Oscar Heyman Celebrates 110 Years With New Releases and a Collab with Retailer M.S. Rau

You tend to hear certain names over and over when in conversation about jewelry history and design, among them David Webb and Seaman Schepps. But perhaps not as much about iconic American jeweler, Oscar Heyman. And this is likely because the firm was a founded and operated for some time as a private label manufacturer, quietly fabricating important jewels for prestigious jewelry houses including Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, Laykin et Cie, Black, Starr & Frost. Oscar Heyman built its name in the background, as it were, but was certainly still well-known to the jewelry trade and serious collectors.

Founded in New York by Latvian Jewish emigrés 110 years ago this month, brothers Oscar and Nathan Heyman established what would become a legacy of big-gem glamour, whimsical brooches, intricate art deco line bracelets and perfectly matched riviere necklaces of rainbow sapphires or luminous Paraiba tourmalines.

In recent years, the industry stalwart has become much more well-known in the mainstream, especially with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’s publication of  Oscar Heyman: The Jeweler’s Jeweler in 2017, a must-read book for any serious jewelry lover’s library. Oscar Heyman icons of the art deco and midcentury eras are highly sought-after on the secondary market; new jewels, inspired by an encyclopedic archive of designs currently housed in the firm’s Madison Avenue atelier, continue to be introduced on a regular basis to an elite group of private collectors and retailers.

In celebration of its 110-year anniversary, Oscar Heyman has released a catalog comprised of no less than 110 works, and they present a dazzling survey of the firm’s signatures.

Platinum necklace with 46.95 cts. t.w. Paraiba tourmalines and diamonds, $950,000

“The items in our anniversary catalog were selected to represent who we are as a brand; they highlight our commitment to exceptional gemstones, timeless designs, and finely detailed manufacturing,” Oscar Heyman president Tom Heyman tells The Zing Report. Among them are “a plethora of phenomenal gemstones” (think: jumbo-size star sapphires and cat’s eyes with magical streaks that dance in the light) and altogether the assortment presents a whopping $15 million dollars’ worth of jewelry.

The invisibly set sapphire bombe ring shown at the top has already sold, an indicator that enthusiasm for the workmanship of the Heymans’ heyday is robust: “I believe the future of the brand exists in our collectors,” adds Heyman.

With these collectors in mind, Oscar Heyman is further celebrating its 110-year anniversary with a unique collaboration with New Orleans-based estate and fine jewelry dealer, M.S. Rau. The latter is also celebrating 110 years in business and together they have developed the 110 Collection of 12 one-of-a-kind creations inspired by historical designs from the Oscar Heyman archives. Each piece will be accompanied by the signed hand-drawn rendering of the original design, something Oscar Heyman has never done before.

“Oscar Heyman and M.S. Rau have been on a parallel path for the past 110 years,” says Bill Rau, the third-generation owner of M.S. Rau. “The family-owned companies have exemplified quality, luxury, and timeless appeal for more than a century and are thrilled to be partnering on this collection, inspired by history—but perfect for the present.”

The 110 Collection, which ranges in price from $50,000 to $700,000, is available exclusively at M.S. Rau’s gallery on Royal Street in New Orleans, Louisiana or through its websites. —Amy Elliott

Oscar Heyman necklace in platinum and 18k yellow gold with 114.17 cts. t.w. rainbow sapphires, price on request

Oscar Heyman pink and yellow sapphire drop earrings with diamonds in platinum, price on request; M.S. Rau 

Oscar Heyman 8.53 ct. untreated cushion-cut Ceylon sapphire ring with half-moon diamond accents in platinum, price on request; M.S. Rau 

Oscar Heyman 10.9 -ct. emerald-cut yellow sapphire ring with baguette and step-cut accent diamonds in 18k gold and platinum, price on request; M.S. Rau

Oscar Heyman multicolor sapphire, tsavorite, and diamond bracelet in platinum, M.S. Rau; price on request 

Top photo: Oscar Heyman platinum ring with 20.35 cts. t.w. invisibly set sapphires and 5.15 ct. center diamond

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