Oscar Heyman & Brothers

The Oscar Heyman & Brothers official logo.

Oscar Heyman & Brothers is an American fine jewellery design and manufacturing firm.[1][2] The company is known for its expertise in manufacturing and for its use of colored gemstones.[3][4] The company is known in the jewelry industry as ′The Jewelers’ Jeweler,′ which is the name of the book on the company researched, written, and published by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.[5]

History

Oscar, Nathan, and Harry Heyman founded the company in 1912 in New York City. They were later joined by their three younger brothers, George, William, and Louis, along with two sisters, Frances and Lena.[6] Today, Oscar Heyman is managed by the second and third generations of the family.[7] The current officers of the company are Adam C. Heyman (President), Thomas Heyman (Co-President), and Lewis Heyman (Co-President).

Manufacturing

Oscar and Nathan learned the art of working in platinum jewelry as apprentices at a workshop in Kharkiv, Ukraine. They emigrated to New York in 1906 and set up their own shop in October 1912 on Maiden Lane.[8] In February 1916, the company was granted its first of six U.S. patents related to jewelry making.[9] The office and manufacturing facilities have remained in New York, and are today on Madison Avenue. The firm employs designers, jewelers, lapidaries, setters, engravers, and a tool and die shop.[10][11]

The Jewelers’ Jeweler

At the World’s Fair in 1939, Oscar Heyman made jewelry for 4 of the 5 retailers exhibiting in the House of Jewels,[12] thus earning the company the trade name ‘The Jewelers’ Jeweler.’ In April 2017, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston published a book on the brand by the same name.[13]

Retail Relationships

Oscar Heyman & Brothers is a wholesale business, selling through retail stores. Oscar Heyman & Brothers produced jewelry for 20th century retailers such as Black, Starr & Frost, Udall & Ballou, Marcus & Co, J.E. Caldwell & Co,[14] Laykin et Cie, and Shreve, Crump & Low. The firm produced invisibly set jewelry made in New York for Van Cleef & Arpels from 1939 – 2001, up until the time the Richemont Group acquired a majority interest.[15] Oscar Heyman produced jewelry for Tiffany & Co. including American Flag pins, pansy brooches,[16] and guard rings.[17] Oscar Heyman also had a relationship with Cartier, dating to around 1910 when Oscar was hired by Pierre C. Cartier at his newly established New York workshop. Working for Cartier in 1969, Oscar Heyman & Brothers designed and crafted the pear shape diamond necklace for the Taylor- Burton Diamond.[18]

Notable Clients

Elizabeth Taylor,[19] Nancy Reagan,[20] Evelyn Lauder,[21] Marjorie Merriweather Post,[22] President Jimmy Carter,[23] Frank Lloyd Wright,[24] John Hay Whitney,[25] Benno Charles Schmidt Sr.[26]

Awards

  • 2017: AGTA Spectrum Awards[27]
  • 2014: PGI-USA’s JCK Platinum Innovation Awards[28]
  • 2002: AGTA Spectrum Awards[29]

References

[30][31][32][33]

  1. ^ "U.S. High Jeweler Oscar Heyman's Story To Be Told With New Book". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2017-01-27. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  2. ^ "The Jewelers' Jeweler: Oscar Heyman". phillips.com. Phillips.
  3. ^ ""The Jewelers' Jeweler®" – Duncan & Boyd Jewelers". Duncan & Boyd Jewelers. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  4. ^ "How Oscar Heyman became the Jewelers' Jeweler - Data in the Rough". Data in the Rough. 2017-04-12. Archived from the original on 2017-04-21. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  5. ^ "Oscar Heyman". Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. 2017-01-18. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  6. ^ "Heyman Bros, Oscar". www.hancocks-london.com. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  7. ^ Schupak, Hedda. "The Jewelers' Jeweler Turns 100" (PDF). AGTA ePrism. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  8. ^ Christie’s. "Oscar Heyman & Brothers | Christie's". artist.christies.com. Archived from the original on 2017-08-24. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  9. ^ US 1173427, Oscar Heyman, "Jointed jewelry and process of making same", issued 1915-06-25, assigned to Oscar Heyman 
  10. ^ "OSCAR HEYMAN". Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  11. ^ Breitner, Susan. "Romancing the Stones: The Creative Genius of the Oscar Heyman & Bros. Jewelry Dynasty" (PDF).
  12. ^ "House of Jewels". www.1939nyworldsfair.com. Archived from the original on 2018-03-08. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  13. ^ "Boston MFA to Release Book on Oscar Heyman | National Jeweler". www.nationaljeweler.com. Archived from the original on 2017-03-06. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  14. ^ "Professional Jeweler Archive: Anatomy of a Luxury Sale". www.professionaljeweler.com. Archived from the original on 2015-11-27. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  15. ^ "Compagnie Financière Richemont SA - Richemont acquires further 20 per cent of Van Cleef & Arpels". www.richemont.com. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  16. ^ "Oscar Heyman for Tiffany and Co. Diamond Pansy Pin For Sale at 1stdibs". www.1stdibs.com. Archived from the original on 2014-04-27. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  17. ^ "Oscar Heyman Is the Most Famous Jeweler You've Never Heard Of". 1stdibs Introspective. 2017-06-05. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  18. ^ "The Jewelers' Jeweler: Oscar Heyman". Phillips. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  19. ^ "AN EMERALD AND DIAMOND NECKLACE, BY OSCAR HEYMAN & BROTHERS". www.christies.com. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  20. ^ "Understated elegance: A First Lady's Jewelry and Handbags | Christie's". Archived from the original on 2017-03-30. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  21. ^ "From the collection of Evelyn H. Lauder, sold to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation".
  22. ^ "Marjorie Merriweather Post brooch". Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. 2018-01-17. Archived from the original on 2017-10-16. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  23. ^ "A Pair of Platinum, Diamond, Ruby and Sapphire American Flag Cufflinks, Oscar Heyman Brothers, Previously owned by President Jim - $12,000". www.bidsquare.com. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  24. ^ Markowitz, Yvonne (2017). Oscar Heyman: The Jewelers' Jeweler. MFA Publications. p. 101. ISBN 978-0-87846-836-2.
  25. ^ Markowitz, Yvonne (2017). Oscar Heyman: The Jewelers' Jeweler. MFA Publications. p. 101. ISBN 978-0-87846-836-2.
  26. ^ Markowitz, Yvonne (2017). Oscar Heyman: The Jewelers' Jeweler. MFA Publications. p. 101. ISBN 978-0-87846-836-2.
  27. ^ "American Gem Trade Association: The 2017 Spectrum Award Winners". My CMS. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  28. ^ "Oscar Heyman takes top platinum honors | National Jeweler". www.nationaljeweler.com. Archived from the original on 2016-07-12. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  29. ^ "American Gem Trade Association: Spectrum Awards Archive". My CMS. Archived from the original on 2018-06-29. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  30. ^ "The Creative Genius of the Oscar Heyman & Bros. Jewelry Dynasty". antiquesandfineart.com. Antiques and Fine Art. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  31. ^ Brecken Branstrator. "Boston MFA to Release Book on Oscar Heyman". nationaljeweler.com. National Jeweler. Archived from the original on 2017-03-06. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  32. ^ "Heyman Bros, Oscar". hancocks-london.com. Hancocks-London.
  33. ^ "Oscar Heyman & Bros". macklowegallery.com. Macklowe Gallery. Archived from the original on 2018-02-26. Retrieved 2018-10-07.