Press Release

For Immediate Release

 

Elyria Sterling Introduces the Temple Street Collection

A Luminous Jewelry Collection that Fuses East and West

San Francisco, CA (August 2009) -- Elyria Sterling, a contemporary line of jewelry introduced by the creator of Elyria Pearls, announces its debut with the Temple Street collection. Influenced by the fusion of traditional and contemporary that defines modern-day Hong Kong, this collection unites the rich history of Imperial China with the sleek modernity of the West. Nowhere is this juxtaposition more visible than at Hong Kong's Temple Street Market. Famously eclectic, the open-air market epitomizes a cultural crossroads. Chinese antiques, high-tech electronics, and jade artifacts are found side by side against a backdrop of skyscrapers, rickshaws, and fortune tellers. Elyria Sterling's Temple Street Collection irreverently expresses these diverse elements within unique and fluid designs.

Inspired by her travels scouring the pearl markets of Hong Kong, designer and entrepreneur Elisa Browsh has created a line of jewelry incorporating sterling silver, conflict-free white sapphires, and baroque Chinese freshwater pearls. Each piece embodies, and is named for, the unique character of a Hong Kong district or landmark. From the casual, ultra-hip trendiness of Wyndham Street to the refined elegance of Pedder Street, the vibrant essence of these destinations is reflected in the lines of the Temple Street collection. The spare, architectural aesthetic and understated lustre of sterling silver are offset by contrasting elements of equal strength: the cold brilliance of faceted white sapphires above, the organic glow and subtle warmth of pearls below.

The melding of modern and traditional is beautifully exhibited in the collection's signature pieces, with looks that run the gamut from classic to abstract. The signature Peak Pendant, aptly named for the highest point on Hong Kong Island, is the most dramatic piece in the collection. Bracing a long sterling drop between a flush-set white sapphire and large freshwater pearl, this pendant reflects the bold beauty of Victoria Peak. By contrast, the Cat Street Ring--named for an obscure back-alley lined with antique shops--juxtaposes cool sterling silver and the rough, organic shape of a baroque pearl on a single palette. An awe-inspiring must-have ring, the pearl itself is set with a white sapphire, a jewel within a jewel, like an unexpected treasure procured on the famous Hong Kong street.

"As a designer, my journey with this collection reflects the unexpected fusion of Eastern and Western sensibilities," said Elisa Browsh, founder and designer of Elyria Sterling. "I'm intrigued by the balance and flexibility of having a foot in both worlds, and my goal in creating the Temple Street collection was to express that balance--to show these austere, Zen-like metal forms in harmony with the antique, brilliant, and baroque."

Elyria Sterling's Temple Street Collection is priced from $35 to $750.