David Yurman Furniture
Perhaps the ultimate artistic couple, sculptor David Yurman (b. 1942) and his wife, painter Sybil Kleinrock (b. 1942), couldn’t have imagined they’d build an internationally renowned fine jewelry empire when they met in 1969 at a sculpture studio in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village.
Eleven years later, in 1980, the duo established the David Yurman brand and it boomed almost instantly, a by-product of the pair’s love for and commitment to making art. (They’ve been known to call their business as well as their relationship “one big art project.”) In fact, Yurman’s most recognizable piece, the Cable bracelet, was inspired by his background in metalworking and direct welding, skills he learned when he was just a teenager. It is a marvelously modern accessory rooted in everything from jewelry motifs of ancient Syria to the natural formations of tree branches that would yield the Cable ring, earrings and other items.
When Long Island, New York–born Yurman was in high school, he spent a summer visiting his sister in Provincetown, Massachusetts, where he met Cuban sculptor Ernesto González, who taught him how to heat and fuse metals. After that fateful summer, Yurman experimented feverishly with bronze sculpture and, eventually, minimalist jewelry design.
Yurman studied briefly at New York University, opting to drop out after a year to hitchhike across the United States, ending up in an artist colony on California’s Big Sur coastline. The bustling artists’ scene in New York during the 1960s eventually drew him back to the East Coast. There, he trained under Cubist sculptor Jacques Lipchitz, and, by 1969, he was a foreman in sculptor Hans Van de Bovenkamp’s Greenwich Village studio. It was in the studio that he met Kleinrock.
Kleinrock and Yurman began a romantic relationship, and he designed her a sculptural welded bronze necklace to wear to an art gallery opening. The gallery owner was so enchanted by the design — Yurman called it the Dante — that she wanted to buy it on the spot. Yurman refused because he considered the gift too personal, but his partner left it with the dealer. Within hours, four necklaces were sold and a brand was born.
A year after the two married in 1979 — the ceremony included simple gold rings Yurman had soldered from gold in his workshop — they officially launched David Yurman. Three years later, one of his most popular designs, the Cable bracelet, hit the market.
Today, David Yurman engagement rings, bracelets, rings, necklaces and earrings are widely treasured, distinctive works of American jewelry design.
1990s American Post-Modern David Yurman Furniture
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20th Century American Tribal David Yurman Furniture
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Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern David Yurman Furniture
Quartz, Sterling Silver
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage David Yurman Furniture
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Late 20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern David Yurman Furniture
Stone, Sterling Silver
2010s American David Yurman Furniture
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern David Yurman Furniture
Sterling Silver
20th Century Argentine Post-Modern David Yurman Furniture
Sterling Silver
2010s Chinese David Yurman Furniture
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20th Century Chinese David Yurman Furniture
Jade, Sterling Silver
1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage David Yurman Furniture
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern David Yurman Furniture
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Mexican David Yurman Furniture
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American David Yurman Furniture
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21st Century and Contemporary American David Yurman Furniture
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Early 2000s American David Yurman Furniture
Jade, Gold, Sterling Silver
David Yurman furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Whether or not you can resize a David Yurman bracelet depends on its design. Some pieces are suitable for resizing. However, you should take the bracelet to an authorized service center rather than trying to do the job yourself to avoid damaging your jewelry. Contact David Yurman's customer care center through their website for assistance. You can find a range of David Yurman bracelets on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022No, authentic David Yurman bracelets should not tarnish even with regular wear. David Yurman bracelets are crafted with gold or platinum, which are naturally tarnish-resistant, however, they can lose their luster over time. To keep your David Yurman pieces looking their best, be sure to polish and clean your jewelry regularly, as well as remove any jewelry at night and before exposure to water. Shop a selection of David Yurman pieces on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 4, 2024To tell if David Yurman is authentic, first look for the luxury jeweler’s maker’s mark. Authentic pieces will feature a D.Y., D. Yurman or David Yurman stamp. This stamp should be accompanied by a copyright symbol and indicators of metal content, which will denote the presence of sterling silver or gold purity. The maker’s mark should be crisp and clear, with numbers and letters evenly spaced.
Also, carefully examine the jewelry up close. The David Yurman brand is an internationally renowned fine jewelry empire — if you see cracks or flaws in the gemstones (which are always genuine precious or semi-precious gemstones), glue or soldering marks or other imperfections, the piece is unlikely to be genuine. If you need assistance authenticating a particular accessory, seek the help of a certified jewelry appraiser.
On 1stDibs, shop a selection of David Yurman jewelry. - Can David Yurman rings be sized?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021Select rings designed by David Yurman are able to be resized. It is recommended that you contact the customer service team at David Yurman in order to inquire about getting your ring resized. Find a variety of David Yurman jewelry on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 26, 2024Yes, David Yurman uses real diamonds. The American jewelry maker carefully selects only genuine diamonds that meet its exceptionally high standards for clarity, color and cut. David Yurman only sources diamonds using the Kimberley Process to ensure that its gemstones are conflict-free. Shop a collection of David Yurman diamond jewelry on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024Yes, David Yurman is considered a high-end brand. The brand’s engagement rings, bracelets, rings, necklaces and earrings are widely treasured, distinctive works of American jewelry design, and prized for their impeccable craftsmanship and unique details, which often include gemstones in unexpected colors. One of the luxury jewelry house's signature designs is the Cable bracelet. Jeweler David Yurman produced the original in 1953 by twisting 50 feet of metal wire into a helix and then shaping it into a cuff. Find a large selection of David Yurman jewelry on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 20, 2024Yes, David Yurman uses real gemstones. The American jewelry brand carefully sources natural diamonds, sapphires, rubies, emeralds and other gems for its pieces. Metals featured in David Yurman pieces include sterling silver, 14- and 18-karat gold, titanium and copper. Shop a wide range of David Yurman jewelry on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 26, 2024To tell if David Yurman jewelry is real, first study its maker's marks. On authentic pieces, you should see a "D. Yurman," "DY" or "David Yurman" stamp next to a copyright symbol. These markings should be properly aligned with the jewelry, spelled correctly, in the right font, evenly spaced and deeply stamped into the metal. Errors with the markings are a good indication that earrings, a ring, necklace, bracelet or pin are fake. A certified appraiser or other knowledgeable expert can be of assistance when authenticating your pieces. Shop a range of David Yurman jewelry on 1stDibs.