David Yurman--Finest Jewelry Goes Well With a Kind Heart
David Yurman grew up on Long Island, New York. When he was a 15 year old teenager, he met welder and sculptor Ernesto Gonzalez. The Cuban welding artist taught young David the direct welding techniques. Mastering and perfecting this technique has guided Yurman's work all the way up through to today.
In the early 1960s, David took a risk and established his first own studio in Greenwich Village, where he worked for various sculptors, including doing large-scale public works. In the late 1960s, David met the talented painter Sybil Kleinrock, his future wife and business partner at the sculptor’s Hans Van de Bovenkamp shop.
Jewelry Design Breakthroughs
In the early 70s, David and Sybil moved to Carmel, located upstate New York and formed a company called Putnam Art Works. This fruit of newly formed artistic union specialized in sculptural jewelry, something that not many of us are familiar with. For the next 10-15 years, the talented couple exhibited their jewelry designs, sculptures, as well as paintings at art galleries throughout U.S. and even participated in numerous local craft fairs. David and Sybil became the most influential figures in the American craft movement.
Through Yurman’s artistry, exceptional gemstones such as peridot, tanzanite and green tourmaline bring to life new designs in a sumptuous color palette, while through perfecting Putnam Art Works business model and work flow, the Yurmans learned what marketplace for fine crafts and artisanal jewelry is like in North America.
Creative Minds Become Only More Innovative
David proposed, and Sybil agreed to make David the happiest men. The couple married in 1979 and founded the David Yurman company a year later. Sybil took up on co-creator and collaborator role, and David continued experimenting with precious metals, textures, forms, while simultaneously building the newly founded business from ground up.
Having his spouse's continues and unconditional support, David ventured into introducing new bold jewelry designs, and just short 4 years later Yurman introduced what became his signature piece, the iconic cable bracelet. The cable bracelet consisted of twisted helix, and adorned with gemstones on its end caps. The jeweler called this bracelet "Renaissance," and the cable motif was awarded two rare design trademarks in the United States.
True Art Starts With Unselfish Heart
The jeweler’s humble beginning has led to establishing one of the finest jewelry brands in the world. It's a story of a living legend, where artistic aspirations, humility, and hard work brought worldwide fame, over close to National and International boutiques.
But neither David, nor Sybil has lost themselves in the world of fame and financial success. The couple still find time to give back to those less fortunate. This month David and Sybil Yurman hosted a special fundraising event at their Madison Avenue Townhouse in honor of legendary New York Yankee Mariano Rivera. A portion of the night’s proceeds benefited the Mariano Rivera Foundation’s efforts to help underprivileged children receive a better education, thus empowering them for the future.
