Hammerman B

Vintage Hammerman Brothers jewelry is a visual feast. Whether modern or retro in style, the pieces created by this fine American jewelry house include everything from audacious cocktail rings in yellow gold to expressive animal brooches set with diamonds and rubies. A member of the Hammerman family oversees the production of every piece, and each accessory is stamped with the Hammerman Brothers maker's mark.

The Hammerman Brothers company traces its history back to the 1780s when a young man left Eastern Europe to become a watchmaker. Fast-forward to the 1930s in New York City: three of his descendants — brothers Benjamin, Bernard and Hyman Hammerman — found themselves working on Bowery Street, then a prominent hub for American diamond jewelry. After serving in the army in World War II, the brothers opened their own fine watch and jewelry company in 1946.

The company's breakthrough design came in the 1950s when Benjamin Hammerman created a line of women's bracelets that incorporated a watch. Decorative watches are considered by some to be among the world’s most versatile accessories, and the goal at the Hammerman firm was to elevate a simple, everyday necessity into a piece of fine jewelry, and it worked. Over the subsequent decade, Hammerman Brothers created numerous bracelet watches, and during the 1960s, the company designed gold bracelet watches for the Accutron. Developed by American watchmaker Bulova, the Accutron was the world's first watch that made use of a tuning fork to keep accurate time. 

The Hammerman Brothers brand has only continued to grow in fame and prestige. The company’s jewelry is in high demand at auctions, and vintage Hammerman Brothers rings are frequently sought after as wedding bands. The company is still family-run, with a store located in New York City.

On 1stDibs, find Hammerman Brothers necklaces, rings, brooches and more.

Today, antique and vintage bracelets are versatile and universally loved accessories that can add polish and pizzazz to any ensemble.

Bracelets were among the jewels discovered to have been buried with Pharaoh Tutankhamun when his tomb was unearthed in 1922, and wrist and arm bracelets were allegedly worn by Queen Puabi in Sumer, southern Mesopotamia. But preceding the adornments of Ancient Egypt and elsewhere, the people of prehistoric times likely wore the decorative accessory, fashioning it from shells and fish bones. When the Bronze Age allowed for more durable materials and semiprecious stones to be incorporated into jewelry, bracelets became a treasured symbol of wealth.

In the thousands of years following the debut of the world’s first bracelets, the artistry behind this common accessory has only broadened, with designers at popular jewelry houses growing more venturesome over time. David Webb looked to nature for his Animal Kingdom bracelets, and for her best-selling bracelets and more at Tiffany & Co., Elsa Peretti would frequently do the same. From bangles to tennis bracelets, the modern age offers plenty of options.

Internationally acclaimed bracelet designs have on occasion become powerful symbols of status, style and, in the case of Cartier's iconic design, love. The Cartier Love bracelet can be found on the wish list of most jewelry lovers and on the wrist of some of the world’s biggest stars. Its arrangement of mock screwheads and distinctive functionality — it was initially locked and unlocked with an accompanying vermeil screwdriver — is an enduring expression of loyalty, unity and romance. (Do you know how to spot a fake Cartier Love bracelet?)

While the Love bracelet has played a role in the skyrocketing popularity of cuff-style bracelets, they are far from the only glamorous option for collectors. Make a statement with an Art Deco design, a style that sees all kinds of iterations fitted with studded cuffs, one-of-a-kind shapes and dazzling insets. A chunky vintage gold bracelet in the Retro style will prove eye-catching and elevate any outfit.

One of the best things about bracelets, however, is that you never have to choose just one. Style icon Jacqueline Kennedy stacked her Croisillon bracelets — designed by Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co. — with such frequency that the ornate bangles were eventually dubbed “Jackie bracelets” by reporters. Contemporary silver pieces can easily complement each other, rendering a layering of luxury almost a necessity.

Find a diverse collection of bracelets that you can sort by style, stone cut and more on 1stDibs.