If you haven’t heard the name Harlin Jones already, you most certainly will.
Founded in 2014, the brand’s name is the rock star alter ego of its director, Sumer Sayan, who was the recipient of the Emerging Entrepreneur Award during the 2021 New York City Jewelry Week (NYCJW).
That rock star style certainly lends itself to the bold pieces Harlin Jones offers, but its creations are intricate, evidenced by influences of various natures.
And Sayan certainly has a wide range of influences to work with. Born in Turkey and raised in Australia after immigrating there as a child—and since returning to Istanbul and Sydney to study metalsmithing—the designer recently moved to New York, making Brooklyn his home in 2019.
“My surroundings have always played a big part in my work and the direction I take in designing. Certain places carry a certain energy, and I’ve always tried to tap into that,” says Sayan.
“In Turkey, my work had a heavy focus on the arabesque-style filigree pattern work that is a big part of the architecture in a city like Istanbul. The style of work I was creating in Australia was a lot more casual and minimal, which suited the beachy, coastal lifestyle.
“Moving to New York and being hit with this unbelievable energy, my style of designing completely changed! My work at the moment is a lot edgier and louder. There’s a confidence this city carries that you can’t help but be influenced by,” he says.
While many well-known jewelers have debuted men’s jewelry, this brand began as a men’s jewelry line. “I have always categorized my work as men’s or women’s purely for the fact that Harlin Jones was started by me creating pieces for myself and what I wanted to wear, and with the women’s collections what I’d want to see women wearing,” the designer says. “But at the end of the day, there is no such thing as who can only wear what.”
Certainly, all genders may find something they want to wear in the original concept, but Sayan has put his spin on women’s offerings now as well, so the collection runs the gamut in size and style.
And it’s an impressive gamut. The styles are bold, this is obvious, but there’s also a welcoming softness to them—one wouldn’t need to be a rock star, or even listen to rock music, to enjoy them. Sayan’s chic selection of gemstones—turquoise, sapphire, pink garnet—pair beautifully with gold, combinations that are not unseen in designer jewelry (so they’d pair well with an eclectic collection), but their nuanced aesthetic means they’ll stand out.
The wedding category is another space Harlin Jones is currently occupying, appealing heavily to those in search of what we’ve been referring to as “alternative.”
“Women are moving away from what we know as the traditional style engagement rings—especially with the center stone. It’s no longer all about the center diamond,” Sayan says of his clients. “I have seen a huge increase in color stone engagement rings and more unique designs rather than the classic styles. The younger generation also wants to personalize their jewelry, be it the engagement ring or wedding band.”
In addition to the very wearable styles available on its website, custom pieces are a big part of what Harlin Jones offers. In addition to friends and family, celebrities including Keith Urban have been among those who have commissioned bespoke work from the designer, resulting in some of his favorite pieces.
“I have always regarded the Crucifix Key necklace as one of my favorite pieces—it’s a stunning necklace that I created for a friend’s niece’s christening,” Sumer says. “He initially wanted a simple diamond cross, but I talked him into allowing me to come up with something completely different: the idea of a crucifix key as a symbol of one’s entering into spiritual/religious life.”
As for what’s next for Harlin Jones? “Being in one of the greatest cities in the world, with some amazing artists, I’d love to do some collaborations—of which there are a couple in the works for early next year as we speak.”
We’re all very excited to see what’s on the horizon for this very memorable creator.
Top: Spike earrings in 14k rose gold with 9 cts. t.w. natural Kingman turquoise and 0.7 ct. t.w. black diamonds, $3,950; Harlin Jones
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