Bold Beauty: How NYET Jewelry Transforms Raw Materials into Chic Designs
Written By Gavin Lipinski
Our team at Letty Sparrow believes in a few things: looking amazing no matter the occasion, shopping local and supporting small business, and embracing sustainable habits. Chicago brand, NYET Jewelry, happens to exceed these expectations. Founded by Chicago’s own Delphine Pontvieux, NYET Jewelry explores the intersection between mother nature’s raw beauty, and human’s ability to shape it.
After publishing her thriller-romance novel ETA: Estimated Time of Arrival, Delphine Pontvieux decided it was time to leave the sometimes isolating task of writing for a career that brought more of a routine. She wanted her next move to allow her the freedom to turn her brain off for a little bit that required the use of her hands. Specifically, Pontvieux wanted to show off her work with more urgency–and writing books can take a long time.
“It took three years of just typing on a computer. It's a very anti-social endeavor. It's very fulfilling, but it's not very fun,” she jokes.
At that time Pontvieux, having come from a background of fearlessness and loving the earth (she scaled mountains in her youth!), had been experiencing the wonders of scuba diving when she noticed a familiar issue: she and her friends were constantly having to remove their jewelry.
“I thought, how about we just do something for divers that never had to be removed. Something stainless steel, that's literally marine grade, that can withstand salt water, and just stay the way it is.” And the idea for NYET Jewelry was born.
Inspired by anchors, Pontvieux began fashioning bracelets out of anchor shackles. At first, she began making these innovative pieces of jewelry for herself and some friends. But they product caught on with her crowd and one friend encouraged Pontvieux to start selling her jewely in store. They were an instant hit. Naturally, the follow-up question was, “when is your next collection?”. Pontvieux hadn’t really begun to ponder the next steps. But the creativity began to flow.
Her inspiration came once again from nature. As Chicago began to transition to its famously bitter winter, Pontvieux turned to leather for warmth, and shackles for shape, creating her second product that fashion consumers clamored for.
“Then I started learning how to dye leather,” she said. “I started to sew leather. I bought a sewing leather machine, and the rest is history”.
Here are three of Pontvieux’s inspirations throughout time along with some Letty picks to match the vibes!
Nautical
Back to her original roots and muse, the ocean is one of the biggest sources of endless creativity for Pontvieux. Her appreciation for all things nautical have taken her down various paths, oil paintings, photography, and of course jewelry! (Check out her paintings and photography here).
At Letty Sparrow we firmly believe that accessories are the key to any outfit, and there are none more versatile than pendants.
Fish Leather and Metal Lock Cuff
No, you did not read that wrong! Sustainability is a cornerstone of NYET Jewelry design. And one of the most interesting ventures into leather is fish leather. Made from the scales of carp, this cuff is truly a work of art.
Fish leather, for a unique and special look!
Equestrian
Ever the source of new ideas, Pontvieux’s friends who played polo got her in contact with the organizers of the Beach Polo World Cup, where she was encouraged to open a booth. Due to steep costs, a fortuitous trade was struck: Pontvieux would create jewelry for the winners in exchange for entry. Believing that jewelry has no intended gender, Pontvieux beautifully translated her perspective through her designs for the Beach Polo World Cup.
The Long Stainless Steel Necklace with Three Horse-Bits in Silver
This chic necklace will have everyone asking you where you got it and what pattern the metal is, only to be truly enamored when you say horse bits!
This next piece takes that subversion of a common item and ramps it up to 12! This piece will make an effort– the pièce de résistance if you will! We love the ingenuity and playfulness on display within this necklace.
Rubber
The lightweight, strong nature of rubber allows for precious stones to be worn without the discomfort. Sustainably sourced, as always, Pontvieux plays with the juxtaposition of precious gemstones and the manufactured nature of the rubber, creating truly thought provoking pieces.
This piece truly exemplifies the similar yet beautifully disjointed nature between the gemstones and the rubber.
The one of a kind nature of gemstones and the way that Pontvieux so elegantly displays them is something we at Letty Sparrow truly adore. This gorgeous yellow topaz is the centerpiece of an iconic NYET Jewelry rubber chain necklace.
One of the more popular styles, this rubber chain will grab attention,
We could not feature NYET Jewelry without mentioning their iconic rubber chain. This gorgeous necklace is one that can be worn with just about everything, and we love it for that functionality. The rings create an exquisite fullness around the neck, creating a silhouette that is truly high fashion.
One thing we can take from Delphine Pontvieux is the fearlessness of personal style! Which piece will you be adding to your collection?
