to check I was his bride and we saw each other for the first time in 7 days. Here are a few shots of him arriving and my reaction, and him putting my veil on me.
What ways did you break away from the traditional wedding and what did you include from the traditional? How were these things received by your guests and families?
I suppose our wedding was all about the modern spirit of marriage. The idea/theme was to be as colourful, playful and exciting as possible yet simple and bold with a few unique touches. The venue, somewhere different, modern, yet historic – Carriageworks. The food – casual, after all it was an Aussie Sunday night, so why not have a BBQ. The bridesmaids – no flowers, just a splash of colour with rings from Dinosaur Designs and shoes designed by each of the girls online at Shoes of Prey.
The canopy under which we were married was made by my grandmother, the brief – colour! Finally the dance floor, often intimidating; so, why not make it the same colour as the girls’ shoes, so it screams “dance on me” – and dance we did! Everyone embraced it and loved it!
Congratulations Jodi and Brendan, we wish you a lifetime of happiness and laughter together. Thanks for sharing with us! Cheers,
Mothers Day is getting closer and maybe you haven’t even thought about a gift yet. Don’t sweat it. Oye Modern has things under control. We’ve selected the top 3 pieces in each category to help you narrow down the choice.
Mums – don’t be subtle, drop the hint, help them out, and get something you’ll love!
All jewellery items are beautifully boxed and personally gift wrapped if you choose. We have a 14 day, no questions asked return policy, and we ship next day to Australia, USA, UK and many other countries. More about shipping costs and times.
I am so pleased to be able to show you these wonderful photos of Fiona and Colin’s wedding. They tied the knot last month in a garden wedding in Bowral NSW, Australia. A perfect setting for a perfect couple.
Check out the String of Seeds earrings Fiona wears on her big day, a stunning complement to her bespoke dress.
Thanks Fiona for sharing the photos with us, and we wish you and Colin lots of laughter and happiness together.
Last week we sent a survey to all our Oye Modern fans on our mailing list. The intent was to get some insight into what you think of Oye Modern and to give you an opportunity to tell us what you want.
And wow, I am blown away by the number of responses, and the time you took to help me understand how we can improve Oye Modern. You guys are awesome, thank you!
Please forgive me if I’m not able to respond to you all individually, but be assured I read each individual response and will be using it to make Oye Modern better.
The two resounding messages I got from your comments are:
You want more of everything (more products, more variety, more designer interviews, more emails)
You want more affordable jewellery
Here’s a summary of what else you said.
The vast majority of you are passionate about design and being different, and much less so about fashion and craft. This reaffirms that Oye Modern’s core customers value good design and uniqueness, which helps me better target my marketing efforts.
Question: What words would you use to describe the jewellery at Oye Modern?
Very interesting to see how these words rank, I’ll use these keywords to build more Google search ads, so that people using these words to find that kind of jewellery, find us.
In response to the question “What would you like to see more of?”, the dominant answer was certainly “more affordable jewellery”.
Unlikely as it seems this is a huge challenge for a business like Oye Modern. The biggest challenges being sourcing the product that fit our brand values (unique, short run) and being able to make money selling lower value $50 items. But I hear you and I accept your challenge.
Other things people would like from Oye Modern:
More of everything
More chunky jewellery
More gold, gems and stones
More clever uses of technology and reuse of materials
More wood, pearls and other metals and alternate materials
More men’s jewellery
More info about the designers
More emails
Ability to ship from UK and USA to avoid customs and shipping fees
A registry or wish list
More savings/specials or a Loyalty club
And my favourite comment:
“I need more fingers to wear all the rings I want, but I don’t think you can help with that.” – Cinnamon
Thanks again everyone, I wish I could respond to you individually, please feel like you have been heard. Stay tuned for big improvements, coming your way soon.
I’m so excited to be launching these new Cell Cycle designs by Nervous System today. Not only are the designs beautiful and edgy at the same time, but the process by which they are made, and the people behind the designs is fascinating. Here’s an overview of the design and production methods used, and a little about the designers Jessica and Jesse.
Drawing inspiration from their forested surroundings, Jessica and Jesse develop computer algorithms that model the intricate patterns of nature. From their models, each piece of jewelry is 3D printed in durable nylon plastic or wax, leaving a natural coral-like texture on the surface. Impossible to make using traditional manufacturing techniques, these designs are truly innovative.
These incredible designs are made by first modeling the piece in a computer program, which you can see a demo of below.
