In the jewelry world, Phil Nguyen, also known as YungMetalSyndicate, has carved out a niche for himself. With his specialization in custom grills — those shiny, bold fashion statements that sit on your teeth — Nguyen has reshaped self-expression in Calgary. He says he’s had a fascination with grills since he was a little kid.
“I remember my friends and I would take Ferrero Rocher wrappers — the gold ones — and put them on our teeth. We thought it was so sick.”
After high school, Nguyen worked his way through different jobs but was uncertain about what his future held. Then, a conversation with a close friend sparked his interest in jewelry making.
“We were talking about what we like: fashion, art, jewelry,” says Nguyen. “Jewelry felt like something tangible, something I could hold and create.
The origins of grill-making
Nguyen started by taking jewelry-making classes at Alberta University of the Arts. While there was no formal training for grill-making, Nguyen started connecting with various professionals, such as dentists and jewellers. Through countless trials and errors, he eventually found his rhythm after a year of experimentation.
His biggest investment was buying all the required equipment. Nguyen worked in construction for a year to save up. After months of dedication and hard work, it all started to pay off. What started as a passion project has turned into a full-blown business.
“It initially started with friends and family. The word started to spread and then I started getting strangers as clients.”
The creative process
Creating a grill is a lengthy process that starts with understanding the client’s vision. Nguyen will consult with the client, and they will design the grill together and consider different materials.
From there, Nguyen will take an impression of the client’s teeth creating a prototype using dental stone, then design the grill’s shape using wax. This is followed by casting, polishing and then the client’s first fitting. The whole process takes about three to four weeks. These grills are not permanently affixed to teeth but are designed to be taken on and off as the user chooses.
One of Nguyen’s clients, Ryan Strilchuk, was happy to share his experience.
“It was fantastic,” says Strilchuck. “I had tons of questions because it was my first time doing it and Phil answered them all very well. He was just an all around cool guy.”
The personalization aspect of the process is what makes this form of jewelry so unique.
“I think it’s cool to have a piece of jewelry that isn’t a ring or a necklace,” adds Strilchuk. “I love that they’re personalized to different people, with different styles on their grills. I like them. They’re cool.”
Rewarding clients
For Nguyen, seeing the client’s reaction to the final product is the most rewarding part.
“When the client comes in, they tell me their vision, then I relay back my vision, then how do we blend that together and make the most cohesive piece. That’s when the best product comes out. That’s when it’s a piece of art.”
Nguyen’s journey wasn’t without its challenges. His Asian heritage has forced him to navigate the expectations of his family, who feel that more traditional career paths often define success.
“At first, they didn’t believe in it, but once I started to show that I can do this work and support myself, they came around.”
A growing business
Nguyen is proud of the development of his studio and the collaborative work environment he has created alongside other creatives, where the space is equally shared. In addition to his grill business, the studio occupies a vintage clothing store and a barbershop and plans to welcome a tattoo artist in residence.
“It’s been growing and expanding. I think our vision of this space is meant to be unraveling.” says Nguyen. “We’re all trying to figure out a way where we can all make money, have fun together and create a good, safe environment.”
Nguyen recognizes that this form of jewelry is still an underground practice but is slowly starting to gain traction and believes more people are open to the idea of grills.
Through hard work and resiliency, Nguyen’s craftsmanship is also more than a piece of metal — it’s wearable art that allows someone to express themselves through their smiles. As his business grows, Nguyen hopes to continue moulding the future of this form of self-expression.
