SURA JEWELRY

A former meeting place for kings, princes, emperors, and dukes, today we visit the resplendent Beyerbeyi Palace in Istanbul, Turkey.

Built by Armenian architects during the mid-19th century under the order of Sultan Abdulaziz, the palace houses crystal chandeliers from France, oil paintings, and porcelain vases. Turkey is also the home of featured jewelry designer Yeliz Titiz.


During the 16th century, it was customary for Ottoman artisans to implement gemstones and precious metals to not only jewelry but also functional items like utensils and book covers.

Titiz' designs magnificently capture this bold and complex approach. No stranger to fashion, Titiz' family owns a popular apparel company in Istanbul. Her interest in exquisite jewelry began during travels throughout Europe. She developed a magnetic attraction to antique jewelry, collecting an assortment of trinkets during her travels.

Inspired by Istanbul's inherent beauty, in 2007 Titiz established her company Sura Jewelry named for an ancient, Byzantine city. The gorgeous, majestic, and feminine jewelry is fit for a queen. It is a testament to the techniques of ancient Ottoman craftsmen while also incorporating modern aesthetics.

In fact, Titiz works closely with skilled Turkish artisans who fashion her designs from richly colored, semi-precious gemstones, and brass and silver immersed in 24-karat gold. Gemstones range in color from blue agate to red tourmaline and every color in between including sunflower yellows, and autumn oranges.

The pieces are bulky and ornate making them sumptuous and eye catching. Her cuffs, in particular, are bold with various styles that include complex floral motifs, and corset shapes accented with spectacular, large stones (in some cases the stones are uncut).

Keeping in step with the traditional jewelry of the country, even the more understated pieces, such as single-stone pendants, have immense presence and power.


Publications featuring Titiz' jaw dropping designs include Six Degrees, Ocean Drive, Glamour, People en Español, InStyle Hair, and Florida.
__________________
Photo 1 (top right): 24-Karat Gold-Dipped Brass Ece Earrings with Turquoise Drops
Photo 2 (bottom left): 24-Karat Gold-Dipped Sevda Cuff with Pearl Accents