Jessica describes the process in detail here:
“These patterns were created by subdividing a mesh rather than morphing it with forces. The pieces were designed using 2 spring meshes that form a vaguely torus-ish shape in processing. We had the ability to vary number of divisions in x and y for both the interior and exterior meshes, we could create a twist between the two rings bounding the interior and exterior and also we can shape those boundary curves by sine waves. The applet has two views, a 3d one and an “unrolled” view for the mesh that creates the exterior surface of the form. In the unrolled view, we can click to subdivide the meshes to generate the pattern. From processing, we export 3d solid meshes in OBJ format. These were then brought into 3dmax/maya (either will do) and converted from polygon meshes into level 2 subdivision surfaces. This last step smooths our angular meshes from processing into the sinuous curves.”
The result is a computer model of the design as shown below.
Computer models of the cell cycle bracelets
Once the computer model is created, the designs are 3D printed in Nylon or Wax using Selective Laser Sintering (SLS). Here’s a quick demo on how SLS works.
In the case of the bracelets, the final product is the actual laser sintered nylon model. The SLS technology doesn’t yet enable you to print in sterling silver, so the rings are printed in wax and then cast into sterling silver from the wax model. And the wonderful product of this incredible process is available for you to wear. Get one for yourself, view designs by nervous system.
Cell cycle bracelet and ring
About nervous system
Jessica and Jesse of Nervous System
Nervous System was founded in 2007 by Jessica Rosenkrantz and Jesse Louis-Rosenberg.
Jessica graduated from MIT in 2005 and holds degrees in Architecture and Biology. Afterwards, she spent 2.5 years studying architecture at Harvard. Jesse also attended MIT, majoring in Mathematics. He previously worked as a consultant for Gehry Technologies in building modeling and design automation.
Jessica and Jesse live together in a house by a stream in a forest in Western Massachusetts, USA.
Nicola’s studio is in the middle of Sydney’s CBD on Pitt St. The building is full of jewellers, diamond and gem setters, jewellery polishers and wholesalers. I visit Nicola a few times a month to pick up pieces and catch up, and thought it would be great to show you the environment in which she works, sharing a little about her and her jewellery.
Tell us about you. Where are you from, where are you based, what do you love?
I grew up in Canberra and moved to Sydney when I was 18 to study jewellery and object design. I have always been creative and love art, math and science. I have been making things for as long as I can remember and started making clothes at the age of 12 and jewellery at the age of 16.
Nicola at her bench
What influenced you to get into jewellery design?
I used to buy handmade jewellery from markets etc when I was a young teenager and one night I was admiring my favorite pair of earrings and I wondered why the maker had made them the way they had. I thought that if I had made them, I would have made them quite differently and at that moment I realized that this was what I wanted to do and I never looked back.
Nicola polishing jewellery in her studio
Nicola’s sand blaster and soldering station
What do you enjoy the most about creating your jewellery? What motivates you?
I love creating collections of jewellery that are based on a theme and that are unlike any other jewellery I have seen. My jewellery isn’t seasonal or fashion driven and the collections I make are timeless and can be worn year after year. The jellyfish collection I designed nearly 10 years ago, and it sells just as well today as when I first made it. I also love gemmology and have a Diploma in Gemmology and a Diploma in Diamond Technology.
Designs from the Jellyfish collection
What have been the highlights of your jewellery career?
In 1998 I won the Centre for Contemporary Craft award for the most outstanding post-graduate artist in NSW. (I wasn’t even a post grad, I had only just completed my Honours year but was put into that category and won.) My jewellery and sculpture have been displayed in group exhibitions in Australia and featured in several local and international magazines. Pieces have been purchased for private collections in Japan, USA and Europe. Commissions have included designing and making necklaces for female nominees at TV Week’s 2006 Logie Awards. More recently my jewellery has been worn by TV stars Caroline Jones and Tracy Grimshaw, and one of my designs was selected by the Prime Minister’s Department to present to The Queen of Spain when she was visiting here a few years ago.
Where do you work and how does this influence your practice?
My studio is in the CBD of Sydney and I live in the Eastern Suburbs so I walk to work through the Botanical Gardens. Most of my work is inspired by nature so my morning walks around the harbour have led to many ideas and collections.
The enchanted collection
How would you describe your design style?
My designs are feminine and organic and I always apply great attention to detail. Every element is carefully thought about, even down to the handmade clasps. I always apply an exceptionally high finish to everything, and I never use any mass produced elements in my work. People often remark upon the exquisite craftsmanship in my work.
The bellflower collection
What are you working on next?
My partner farms Tahitian Pearls so I have access to some of the world’s finest ‘black’ pearls. I am currently designing a contemporary collection using his pearls.
Nicola and me (Jeni Oye) admiring Nicola’s husband’s Tahitian pearls
I hope you enjoyed our interview with Nicola and our tour of her studio. Check out all of Nicola’s exquisite work at Oye Modern, and watch out for the new pearl collection coming soon!
Oye Modern is a collection of unique, short-run jewellery by emerging and independent designers from all over the world. Read more about us and meet the people behind Oye Modern.
