ONDYN’s Fluid Designs Set to Make Splash in Desert

Writer Shannon Severson // Photography Courtesy of Tara Maria Famiglietti/ONDYN Fine Jewelry

A cascade of diamonds shimmers like sunlight on desert sand, each facet alive with movement. This is the magic of ONDYN Fine Jewelry, where designer Tara Maria Famiglietti transforms her love for the sea into wearable art that resonates with Arizona’s sophisticated clientele.

Famiglietti, the creative force behind the award-winning ONDYN line of bezel-set diamond and gold jewelry, has always been drawn to things that sparkle and the allure of the ocean. Her nautical inspirations, born from sailing adventures along the French Riviera, Amalfi and African coasts, the Balearic Islands and the Caribbean, now find an unexpected harmony in the Arizona desert.

“I always loved the water and the sea,” Famiglietti says. “It really instilled this great sense of awe in the power and mysteries of nature. When we were creating ONDYN, I drew on that movement and magic of the sea and the sparkle of the sun’s reflection on the water. That was one of the initial inspirations.”

The name ONDYN, derived from a French fable about a water nymph, also stands for “one dynamic,” reflecting Famiglietti’s guiding belief that jewelry should complement each individual in a fusion of classic, modern and just a little bit edgy.

This fall, Famiglietti brings her designs to Grace Renee Gallery in Carefree, offering Arizona’s discerning collectors a unique opportunity to experience ONDYN’s fluid creations firsthand.

“We’re thrilled to showcase ONDYN Fine Jewelry at Grace Renee Gallery,” says owner Shelly Spence. “Tara Maria Famiglietti’s designs perfectly capture the essence of modern luxury that our clientele seeks.”

Spence notes that the way ONDYN pieces interact with light and movement resonates beautifully with Arizona’s unique landscape.

“Our customers are drawn to the fluidity and versatility of the jewelry,” she explains. “It’s art that truly comes alive when worn.”

Urban Origins, Nautical Horizons

The wild, untamed sea might seem anathema to the concrete grid of Manhattan where Famiglietti grew up, but as the daughter of fashion designer parents whose clients included rock and rollers, actors, and style icons — Mick Jagger, John Lennon, Diana Ross, Barbra Streisand, and Diane von Furstenberg among them — she was always surrounded by creativity, innovation, and plenty of glitz and glamour.

While fabric and stitching weren’t her medium of choice, that early exposure to the drape and structure of garments on the human form took her on a creative journey. Recognized as a jewelry prodigy at just 20 years old — while still a student at New York City’s Fashion Institute of Technology — Famiglietti’s early contemporary pieces became the foundation for the “clean, luxurious aesthetic” that formally became ONDYN in 2019.

Famiglietti’s articulated designs glide across the skin, rising and falling with the curve of a collarbone, earlobe or arm, much like the undulating waves of the sea — or the rolling dunes of the Sonoran Desert.

“They are little sculptures in a way,” she says, acknowledging that her background in fine arts and sculpture shaped her acumen. “The bezel set really came from my design aesthetic to become a forever piece — something that is a little bit sleek and minimalist in a way, but also a classic, that can be worn with other jewelry and any kind of dress or jeans. It should always feel effortless; that’s really important to me.”

ONDYN’s signature bezel structure prompted a two-year process to perfect the connections between the often-articulated designs. Each piece is a tiny feat of engineering, achieving fluidity of movement and proper alignment in a three-dimensional structure that seems to dance with desert light.

“I wanted something that could take shape on you and really dance on the ear or the finger, but also feel secure,” Famiglietti explains. “It took some time to get it right. It wasn’t just your average kind of tennis bracelet diamond bezel connection. There was definitely a bit of ingenuity involved in the creation.”

Pinnacles of Prestige

That ingenuity has garnered her accolades at the highest level of jewelry design. ONDYN has won COUTURE Design Awards for “Best in Diamonds Under $20,000” for three consecutive years — the most competitive category of the competition.

In 2021, 2022 and 2023, she won awards in the category for her Diamond Bias line — diamond mesh earrings and necklace that are cowled like silk — and the Grand Fringe Cuff, a bracelet with fronds of articulated diamonds that cascade like a waterfall of light, each diamond catching and reflecting the intense Arizona sun.

