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.
Vintage Oscar Heyman Velvet Jewellery Box, Circa 1960s to 1990s
By Oscar Heyman
Located in Braintree, GB
A vintage Oscar Heyman square jewellery box, covered in black velvet with a fitted velvet interior. Suitable for small jewellery items such as brooches and pendants. Oscar Heyman is...
$299
H 1.125 in W 1.88 in D 1.88 in
Vintage Limoges Hand-Painted Trinket Box with Brass Grape Clasp, 1990
Located in Atlanta, GA
This is a Limoges wine list trinket box. A wine bottle laid on an open book with a wine list. Brass framed box with a grape clasp. This hand painted box have the artist GR signed in...
Brass
$49Sale Price|30% Off
H 2 in W 3.75 in L 4.5 in
Nijma M Fine Jewelry Modern White Velvet Ring Roll Box
By Nijma M Fine Jewelry
Located in Toronto, CA
Whether at home, on the go, or traveling, make sure your precious rings are always safe with this white crushed velvet jewelry box pochette case with gold tassel detailing. The perfe...
Cartier Vintage 18K Case Box, Unisex Collectors Item
By Cartier
Located in Bangkok, Thailand
A collectors item. Signature: Cartier Paris, French assay marks Metal: 18 karat yellow gold Dimensions: 4.0cm x 2.7cm x 0.8cm Gross weight: 19.4g
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$755
H 2.56 in W 3.94 in D 2.37 in
Antique Box Dog Token Of Fidelity + Friendship Polished Steel Velvet Leather
Located in Munich, Bavaria
This charming box was handcrafted in 1830 ca. It was most probably a sentimental gift, a token of fidelity and friendship. It is made out of wood covered in velvet. The inside is li...
Steel
$1,800
H 0.5 in W 1.88 in L 2.5 in
Antique Gilt American Coin Silver Snuff Box attributed to Benjamin Tappin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique gilt silver snuff box. With engraved decorations to the top & monograms to both the top & bottom. Struck with what appears to be...
Silver, Gilt Metal
Vintage 18 Karat Yellow Gold Lapis Lazuli Pill Box
Located in London, GB
A vintage 18 karat yellow gold lapis lazuli pill box, circa 1970 A sweet pill box of rectangular shape both the lid and base of the box are set with cabochon lapis lazuli gently fle...
Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Canadian 14 Carat Gold Box, Circa 1935
Located in London, GB
A vintage, 14ct gold box, with four, engine turned sides, alternating with a ribbon and wreath pattern on the cut corners, terminating with reeded bars called "ribbon and reed" patte...
Gold
$49Sale Price / item|30% Off
H 2 in W 3.75 in L 4.5 in
White Crushed Velvet Jewelry Pochette Box with Gold Tassel
By Nijma M Fine Jewelry
Located in Toronto, CA
Whether at home, on the go, or traveling, make sure your precious jewels are always safe with this white crushed velvet pochette case with gold tassel detailing. Featuring a multi-purpose insert with two sides. One side of the insert suitable for two pairs of earrings and one necklace or bracelet. The other side suitable for one ring. Insert is also completely removable from pochette box. Dimensions of pochette box: Length: 4.5" Width: 3.75" Thickness: 2" White crushed velvet Gold tassel and cord detailing Jewelry pictured (all available on 1st Dibs, please visit Nijma M Fine Jewelry storefront): - 'Blue Ice' blue topaz triple band ring in 14K yellow gold (available in multiple sizes) - 'Diamond Plaza' square hoop earrings with diamonds in 14K yellow gold - 'The High Life' blue topaz and diamond crawler...
Mario Buccellati Vintage Diamond Gold Compact Box
By Mario Buccellati
Located in Miami, FL
This Mario Buccellati vintage diamond 18K yellow gold compact box from 1940's features a diamond accent closure in 18K white gold with rose-cut diam...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold
Navajo Fox Mine Turquoise and Sterling Box, Circa 1900
By Navajo
Located in Coeur d Alene, ID
Navajo sterling silver and Fox turquoise box. This box has an amazing finish and styling that resembles the Navajo stamp work of the early 1900’s. On t...
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Vintage Round Silver Pill Box
Located in Munich, Bavaria
This elegant plain round silver pillbox is stamped 800. It is accompanied by an Italian stamp in use since the mid 1930's. The box has been in use and has some very light superficia...
Silver
Cartier Silver Plated 20th Century Fox Velvet Lined Box #17612
By Cartier
Located in Washington Depot, CT
Cartier Silver Plated 20th Century Fox Velvet Lined Box This gorgeous 20th Century Fox box by designer Cartier is silver plated with a gorgeous velvet lined inside! Size: 22cm X 14...
Silver Plate