Seaman SCHEPPS  (1881 – 1972)

As the son of immigrants, Seaman Schepp’s humble beginnings led him to sit outside the boutique of quintessential New York jeweller David Wedd and sketch drawings for his own designs. Around the turn of the century, Schepps found a job as a traveling salesman in Los Angeles and San Francisco and opened his first store in LA selling antiques, jewellery and precious objects.

Over the next thirty years, he slowly gained experience in the jewellery trade and in 1931 he opened a shop on Madison Avenue in New York, which would go on to become his most successful venture.

Inspired by trips to fashion capital Paris as well as seeing the work of Verdura at Chanel, Belperron at Boivin and Toussaint at Cartier, Schepps soon began designing his own jewellery rather than retailing the work of others.

During the next twenty years Schepps’s work became immensely successful and business boomed. He favoured chunky pieces, irregularly set with semi-precious, multi coloured gem stones rather than diamonds. Whimsical designs depicting sea life and animals, chunky curb link bracelets and cuff bangles set with pleasing colour combinations became his signature look.

Schepps retired in the late 1960s and his daughter took control of the firm. In 1992 the business was sold to Jay Bauer and Anthony Hopenhajm who continue to produce jewellery in the traditional Schepps style with much success.