JEWELLER | Temple Of The Sun
Temple Of The Sun is a small, passionate team, which influences everything about how they operate—with genuine care for every customer and each piece. Their Ceremonial collection features a diverse array of unisex engagement and wedding rings, all handcrafted in their signature Modern Ancient style. Founder Yonna Derofe personally selects each rare stone, including RJC-certified emeralds, rubies, Australian blue sapphires, Kimberley Process-certified diamonds, as well as lab-grown diamonds. Authentic materials, true craftsmanship, and a personal experience you won't find on a large scale—that's what Temple Of The Sun is proud to offer.
Tell us about your business!
Temple of the Sun is a Byron Bay-based jewellery brand founded in 2014 by creative couple, Yonna Derofe and Darren Gallant. We handcraft Demi-Fine, Fine and Engagement jewellery in silver, gold vermeil and solid gold, set with diamonds and natural gemstones. We draw inspiration from ancient symbolism, archaeology, mythology and the natural world to create jewellery that transcends trends and seasons and embodies the timeless beauty of ancient craft.
What would you like couples to know about your business?
Every engagement and wedding piece, whether a signature Temple design or something fully bespoke, starts with a conversation. Our ceremonial team takes the time to get to know your story, and what you want this piece to hold, before a single stone is chosen. Grounded in our Modern Ancient aesthetic, we create heirlooms made to be treasured and passed down for generations.
Where are your boutiques/stores based?
We have two stores in Australia: our original studio and store in Byron Bay, and our flagship store in Paddington, Sydney. The stores are a physical extension of the passion, the museums, archaeological sites, and years of research that give Temple's jewellery its depth. Both spaces are designed to feel immersive and reflective, inviting customers to explore our pieces in a setting that feels intimate and inspiring. Private appointments are also available at both stores for our bespoke and engagement pieces, for anyone who wants a more personal, one-on-one experience when choosing a piece that matters.
Tell us about your newest collection!
Launching in October is our first fine jewellery collection with a real wedding focus, inspired by the gemstones themselves. It moves beyond the expected, building a bridal offering around fine, natural stones, aquamarine, sapphire, tourmaline, garnet and topaz, alongside solitaires and trilogies in natural and lab diamond for engagements and bridal moments. The collection also includes stacking rings, pendants and earrings, in 9K, 14K and 18K gold.
How would you describe your brands style?
Our style leans into timeless, symbolic design with real emotional weight, think toi et moi rings, signet-inspired shapes, and settings that draw on ancient forms of commitment and protection, all handcrafted in RJC solid gold and responsibly sourced gemstones. It's less about following trends and more about creating a piece that means something specific to that couple, whether that's through a signature design or a fully bespoke, personalised stone and setting.
Tell us about your favourite piece!
It has to be the Asteria Ring. I've always loved ancient signet rings, and that's what inspired its shape. The face is set like a cluster of stars, a mix of pear, round and princess cut stones scattered irregularly rather than in a neat, expected pattern, named for Asteria, the Greek goddess of the stars. It's unique, it wears beautifully, and it never fails to start a conversation. You can customise it with your favourite gemstones too.
Where are your jewellery pieces made?
Our Fine Gold, Engagement and Bespoke pieces are designed and handcrafted in-house. What we really value about our Fine Gold Engagement pieces is that they're proudly Australian made, using RJC-certified stones.
What is a favourite product or service that you offer and why?
Our bespoke service is a favourite of ours, it lets us create something truly personal, whether that's reworking a current style into something new or designing a one-of-a-kind piece from scratch. What makes it special is the time we spend with each customer, really understanding what they're looking
for and finding that alignment between their vision and ours. It's a chance to be part of someone's story in a much more direct way, and to create a piece that exists nowhere else.
What inspired your latest collection?
For our upcoming Fine collection, the inspiration really came from the gemstones themselves, aquamarine, sapphire, tourmaline, garnet and topaz. We wanted to build out our bridal offering around fine, natural stones, moving beyond the expected and creating something more intentional and meaningful, for the wedding moment and far beyond.
Who is your dream client?
Someone who wants their jewellery to mean something. The creative. The couple seeking quality and design that feels genuinely unique. The thought-leader who values substance over trend. Those who appreciate the symbolism and archetype behind a piece. Whether that's a couple choosing an engagement ring, a bride finding meaningful gifts for her bridesmaids, or someone self-gifting a piece that reflects who they are, we love working with people who see jewellery as a deeply meaningful keepsake. Some come to us with total confidence in what they want, others need a little guidance along the way, and we love being part of that process either way, helping shape a piece that will genuinely last a lifetime.
What is your advice to couples getting married?
We always encourage couples to choose a design and gemstone they feel a genuine connection to, something that inspires them and has personal meaning. That sense of preciousness, of choosing something truly your own, is what makes a piece worth keeping for life.
Temple Of The Sun
Website: templeofthesun.com
Instagram: @templeofthesunjewellery
