Jewelry designer David Yurman creates some of the most highly recognized bracelets, rings, necklaces and earrings on the market today. Oversized stones adorn his signature pieces, in aquamarine, quartz, or turquoise. Part of his success may be thanks to his undersized dog, a Maltese named Sushi, who has made his debut in ad campaigns for the jewelry along with “regulars” Amber Valetta and Bijou Phillips. Sushi is so photogenic, the dog has been re-booked for an upcoming shoot as well, with Valetta, Naomi Campbell, and Peter Coyote, this time in St. Barths.
The dog accompanies David and Sybil almost everywhere. On Sushi’s recent trip to Chicago for the Fashion Group International meeting (a non-profit professional organization for the fashion industry), David jokes, “Luckily I am his agent, so fees are non-existent.”
Bringing a dog everywhere one goes can occasionally cause some trouble. Once, Sushi came along to a party in a historic townhouse in New York City and upon arrival the hosts asked that the dog be left in the coatroom. Honoring the hosts’ wishes, the Yurmans complied, but reportedly still made sure their pooch got his own gourmet doggie bag.
Sushi recently had an opportunity to spend some time with one of his favorite personalities, Walter Cronkite. Out on the Forbes yacht, the former CBS anchor held the little white dog for “almost an hour,” says Yurman proudly of his now “newsworthy” dog.
With all of these adventures, how does the little Maltese stay so sparkling-white? Sushi’s secret: he enjoys his frequent cleaning and primping at New York’s chic doggie spa, Biscuits and Bath. In between visits, David and Sybil help him to maintain his perfect look.
David, who was originally a sculptor and Sybil, formerly a painter, have an eye for perfection. They teamed up to create one of the first branded jewelry lines 25 years ago. With her eye for color and his eye for shape (and more recently Sushi’s support behind the scenes), they were blessed with a winning combination. The venture has been growing by heads and tails. By current estimates, the company is bringing in 450 million to 500 million dollars in retail sales.
The Yurmans are also very involved with philanthropic endeavors. They have established a humanitarian and arts foundation that regularly donates to AIDS research and the Silver Shield Fund for families of NYC firefighters, as well as many other organizations. David Yurman has also been named the official jewelry designer of The Hampton Classic Horse Show. Although there is a lot of demand for the Yurmans’ time and talent these days, in the end, nobody gets more attention than the model Maltese by their side, who is to them a true gem.
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