A scrappy, self-made artist who transformed turbo shells into decadent earrings and crystal chessmen into bold bracelets, Seaman Schepps (1881–1972) tirelessly worked his way up from the tenements of New York’s Lower East Side to become “America’s Court Jeweler.”
Born to immigrant parents who named him for the Seamen’s Bank for Savings that his mother could see from the hospital — or so the legend goes — Schepps dropped out of school at the age of 14 and never had any formal jewelry training. He later moved to California, where he opened his first jewelry shop in 1904. In 1921, he returned to New York to build on the success he’d begun to enjoy as a jeweler on the West Coast, but it wasn’t long before his Manhattan house, which counted Broadway stars and theater patrons among its clientele, was hit hard by the stock market crash of 1929. Schepps used this disruption to rethink his approach to jewelry, debuting a new store in 1934 on Madison Avenue, where he would make his mark in playful custom adornments.
While many high-end jewelers of his era focused on the purest and most valuable gemstones, Schepps chose his materials for their color and shape, elevating flawed stones others disregarded in collage-like formations involving unconventional materials such as fine wood, coral, seashells and flea-market finds. Passersby of his New York City shop could find a frog-shaped brooch carved from rosewood, a vintage snuff bottle broken into links for a bracelet and loose-drilled pearls plugged with diamonds. Schepps’s whimsical pieces found fans in fashion icons who appreciated his unique statements, including Doris Duke, Andy Warhol and the Duchess of Windsor.
Following Schepps’s death in 1972, his daughter, jewelry designer Patricia S. Vaill, ran the jewelry house for two decades before it was taken over by Jay Bauer and Anthony Hopenhajm of Trianon jewelry. Following the closure of the company’s Park Avenue store in November 2020, sales for Seaman Schepps is now based in its boutique location out of Palm Beach, Florida, where the legendary brand carries forth its founder’s spirited designs.
On 1stDibs, find a distinctive collection of vintage Seaman Schepps jewelry, including brooches, bracelets and other accessories.
1990s–2000s Seaman Schepps Garnet and Shell Necklace
By Seaman Schepps
Located in Roma, RM
A distinctive multi-strand necklace by Seaman Schepps, dating to the 1990s–2000s, composed of multiple strands of rich purple garnet beads and centered by a sculptural shell clasp ac...
Garnet, 18k Gold
$4,798Sale Price|27% Off
Vintage Seaman Schepps Pearl 3 Strand Necklace w/ Synthetic Spinel Gold Clasp
By Seaman Schepps
Located in Montclair, NJ
--Stone(s):-- Numerous Genuine Cultured Potato Pearls - Near Round Bead Shape -Cream Color w/ Pink Overtone - Range from 5.4-10.52mm (approx.) (1) Synthetic Spinel - Emerald Cut - P...
Pearl, Spinel, Gold, White Gold
Seaman Schepps Pink Tourmaline, Sapphire, Cultured Pearl and Diamond Necklace
By Seaman Schepps
Located in Weston, MA
Composed of three strands of cultured pearls suspending a luscious cabochon pink tourmaline flanked by sapphires and diamonds, this ladylike choker casts a luminous glow on the skin....
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Sapphire, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Seaman Schepps 14K Gold Gemstone Pearl Necklace
By Seaman Schepps
Located in Queens, NY
Seaman Schepps 14K Yellow Gold Multi-Colored Gemstone Pearl Necklace, featuring one detachable brooch / clasp featuring a centered bezel set carved ruby pear shaped cabochon weighing...
Diamond, Emerald, Lapis Lazuli, Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Ye...
Vintage Circa 1990 10-Strand Pearl Necklace , 14K Yellow Gold.
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Circa 1980 10-Strand Pearl Necklace with 14K Yellow Gold . Elevate your collection with this exceptional vintage 10-strand freshwater pearl necklace. Adorned with delicate ...
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Turquoise Bead & Crystal Festoon Collar 2000s
Located in Wilmslow, GB
A wonderful Turquoise Crystal Festoon Collar. Featuring rows and rows of beads punctuated with crystal stations. A stunning statement vibe for your look. An unsigned beauty. A rare t...
Ten Strand Baroque Rice Pearl Necklace Gold Plated Faux Pearl Clasp circa 1970s
Located in London, GB
Ten strands of baroque rice pearls with a gold plated and faux pearl clasp. The necklace is length 46 cm / 18.1 inches. The pearls have a lovely ivory colour and beautiful subtle lustre. The necklace is in very good condition, with wear to the gold plating on the clasp. This beautiful vintage rice pearl necklace...
$704Sale Price|20% Off
AJD Double Strand of Real Natural Pink Cultured Pearls&Keshi Pearls 19" Necklace
By Aria Jewelry Design
Located in Raleigh, NC
Fascinating double strand of light pinkish cultured real Pearls (approximately 10mm) enhance these fascinating real cultured Keshi Pearls (approximately 16mm) enhanced also by the te...