“You really have to see all these pieces in person to appreciate the beauty of someone wearing them,” Famiglietti reveals. “The cuff moves and curves like feathers.”

While awards from the jewelry design community are meaningful and have made ONDYN one of the most sought-after lines, Famiglietti says one of the best compliments she ever received was from the second-generation owner of a jewelry manufacturer who had studied engineering and noted her skill at making each diamond align and move just as it should.

“We were sitting down to go over things, and he said he thought I had studied engineering,” she recalls. “It was the biggest compliment I ever got. Jewelry can have a beautiful silhouette when it’s one-dimensional, but it has to lay right, or it doesn’t look correct hanging from the ear. My pieces are like little mobiles.”

Famiglietti says that, looking back, movement was always at the root of her designs, even if she didn’t recognize it at the beginning.

“To me, that is the magic of jewelry,” she says. “That’s what attracts me. I see a woman in a little trinket, kind of dangling and that’s so romantic to me — and beautiful. I thank my parents for that. They’re both designers, so it’s always creativity and just creating something different.”

Her upbringing also allowed her to feed off the energy and vigor of the “Big Apple,” where she continues to live today with her husband and two daughters, operating her own studio and showroom that has attracted a coterie of A-list clientele.

ONDYN handcrafted designs grace the necks, ears, wrists and fingers of celebrity trendsetters like Doja Cat, Keke Palmer, Gisele Bündchen, Angelina Jolie and Jessica Alba, to name a few.

Diamonds for the Discerning

There are just over 100 pieces in the ONDYN collection, with Famiglietti designing fewer than 20 new pieces each year. She starts with paper and pencil sketches, then painstakingly chooses each diamond by carat weight for speculative pieces before the concepts are sent off to production. She says each design is like a little puzzle to select the exact progression and keep it within the price point.

“Every single strand of diamonds has a point of interest that moves, and it’s unexpected,” she says. “The result is sensuous and sexy with a sinuous quality. Clients love the way it feels on — like an adult fidget spinner. It’s sometimes minimalist, but it’s a unique point of view. The pieces are always conversation starters. I think people are really drawn to something that just has a little more thought to it and seems special.”

Picking a favorite piece is tricky — a bit like choosing a favorite child, but Famiglietti says she does have a go-to piece: the Avalon Ring.

“It’s a true piece that I love and wear every day,” she reveals. “It’s named after my first daughter. It’s a simple silhouette that looks like three rings, but all are articulated. It’s the first piece designed for ONDYN that was completely articulated and not static. I’m proud of it.”

The supremely wearable line can be dressed up or down and will suit the clientele of Grace Renee Gallery and Arizonans’ attitude of casual sophistication. The pieces’ ability to catch and play with light makes them particularly suited to the intense desert sun, creating a mesmerizing display as the wearer moves.

“It’s a testament to Tara’s vision that her nautically inspired designs translate so seamlessly to our desert setting,” Spence says. “ONDYN has quickly become one of our most sought-after collections, appealing to both our local patrons and visitors looking for something extraordinary.”

To celebrate this harmonious fusion, Grace Renee Gallery will host an exclusive ONDYN showcase Dec. 13–14, offering Arizona’s discerning collectors a unique opportunity to experience these captivating creations firsthand. The event promises to be a convergence of coastal inspiration and desert sophistication, highlighting how ONDYN’s designs resonate with the state’s natural beauty and refined tastes.

“I love the landscape of Arizona,” says Famiglietti, who, though yet to visit, has been enchanted by images of the state’s sweeping desert vistas and rich, warm hues. “It’s one of the [most] beautiful in the whole country; it’s sculptural in a way.”

As ONDYN makes its debut in the Arizona market, it brings with it a wave of innovation in fine jewelry design. The fluid, light-catching pieces offer a unique fusion of nautical inspiration and desert aesthetics, promising to become a must-have for discerning jewelry collectors and fashion-forward individuals in the state.

ONDYN Jewelry Showcase

Dec. 13–14 // 10 a.m.–5 p.m. // Grace Renee Gallery // Historic Spanish Village // 7212 E. Ho Road, Carefree // Free // 480-575-8080 // gracereneegallery.com