The Tamesis
Brittany SnowPhoto: Emma Bells Howie
Before a design takes shape, it is first and foremost an ontology—an invisible impulse shaped by emotion, history, and culture. It’s this impulse that inspired David Yurman to unveil a lavish exhibition on Thursday night. In a brownstone on New York City’s Upper East Side, a group of guests filed into Salon 94’s townhouse-turned-gallery for a fascinating exploration of the jewelry brand’s five collections and their origins.
Upon entering through the unmarked door, attendees were immediately immersed in the Yaman heritage. Each room in the space displays a collection of jewelry, accompanied by an explanation of the origins of its form. Wearing floor-length gowns, Sculpted Cable gold bracelets and diamonds, invitees were welcomed into the DY Mercer living room, paying homage to the collection’s creative spirit in downtown New York in the 1960s and 1970s, when the eponymous founder opened his first sculpture studio in Greenwich Village.
With champagne flutes and caviar beet slices in hand, the crowd climbed the spiral staircase to the installation’s lower level, where the Petrvs and Artist Collection collection was highlighted, with Matt Bomer wearing a Petrvs signet ring, demonstrating the bees’ representation of immortality and rebirth. Eiza Gonzalez sparkled nearby, wearing DY Mercer, and Carmelo Anthony perused the display among Armory Link bracelets and rings.
After climbing another treacherous flight of stairs (or, for those wearing heels, a lift), the brand’s friends mingled and ate beef tenderloin toast as a reward for reaching the top. Meanwhile, François Arnaud posed in the Waves collection room, and Brittany Snow and Victoria Monet admired the Armory Collection, where they were greeted by Evan Yurman, the brand’s president and chief creative officer, and discussed the origin story.