Amethyst, Cultured Pearl
Seaman Schepps Lapis Gold Link Necklace
By Seaman Schepps
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
An instant classic, compliments of iconic jewelry designer Seaman Schepps. Hand carved links of lapis lazuli alternate with identical links of 18k yel...
Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 18k Gold
2000s Vintage Costume Jewelry Gilded Metal and Faux Pearls Necklace
Located in Aci Castello, IT
This striking vintage costume necklace from the early 2000s is a masterclass in high-glamour maximalism, blending a structured collar silhouette with the fluid movement of a waterfal...
Gilt Metal
1990s Costume Jewelry Panther Necklace by Bijoux Cascio
By Bijoux Cascio
Located in Aci Castello, IT
Striking 1990s Bijoux Cascio Gold-Toned Panther Head & Multi-Strand Pearl Necklace Unleash your inner wildcat with this magnificent vintage necklace by Bijoux Cascio, a prominent...
14K Gold-filled Triple Strand Necklace with Pearl and Amethyst
Located in Atlanta, GA
This is a triple strand natural baroque pearl and amethyst necklace. We created it with up to 15mm dyed lavender color pearls and 4 mm faceted round amethysts as spacers and accented it with a 12 mm amethyst nugget...
Amethyst, Natural Pearl, Gold-filled, 14k Gold
Kenneth Lane Pearl and Rhinestone Necklace
By Kenneth Jay Lane
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Stunning Kenneth J. Lane pearl collar necklace featuring clear rhinestones in a silver-tone setting. I believe this is part of his "Let Them Eat Cake " line. Signed, "Kenneth Lane."...
Pearl
Luxury Necklace gemstone's in 14k yellowgold
Located in Berlin, BE
Embark on a dreamlike journey with this exquisite tutti frutti necklace, meticulously crafted in 14k yellow gold. This captivating piece features 11 stunning gemstones, each cut in t...
Amethyst, Citrine, Ruby, Tanzanite, Tourmaline, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage MaxMara Crystal Tassel Necklace 2000s
By Max Mara
Located in Wilmslow, GB
A Vintage MaxMara Crystal Tassel Necklace. Founded in post-war Italy, Max Mara quickly became a symbol of refined modernity and timeless sophistication. Renowned for its impeccably...
Chanel Costume Pearl Two-Row Necklace, 1990s
By Chanel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Chanel - (Made in France) Costume pearl two-row necklace assembled with knots. Golden metal fastener. Jewelry from the 1990s. Additional information: Condition: Very good condition ...
Vintage Seaman Schepps Pearl 3 Strand Necklace w/ Blue Topaz White Gold Clasp
By Seaman Schepps
Located in Montclair, NJ
--Stone(s):-- Numerous Genuine Cultured Potato Pearls - Near Round Bead Shape -Cream Color w/ Pink Overtone - Range from 5.4-10.52mm (approx.) (1) Natural Genuine Topaz - Emerald Cu...
Pearl, Blue Topaz, Gold, White Gold
Seaman Schepps 18K Yellow Gold Six Strang Coral and Diamond Necklace
By Seaman Schepps
Located in New York, NY
Of 6 beaded coral strands, joined by a fluted coral and round brilliant-cut diamond clasp 18K Yellow Gold. 18 inches. The necklace is finished with a substantial clasp that is furt...
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Seaman Schepps Aquamarine Jade Pearl Ruby Sapphire Emerald Gold Necklace
By Seaman Schepps
Located in Southampton, PA
14K Yellow Gold Pearl, Aquamarine, Jade, Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald Necklace by Seaman Schepps. Stone Details: 108 cultured pearls: 7.5mm - 6.8mm 14 aquamarine beads: 13mm - 10mm...
Aquamarine, Cultured Pearl, Emerald, Jade, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Seaman Schepps Three-Strand Pearl Gemstone Yellow Gold Cluster Necklace
By Seaman Schepps
Located in Southampton, PA
There are few things as classy and as elegant as a pearl necklace. This decadent design from Seaman Schepps boasts three strands of 5-8mm white pearls that come together at the neckl...
Amethyst, Diamond, Kunzite, Pearl, Topaz, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
SEAMAN SCHEPPS Gorgeous Pink Tourmaline & Diamond Suite
By Seaman Schepps
Located in New York, NY
An 18 karat yellow gold & pink tourmaline torsade. Signed Seaman Schepps. The necklace is composed of (8) eight strands of faceted pink tourmaline ...
Diamond, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
SEAMAN SCHEPPS Pearl Aquamarine Jade Ruby Sapphire Emerald Yellow Gold Necklace
By Seaman Schepps
Located in Southampton, PA
14K Yellow Gold Pearl, Aquamarine, Jade, Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald Necklace by Seaman Schepps. Stone Details: 108 cultured pearls: 7.5mm - 6.8mm 14 aquamarine beads: 13mm - 10mm...
Aquamarine, Emerald, Jade, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold