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.
Yellow Gold Oval Diamond Dome Ring
Located in New York, NY
Yellow Gold Oval Diamond Dome Ring Description: This 18K yellow gold ring showcases a bright 1.06-carat oval diamond framed by a full dome of shimmering round diamonds, creating a b...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Oscar Heyman Bros Sapphire Ruby and Diamond Americana Ring
By Oscar Heyman
Located in New York, NY
Oscar Heyman Bros Sapphire Ruby and Diamond Americana Ring Description: This authentic ring by Oscar Heyman & Brothers is crafted in solid Platinum and features a striking, geo...
Sapphire, Ruby, White Diamond, Diamond, Platinum
Bvlgari Sapphire "USA" Engraved Ring
By Bulgari
Located in New York, NY
Bvlgari Sapphire "USA" Engraved Ring Description: This Bvlgari statement ring is crafted in solid 18k yellow gold and features a prominent rectangular cushion-cut blue sapphire. The...
Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Three-Stone Diamond Ring
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Three-Stone Diamond Ring An exceptional vintage three-stone diamond ring, crafted in 18K yellow gold and platinum, showcasing an architectural design that merges elegance wi...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Platinum Two-Stone Yellow Diamond & Baguette Diamond Bypass Ring
Located in New York, NY
Platinum Two-Stone Yellow Diamond & Baguette Diamond Bypass Ring Description: This platinum ring features a striking two-stone arrangement of vibrant yellow diamonds totaling 2....
Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Pla...
Yellow Gold Diamond Pavé Chevron and Black Enamel Cocktail Ring
Located in New York, NY
Yellow Gold Diamond Pavé Chevron and Black Enamel Cocktail Ring Description: This stylish, mid-century inspired statement ring is crafted in solid 14k yellow gold and features a str...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1950s French 1.45 Carat Diamond and Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An impressive vintage French 1.45 Ct diamond and 18k yellow gold, 18k white gold set signet style ring; part of our diverse diamond jewelry and estate jewelry collections. This stun...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1940s Art Deco Diamond and Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive 0.60 carat diamond, 18k yellow gold, 18k white gold set cocktail ring; part of our diverse vintage estate jewelry collections. This impressive band ring has been crafted in 18k yellow gold with white gold settings. The ring has a convex rectangular, stepped and pierced decorated form embellished with a feature, 18k white gold, convex diamond set design...
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
1950s Diamond and Yellow Gold White Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An impressive vintage 0.68 carat diamond and 18k yellow gold, 18k white gold cocktail ring; part of our diverse diamond jewelry collections. This fine and impressive 18k gold diamon...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s 1.18 Carat Diamond and Yellow Gold Platinum Set Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning, fine and impressive vintage French 1.18 carat diamond (total) and 18 karat yellow gold, platinum set cocktail ring; part of our diverse vintage jewelry and estate jewelry collections. This stunning, fine and impressive vintage French diamond ring...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1990s 1.54 Carat Diamond Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning vintage 1990s 1.54 carat diamond and 18 karat yellow gold cocktail ring; part of our diverse diamond jewelry and estate jewelry collections. This stunning, fine and impressive vintage diamond ring has been crafted in 18k yellow gold. The pierced decorated, arched rectangular design is embellished to the center with a horizontal row of eighteen channel set princess cut diamonds. The upper and lower borders of the design are ornamented with a total of twenty individually bezel set princess cut diamonds, displayed evenly in two rows of ten. The elevated ring shoulders integrate with the main setting and blend seamlessly with the substantial, plain ring shank. The ring is hallmarked to the interior with the mark for 18k gold (18K). This vintage 18k yellow gold diamond ring...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Art Deco 1940s 18K Yellow Gold and Platinum Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
An Art Deco sapphire, diamond, platinum and yellow gold ring, set with three baguette cut sapphires, and three old mine cut diamonds, the diamonds set in platinum, the sapphires set ...
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
