Seaman Schepps Turbo Shell and Sapphire Gold Earrings
About the Item
- Creator:
- Metal:
- Stone:
- Stone Cut:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:20th Century
- Condition:Excellent. No visible signs of wear.
- Seller Location:Houston, TX
- Reference Number:
Seaman Schepps
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Houston, TX
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Tiffany & Co. Schlumberger Enamel and Diamond EarringsBy Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co.Located in Houston, TXThese rare and extremely unique clip on 18 karat yellow gold earrings feature royal blue and bright green enamel accented by a starfish with approximate weight of 0.60 carats of 50 r...Category
20th Century French Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum, Enamel
- Vintage 10 Carat Diamond and Pearl Drop Convertible Earrings 18 Karat White GoldLocated in Houston, TXThese stunning pearl drop earrings are accented by round brilliant and marquise cut diamonds totaling 10 carats. They are set in 18 karat white gold and feature clip on earring backs...Category
Vintage 1950s Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, Pearl, White Gold, 18k Gold
- Vintage Southwestern Turquoise and Sterling Silver EarringsLocated in Houston, TXThese vintage earrings feature oval shaped natural turquoise stones that fan out and are set in sterling silver with a screw back post. They are a very unique earring! The measuremen...Category
21st Century and Contemporary North American Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsTurquoise, Sterling Silver
- David Webb Black Onyx & Diamond Manhattan Minimalism EarringsBy David WebbLocated in Houston, TXThese beautiful and unique earrings from David Webb feature a black onyx center accented by approximately 0.75 carat total weight in round diamonds. They are set in 18 karat yellow g...Category
20th Century American Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, Onyx, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
- 15.95 Carat Natural Fancy Yellow & Colorless Brilliant Diamonds on 18K EarringsLocated in Houston, TXThese stunning earrings feature 15.95 carats total weight of prong and pave-set natural fancy vivid yellow diamonds and colorless round brilliant diamonds set in 18 karat white and y...Category
2010s American Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, Yellow Diamond, White Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
- 18 Karat Gold Blue Sapphire and Diamond Bee Brooch PinLocated in Houston, TXThis sweet bumble bee brooch features 0.48 carat total weight in blue sapphires and 0.36 carat total weight in diamonds. It is set in 18 karat yellow and white gold. Wear alone or ac...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
- Seaman Schepps Turbo Shell EarringsBy Patricia Schepps Vaill for Seaman ScheppsLocated in Darnestown, MDBeautiful shell earrings by PSV of Seaman Schepps. In the 1960's, the founder retired and his daughter, Patricia took over until she sold the company in 1992. PSV are her initials. ...Category
Vintage 1970s American Modern Clip-on Earrings
Materials14k Gold
- Seaman Schepps Vintage Turbo Shell Ruby Sapphire Gold EarringsBy Patricia Schepps Vaill for Seaman ScheppsLocated in New York, NYPair of vintage Seaman Schepps turbo shell earrings, crafted by Patricia Shepps, with ruby and sapphire cabochons. Earrings measure...Category
20th Century American Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsRuby, Sapphire, Gold
- Seaman Schepps Turbo Shell and Lapis Lazuli Gold EarringsBy Seaman ScheppsLocated in Zurich, ZollstrasseFrom Seaman Scheps, a pair of 18 karat yellow gold, turbo shell and Lapis Lazuli earrings. Each set with a white turbo shell, terminating in a Lapis Lazuli cabochon accented by gold ...Category
Vintage 1960s American Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsLapis Lazuli, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Seaman Schepps Turbo Shell Earrings with AmethystBy Patricia Schepps Vaill for Seaman ScheppsLocated in Darnestown, MDThese classic Seaman Schepps turbo shell earrings have richly colored amethyst terminals. The stones are faceted. The earrings are 14 karat gold, ...Category
Vintage 1970s American Modern Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsAmethyst, 14k Gold
- Seaman Schepps Vintage Sapphire Ruby Turbo Shell Gold EarringsBy Patricia Schepps Vaill for Seaman ScheppsLocated in New York, NYPair of classic vintage 14k gold earrings by Seaman Schepps, with blue sapphire and ruby cabochons and turbo shells. Earrings are 30mm x 20mm....Category
20th Century American More Earrings
MaterialsRuby, Sapphire, Gold
- Seaman Schepps Turbo Shell Earrings in 18Kt Yellow Gold with 6.54 Cts CarnelianBy Seaman ScheppsLocated in Miami, FLTurbo shell earrings designed by Seaman Schepps. Nice vintage pair created in New York city at the Seaman Schepps atelier, back in the 1980. These turbo shell clips earrings has bee...Category
Vintage 1980s Modernist Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsCarnelian, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold