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.
Seaman Schepps Amethyst and Peridot Ring
By Seaman Schepps
Located in Darnestown, MD
Seaman Schepps three stone flush mounted ring. The center stone is a peridot measuring 7/16" in width and from front to back. On either side is an amethyst measuring 5/16". The ring ...
18k Gold
Diamonds Amethyst Peridots Orange Light Blue Topaz Iolite Garnet Rose Gold Ring
Located in Napoli, Campania
Fashion ring in 18K rose gold mounted with special amethyst in the center and white diamonds, amethysts, peridots, orange and light blue topazes, iolites, garnets all around. Diamond...
Amethyst, White Diamond, Garnet, Iolite, Peridot, Topaz, 18k Gold, Rose ...
Classic Amethyst Topaz Peridot White Gold Ring
Located in New York, NY
Made in the manner of Chanel Coco baroque style, classic 18k white gold ring , set with amethyst, blue topaz and peridot. Ring size - 6, ring top - 21mm x 21mm. Marked: K18WG. Weigh...
Amethyst, Peridot, Topaz, White Gold
Yellow Gold Emerald Cut Ring with Peridot and Citrine
By Christina Addison
Located in New York, NY
18kt yellow gold Emerald Cut ring with peridot (approximately 5 cts) and citrine (approximately 4 cts each). The Ring measures approximately 1 " across and 1/2" in height. The Emer...
Citrine, Peridot, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$964Sale Price / item|44% Off
14k Gold Ring with Opal, Diamonds and Peridots
By Daizy Jewellery
Located in Istanbul, TR
14 kt solid gold ring with natural opal, diamonds and peridots. October birthstone ring. 14k solid gold Weight: 2.5 g. depends from size Central stone: Natural opal Cut: Oval caboc...
Diamond, Opal, Peridot, 14k Gold
$964Sale Price / item|44% Off
Amethyst and Peridot 14k Gold Ring
By Daizy Jewellery
Located in Istanbul, TR
Amethyst and peridot 14k gold ring. Purple gemstone Ring. Baguette cut engagement ring. Amethyst gold ring. Amethyst statement ring. Purple gemstone Ring. February birthstone ring. By Daizy Jewellery...
Amethyst, Diamond, Peridot, 14k Gold
1960s Seaman Schepps Diamond Emerald Flower Ring
By Seaman Schepps
Located in London, GB
Vintage diamond and emerald flower ring by Seaman Schepps. Set to centre with a round old cut diamond in an open back rubover setting with an appro...
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
Vintage 9 Carat Gold and Platinum Ruby and Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
This ruby cluster ring holds a central ruby measuring 2.2 carats and either side of the gorgeous pink stone are baguette diamonds measuring 2pts each. The diamond halo totals 36pts. ...
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Vintage 18 Carat Gold and Platinum Ruby and Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
This ruby cluster ring holds a central ruby measuring 1.6 carats. The ruby held in this ring is a deep pink colour and the sparkle of the diamonds compliment the stone beautifully. T...
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Vintage 18 Carat Gold and Platinum Ruby and Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
This ruby cluster ring holds a central ruby measuring 1.5 carats. The diamond halo totals 48pts. Stones set in platinum. Fully hallmarked London 1971. Ring Size: P 1/2 or 8 Face Di...
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Seaman Schepps 14K White Gold 1970's Cabochon Ruby and Diamond Ring
By Seaman Schepps
Located in New York, NY
"This ring by Seaman Schepps is of cluster design, set with cabochon and variously-cut rubies, and a pavé-set round brilliant-cut diamond leaf 14k white gold Signed P.S.V. of Seaman ...
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
Seaman Schepps Sapphire, Diamond and Rock Crystal Ring, circa 1940
By Seaman Schepps
Located in London, GB
Sapphire, diamond and rock crystal ring, by Seaman Schepps circa 1940. A platinum and white gold ring vertically set with two hexagonal cabochon sapphires of differing sizes in collet settings with an approximate total weight of 4.00 carats, each encircled by a single row of forty eight round eight cut diamonds in bead settings with an approximate total weight of 0.70 carats, saddled over an inverted emerald-cut rock crystal, above an open gallery, flanked by tri-part shoulders, and on a square shank. UK finger size H 1/2. Seaman Schepps was born in New York City’s tenement-dominated Lower East Side in 1881, the son of Hungarian immigrants. Rising from these humble beginnings, he built a business that featured designs which drastically departed from the traditional modes of his day. These adventurous jewels came to define a new style that became popular with the elite of the 1930’s...
Diamond, Rock Crystal, Blue Sapphire, White Gold, Platinum
Handmade Sterling Silver Amethyst Peridot Garnet Ring
Located in Trumbull, CT
This vibrant five stone ring has oval amethyst as a main stone with peridot and garnet om four sides. It has a unique design and suitable for day wear. Set in sterling silver and han...
Amethyst, Garnet, Peridot, Sterling Silver
Seaman Schepps Modernist 1970s 18K Gold 45 TCW Cabochon Amethyst Ring
By Seaman Schepps
Located in New York, NY
This incredible ring is the largest Seaman Schepps ring we have seen to date, likely a one-of-a-kind, with wonderful provenance to a celebrated Washington DC and Newport, RI socialit...
Amethyst, Gold, 18k Gold
Seaman Schepps Onyx and Gold Ring
By Seaman Schepps
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1980s, 18k, American, Seaman Schepps. This iconic Seaman Schepps ring features 18k gold cable twist detail on a polished black onyx ring. The look is elegantly timeless and b...
Onyx, 18k Gold
1950s Seaman Schepps Multi-Gemstone Cluster Ring
By Seaman Schepps
Located in New York, NY
A cluster ring of cabochon sapphires, rubies, emeralds and diamonds, in 14k gold. Seaman Schepps.
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold