May Yeung Jewelry

Breathing New Life Into the World of Pearls
May Yeung Jewelry specializes in designer pearl jewelry, including baroque pearls, coin pearls, freshwater pearls, Majorica pearls, mother of pearl, and semi-precious stones. Sterling silver and gold filled findings mixed with Swarovski chains accent their jewelry. Based in Los Angeles, May Yeung Jewelry is owned and managed by two sisters, May and Kathy Yeung. May considers her sister, Kathy, to be the “right brain of the business” who has always been the solid rock in life. May Yeung Jewelry is modern, sophisticated, elegant and simple, and loves pearls in all shapes and sizes. May says their collection is unique from other jewelry designs because “our jewelry is timeless and versatile. From season to season, our jewelry can be worn again or layered with a piece from a new collection.” Celebrities who have worn their jewelry include Jessica Alba, Melissa George, and Aimee Garcia, while Ming-Na and Ashley Jones have purchased a few pieces.
May’s inspiration behind launching her own jewelry line was due to a combination of her sister’s entrepreneurial spirit and the support of girlfriends who inspired her over the years with their creative ideas. May admits it was a fluke on how she became a jewelry designer. While she worked for several national costume jewelry companies on Sales and Visual Merchandising positions prior to starting her collection, she never dealt with Design or Production. Since she was always curious about designing jewelry, she took a class at UCLA Extension to familiarize herself with the basics. After creating pieces and having friends request some for themselves, May Yeung Jewelry was born. Currently, May Yeung Jewelry is comprised of five separate collections, each named after an inspirational or important woman in May’s life. The collections are Joanne, Kara, Liz, Juliana, and Viviana.
We chose the Black Majorica Pearl Necklace as an Editor’s Pick for its eye-catching and lovely shade of ebony. Aside from the traditional and timeless white strand of pearls, we like the darker side of the spectrum as this strand of black 10 mm majorica pearls is secured with a sparkling rhinestone clasp, and offers a touch of edge and mysteriousness. The ebony black of this necklace contrasts beautifully against the neckline. This 16” necklace is knotted with black majorica pearls and accented with a rhinestone clasp to add a touch
of glamour. We love the beautiful luster of these black pearls as each pearl shines and shimmers in its own way. The sexy hue of the dark black is breathtaking when worn with solid colors. What better to match this necklace than with the Sterling Silver Cubic Zirconia Hoops with Black Majorica Pearls, as it will make a complete set to treasure for years to come. May comes up with ideas for her designs with the help of her girlfriends, various fashion magazines, and visual objects and presentations when she is out and about. She currently has an industry of contractors who create the jewelry locally in Los Angeles, as well as a full-time Operations Manager, a Business Advisor and a college intern.
May has always had a creative side with both music and personal styling as she has been a classical pianist for over twelve years and once considered studying at the San Francisco Music Conservatory. She has also helped many women and friends with their personal styling and accessorizing and takes much pleasure in home decorating as she loves home interiors and accessories. May studied Social Science with an emphasis on Organizational Behavior at the University of California at Berkeley. In sharing her background, May is a first generation Chinese American as she was raised in the Bay Area by parents from Shanghai. She considers her parents creative with music and architecture, with a mutual appreciation for fashion.
“Whether you are looking for a modern coin pearl necklace, feminine pearl set, versatile mother of pearl earrings, elegant bridal party jewelry or timeless baroque pearl necklace, May Yeung Jewelry
can help you create a polished and confident look for any occasion.” May simply loves pearls and admits that there is not a day that goes by when she is not wearing at least one pearl on her neck, wrist, or ears. Their bridal jewelry collection features sophisticated freshwater pearls and Swarovski crystal chains. We selected the White Freshwater Pearl Cluster Bridal Necklace for its simple elegance and dainty appeal. This necklace features a small cluster of pearls and Swarovski crystals dangling directly above a beautiful white freshwater pearl on a 16” gold filled chain. Perfect for that special day, this necklace will elegantly compliment any bridal gown without being loud and flashy.
For something modern and elegant, we chose the Gold Oval Cubic Zirconia Chain from the Joanne collectionas an Editor’s Pick because it looks dazzling no matter what it is worn with. Similar in style to the Tiffany & Co. Diamonds by the Yard necklace, this strand captures that same sleek and sophisticated appeal for a fraction of the price. Measuring 36”, this gold filled chain is meant to be worn long and can be layered with other pendants and necklaces for a stunning effect. May’s personal favorite contemporary jewelry designer is Anna Beck and Cartier for Fine jewelry. In her free time, she enjoys yoga as she has practiced flow yoga for ten years. It helps keep her grounded and relaxed which is something she strives for daily. She loves getting together with girlfriends, sharing a glass of wine, good food and conversation as well as entertaining at home.
May Yeung Jewelry adds new trend collections and styles twice a year during Spring and Fall, while keeping most of their classic and modern pearl styles a part of the core collection. In the next five years, May envisions the company creating and offering additional accessory categories, in addition to retail distribution both domestically and internationally. May Yeung Jewelry currently has a proprietary collection with The Knot and The Wedding Channel, and is in the process of pursuing a department store distribution with Nordstrom. Lastly, May shares, “Complete your Timeless Look™.” May Yeung Jewelry can be found online through E-tailers as well as through their online store and website mayyeung.com.
www.mayyeung.com