Heyman, Oscar

Oscar Heyman Bros became known as the Jewellers' Jeweller. Oscar (1888) and Nathan (1885) left Latvia for Kharlov in Russia. The were trained as goldsmiths in their uncles workshop who was a wprkmaster for Faberge. In 1906 Oscar and Nathan emigrated to the the U.S.A. and settled in New York. A year later they were joined by their brother Harry. At that time platinum became the most fashionable metal in jewellery manufacture. In those days The brothers possessed a talent for working in platinum and their craftmanship was highly sought after. In 1912 they started Oscar Heyman Brothers & Co. supplying the top jewellers with platinum jewellery. Within a short period of timetheir three younger brothers joined the company. They earned their reputation as the Jeweller's Jeweller as their company made jewellery for most of the prestigious jewellers such as Van Cleef & Arpels, Marcus, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc. Until recent years they did not always sign their pieces. Usually a number was engraved corresponding to their detailed archive. In 1969 they moved to their current address on Madison Avenue. "The company, whilst having expanded since the founding days has a strong core based on continuity, many of those in the workshop now are relatives of original members of ther team and have passed their knowledge and skills down through generations, as the Heymans' themselves have. This makes them unique in todays world"