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.
David Yurman Sterling Silver; Pavé Diamond 5-Row Confetti Cuff Bracelet Orig Box
By David Yurman
Located in Incline Village, NV
This size "medium" gem is an exceptional, investment-grade example of a retired masterpiece from David Yurman’s celebrated Confetti Collection. The dramatic, wide "statement making" ...
Sterling Silver
David Yurman 18 K & Sterling Silver, Choker/ Necklace with Diamond/Garnet Buckle
By David Yurman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Traditional cable 4 movable parts necklace /choker in sterling silver and 18 k gold with diamonds and garnets. Marked DY c and Sterling and gold, 925 750. Flat opened is approximate ...
Gold
Sterling Silver Bracelet "Isadora" by Jacques Jarrige
By Jacques Jarrige
Located in New York, NY
This bracelet in sterling silver is hand-hammered. It is also available in gold-plated brass. Jarrige's jewelry is more companion than ornament, heightening one's physical awarene...
Sterling Silver
Handmade Silver and Enamel Bracelet Cuff
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Handmade silver and enamel bracelet cuff - wonderful detailing and colors - a must have for the bohemian styled person - a great stand alone piece or wit...
Silver, Enamel
David Andersen gilded sterling silver brooch/pin enamel Butterfly
By David Andersen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful brooch and almost. a signature creation of the Jeweler /designer Norway designer David Andersen .
Sterling Silver
Antique Akha Hill Tribe Silver Cuff Bracelet, Golden Triangle
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
A large Akha Tribe woven silver bracelet with spiral design. This Tribal bracelet encompasses tradition Hill tribe silversmithing techniques with each silve...
Silver
$3,500 / set
H 3 in Dm 14.5 in
Early Margot de Taxco Sterling Parure Set Necklace Earrings Cuff Bracelet
By Margot De Taxco
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Margot Van Voorhies Carr started producing out of her own studio in 1948, under the name, Margot de Taxco. Previously she had been producing pieces under Antonio Castillo for the William Spratling studio. This four piece sterling silver suite...
Sterling Silver
David Freeland Jr. Galaxy Sterling and Turquoise Belt Buckle
Located in Toledo, OH
Galaxy sterling silver belt buckle by Southwestern artist David Freeland Jr. This piece features a desert village under a night sky filled with planets and stars surrounded by turquo...
Sterling Silver
$750
H 4.5 in W 1.6 in D 1.6 in
Sterling Silver Spice tower box container Besamin , Judaica , Israel .
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful spice tower with blocks decorations on the side. Is a box container. marked st 925 , Israel .
Sterling Silver
Ed Wiener Modernist Sterling Silver Cuff / Bracelet New York 1950's .925
By Ed Wiener
Located in Buffalo, NY
A cuff bracelet designed by Ed Wiener (1918-1991). This rare sculptural modernist piece is one of Wiener's first creations as a jeweler-artist in New York city, circa 1950's. This b...
Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver Marcasite and Baguette Garnet Turtle Brooch
Located in Van Nuys, CA
This is a sterling silver turtle brooch with marcasites and amethyst-type stones. It has a locking pin on the back to keep the turtle secure. The rectangular baguette-cut garnets run...
Multi-gemstone, Sterling Silver
Gorham Art Nouveau Sterling Buckle, 1902
By Gorham
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Gorham Art Nouveau sterling buckle, 1902. Marks for Gorham Sterling and B1949 copyrighted with 1902 (year). Beautiful open floral nouveau whiplash des...
Sterling Silver
$1,385
H 1.25 in W 48 in D 1 in
Vintage Western Sterling Silver (4) Piece Belt Buckle Ensemble American C.1990's
Located in Incline Village, NV
Vintage western wear cowboy four piece "Ranger" belt ensemble; consisting of a marked sterling silver buckle and two belt "keepers" with a planished sterling silver tail; all assembled on a high quality finely grained medium brown leather lizard belt; which will accommodate sizes 34 through 38" comfortably. Best known for his Southwestern high quality designs, the belt was handcrafted by world famous silversmith, Paul Scibienski in 1995 who, has been in business for 40 years. Scibienski and his daughter provided luxury hand crafted items such as western cowboy style buckles for Alexander Kalifano; the latter having Scottsdale Arizona jewelry and gemstones handcrafted business roots since 1912. He was able to brand the high end exotic quality goods to luxury markets such as Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom. The belt ensemble is in excellent and all original condition with very little wear. The belt measures 40" from the end of the buckle to the first hole of which there are five; each spaced an 1" apart. The 1 1/4" belt tapers down to a 1" billet to facilitate a "planished in place" sterling silver tail piece to move easily through the sterling keeper. The tail, buckle, and "keeper" are in completely all original condition with no restoration of any kind. Please note all the marks engraved on the four silver pieces "Sterling Silver" and "Alexanders Belts & Buckles" "C. 1995" Buckle = 2" x 1 7/8" keeper 1 1/8" x 1/2" x 5/8" deep tail= 1 1/4": long Provenance: From my own personal collection of Western cowboy memorabilia...
Sterling Silver
$165
H 1.88 in W 2.69 in D 0.88 in
Modernist Bracelet Sterling Silver Cuff Abstract Swirl Taxco Mexico
By Taxco
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Modernist Bracelet Sterling Silver Cuff Abstract Swirl Taxco Mexico 2.69 w x 1.88 H x .88 d Stamped A. L. Eagle mark #2 Mexico Original preowned vintage condition Refer to images pro...
Sterling Silver
Sold
H 14.5 in W 0.19 in D 0.19 in
David Yurman 18k Yellow Gold “Cable” Necklace with 6 Cultured Pearls
By David Yurman
Located in Shippensburg, PA
An exquisite choker necklace by David Yurman in his iconic "Cable" design, the form has become an important signature in his work and is immediately recognizable. This finely crafted...
Gold
David Yurman 18-Karat Yellow Gold Oval Link Bracelet
By David Yurman
Located in Bedford Hills, NY
David Yurman bonded 18-karat yellow gold oval link bracelet with lobster clasp and David Yurman charm.
Gold
David Yurman Sterling Silver, Gold, and Green Jade Drop Earrings
By David Yurman
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful pair of vintage David Yurman designed drop earrings in green jade, sterling silver, and 18-karat yellow gold. With marker’s mark on back as shown in image. Earrings are 2...
Jade, Gold, Sterling Silver