Known as “the jewelers’ jeweler,” Oscar Heyman (1888–1970) designed pieces for Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Van Cleef & Arpels, Harry Winston and Black, Starr & Frost. The family-run Oscar Heyman & Brothers jewelry company was founded by Heyman with his brothers Nathan and Harry in 1912. Jewelers from Latvia, they had trained at their great-uncle’s workshop, which had clients including Russian imperial jeweler Fabergé, before immigrating to the United States in the early 1900s.
After arriving in New York, Oscar worked with Pierre Cartier and Nathan was a tool maker at Western Electric before they came together to open their jewelry business. Highly skilled craftsmen, the Heyman brothers quickly developed a roster of high-profile clients — primarily big-name jewelers — drawn to their work with dazzling stones and meticulous design. In 1917, Black, Starr & Frost commissioned the brothers to design an American flag brooch, which would become a recurring motif in the Oscar Heyman & Brothers portfolio. They also designed the Pansy brooch in the 1930s, another long-popular accessory that was produced exclusively for Tiffany & Co. toward the end of the 20th century. After Heyman designed for four of the five jewelers on view at the 1939 World’s Fair House of Jewels (Cartier, Udall & Ballou, Marcus & Co. and Black, Starr & Frost), the company was given the moniker “the jewelers’ jeweler.”
Heyman & Brothers later designed gem-encrusted medallions that traveled to the moon on Apollo 16, the necklace setting for the 69-carat diamond Richard Burton gave Elizabeth Taylor in 1969 and even a pair of ruby-encrusted Stuart Weitzman stilettos in 2003. Over the years, the company has entranced such clients as Evelyn Lauder, Marjorie Merriweather Post, Billy Porter and Tina Fey with its pieces.
In 2012, the century-old jeweler underwent a rebranding to simplify its name to Oscar Heyman and today is still run by the Heyman family, which manages the whole process from alloying their own metal to cutting and polishing their gemstones to assembling the final product in-house. In 2017, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston published a monograph authored by Yvonne J. Markowitz and Elizabeth Hamilton that details for a broader audience the history of Oscar Heyman, an unsung company that’s long been behind some of the biggest names in jewelry.
Shop authentic Oscar Heyman rings, brooches and bracelets on 1stDibs.
Oscar Heyman Day and Night Invisible Set Sapphire Earrings
By Oscar Heyman
Located in New York, NY
Oscar Heyman Day and Night Invisible Set Sapphire Earrings A pair of Oscar Heyman day and night earrings featuring pear-shaped sapphir...
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Vintage 1960s Oscar Heyman Invisible Set Ruby Earrings with Diamonds
By Oscar Heyman
Located in New York, NY
Finley crafted in platinum with invisible set Square cut Rubies weighing a total of 24.71 carats and Round Brilliant cut Diamonds weighing a total of 2.31 carats. Signed by Oscar Hey...
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Oscar Heyman Mid-Century Diamond Earrings
By Oscar Heyman
Located in New York, NY
With a total diamond weight of 17.28 carats, and accompanied by GIA reports, these classic Oscar Heyman Mid-Century diamond cluster earrings are mounted in platinum. Each earring is ...
Diamond, Platinum
Oscar Heyman & Brothers Sapphire and Diamond Earrings
By Oscar Heyman
Located in New York, NY
Oscar Heyman Brothers Sapphire and Diamond Earrings This exquisite pair of Oscar Heyman Brothers earrings features a stunning combination of GIA-certified natural sapphires and eleg...
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Oscar Heyman Sapphire and Diamond Earrings
By Oscar Heyman
Located in Darnestown, MD
Delicate and graceful diamond and sapphire earrings by Oscar Heyman. The earrings have approximately 1.5 carats of round brilliant diamonds; SI quality; G color. The sapphires weigh ...
18k Gold
Oscar Heyman Diamond and Ruby Earrings
By Oscar Heyman
Located in New York, NY
Oscar Heyman diamond and ruby earrings. This pair of earrings has 22 rubies approximately 7-8 carats and 144 diamonds total weight approximately 16- 17 ...
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
David Webb Multi-Sapphire Cluster Day/Night 18K Gold Earrings
By David Webb
Located in Houston, TX
David Webb cluster day/night earrings featuring multi-colored sapphires that total approximately 70 carats. Earrings are marked "David Webb 18K" on the clip back. They measure 3 1/...
Sapphire, 18k Gold
Georgian Diamond Leaf & Flower Day Night Drop Earrings
Located in Napoli, IT
Georgian in the treasury chest This outstanding pair of Georgian drop earrings are the emblem of what was the fashion for a lady at that time They date 1790 ca, masterfully hand crafted of approx 14/15Kt with silver portions, tested, in a typical floral scroll work in vogue, night day version, the large drop pendant can be removed Artistry combination, richly intricate, the tri dimensional leaf work seems as real, it is beautifully finished for contrast and impact to the viewer, enhanced with black enamelling (few missing as to expect for real antiques) Top is 15 mm. diameter, flowery shaped with an antique table cut Diamond...
Diamond, 14k Gold, 15k Gold, Silver
Oscar Heyman Platinum Tsavorite and Diamond Halo Earrings
By Oscar Heyman
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Adorn yourself in lush beauty with these Oscar Heyman vibrant, green tsavorite garnet and diamond halo earrings. These earrings feature two oval green tsavorite garnets that weigh a...
Diamond, Garnet, Tsavorite, Platinum
Topaz, Sapphire and Diamond Pansy Clip Earrings, Signed Oscar Heyman Brothers
By Oscar Heyman
Located in Boston, MA
These unmistakable earrings incorporate pink Topaz, yellowish orange Citrine, blue sapphire, and sparkling white diamonds together in a beautiful display of color to form a unique re...
Diamond, White Diamond, Topaz, Citrine, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold,...
$150,000 / set
H 3 in W 1.5 in Dm 1 in
Boucheron Ruby And Diamond Earrings Day & Night Vintage Jewelry
By Boucheron
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A spectacular pair of Boucheron ruby and diamond earrings, featuring a convertible “day to night” design. These vintage earrings are crafted in 18k yellow gold and showcase a vibran...
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Oscar Heyman Jadeite and Diamonds Clip-on Earrings
By Oscar Heyman
Located in New York, NY
Oscar Heyman Jadeite and Diamonds Clip-on Earrings Details: 18k Gold and platinum, Jadeite, circa 1980s. Total weight 15.4 grams. In excellent condition
Diamond, Jade, 18k Gold, Platinum
$5,998
H 1.5 in W 0.67 in
18k Gold 17ctw Pave Black Diamond Sapphire Day Night Dangle Drop Omega Earrings
Located in Montclair, NJ
--Stones:-- 236 Natural Genuine Sapphires - Round Brilliant Cut - Pave Set - Lively Blue Color - 11-13ctw approx. 232 Natural Genuine Diamonds - Round Brilliant Cut - Pave Set - Blac...
Black Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Oscar Heyman Platinum 13mm Pearl & Diamond Drop Earrings
By Oscar Heyman
Located in New York City, NY
Oscar Heyman platinum earrings contain six pear shaped diamonds weighing 1.20tcw with two 13mm silver pearl drops. All diamonds used are F/G-VS quality. The earrings have posts and s...
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
OSCAR HEYMAN Diamond Cascade Earrings
By Oscar Heyman
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A pair of platinum and 18 carat white gold ear clips set with brilliant cut diamonds (app. 5 carats in total, color F-G) signed and numbered: Oscar Heyman, 702665, V.S., circa 1950. ...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum