Inside the Hell Gate Bridge 

For any New Yorker, the presence of the massive Hell Gate Bridge is unmistakable —solid, towering steel linking Astoria and Randall Islands over the East River since 1917. But get this — those two massive stone towers? Pure decoration. No structural play at all. As the story goes, this bridge was built like a tank, gaining the trust of the New York faithful who thought if humanity died off, Hell Gate would outlive us all for another millennium. Fast foward to the late 80s, the neglected Hell Gate changed ownership so often that no single company was willing to maintain it. The consequence? Two towers marred by grime and graffiti, and an arch where the paint had all but deteriorated. In ’91, a $55 million restoration project with a flaw in the paint formula, left the bridge with that beloved weathered and faded appearance it still has today. Iason Rouvas, a Queens kid, is on a similar trajectory. His sterling silver jewelry holds weight, destined to become must-haves in your personal stash. Crafted with flat silk satin finishes, each piece ages gracefully, revealing its true brilliance over generations. From the streets of Queens, the sight of the Hell Gate Bridge evokes nostalgic memories, serving as a timeless reminder for Rouvas that the finer things in life get better with time.

*All images belong to the original owner unless otherwise stated.