Temple St. Clair Makes Fine Jewelry for Dolphins

Temple St. Clair is a jeweler we love, and finding out she'd created a collection in support of Japanese dolphins (like the 18K Dolphin Pendant with Blue Moonstone at right, $8,750.00) made us love her all the more.

Forty percent of the proceeds from Temple's Dolphin Pendants and Ring collection is being donated to Save Japan Dolphins, an organization working to fight the sharp decline in the dolphin population which was recently exposed in the Oscar-winning documentary The Cove.

We asked Temple about her collection and how her past inspired her to create jewelry for dolphins -- or at least in support of them.

Luxist: How long has the collection existed, and has it always been in support of Japan Dolphins?

Temple St. Clair: The dolphin pendants are part of my Tree of Life collection, an environmentally inspired collection. In this collection, a dragonfly represents clean air; a lion cub represents conservation of our terrestrial environment; and the dolphin symbolizes the wellbeing of our oceans. My dolphin image is inspired by the classical Greek representation of a dolphin that saved a drowning boy and delivered him safely to the shore of the modern day Italian city, Taranto. A beautiful Greek coin exists with the image of the boy riding the dolphin. I made several dolphins as part of the Tree of Life collection both with blue sapphires and diamonds and in all gold. There has been such a positive reaction to the dolphins, along with a passionate desire to support them, that I have recently added a silver dolphin pendant so that the cause can expand more widely.

L: How did you get involved with the Japanese dolphin cause?

TSC: I have been involved with the sea since a very young age, learning to scuba dive at fourteen. I seriously considered pursuing marine biology, participating in marine study projects in the Caribbean and Honduras with Jean-Michel Cousteau during college summers. I also spent my teenage years surrounded by dolphins in the tidal creeks on the coast of South Carolina where my family lived. After seeing The Cove, Ric O'Barry's remark, "Either you are an activist or a non-activist," inspired me to be active. The most logical way for me to be "active" is through the medium I work in. If I can make my jewelry work for a cause, it is a great satisfaction and inspiration for me that I can help make a difference.

L: How long will the opportunity to support dolphins with purchase be available?

TSC: I plan to continue my support of the efforts made by Ric O'Barry and SaveJapanDolphins.org until the slaughter of dolphins in Taiji, Japan is stopped. I plan to continue support of marine mammals in general, and to raise awareness regarding Sea World and "swim with dolphins" programs. Marine mammals are highly developed social creatures that should not be held in captivity to serve as circus animals. Operations such as Sea World, drive the slaughter of dolphins in Japan by creating a high priced market for the animals. The "show worthy" dolphins are captured to put on display while the rest are slaughtered; their very toxic flesh is sold as whale meat to unsuspecting Japanese.

You can view the entire collection here in our gallery, or visit Temple St. Clair to purchase.