Who

The founder of the jewelry company that bears his name, David Yurman is best known for his twisted cable design, which he introduced nearly two decades ago.

Backstory

Yurman grew up on Long Island and dropped out of college to fall into the '60s bohemian arts scene, living in Provincetown (where he hung out with author Norman Mailer and painter Franz Kline) and later Big Sur (where his pals included author Ken Kesey and poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti). In the late '60s he apprenticed under a series of famed sculptors, including Jacques Lipchitz, who collaborated with Picasso and Modigliani, and Theodore Rozark. In 1969, while living in New York and collaborating with sculptor Hans van de Bovenkamp, Yurman met Sybil Kleinrock, who had arrived at van de Bovenkamp's studio to interview for a job. The two soon became a couple and David started making some of his first pieces of jewelry as gifts for Sybil. What started as a hobby soon turned into a full-time job thanks to Sybil's insistence, and Yurman designed collections for Cartier before going out on his own in 1979—the same year he and Sybil married—with Yurman Designs Inc.

By the mid-1980s, Yurman had made a name for himself with the now-iconic cable bracelet of twisted silver ropes, which he constructed using an automotive cable-winding machine. One of the most copied pieces of jewelry on the planet, the style remains the David Yurman signature, although the company has created watches since the '90s as well as many other distinctive lines, including gold collections with semi-precious stones and pearls and a recently unveiled line of men's jewelry.

Of note

Three decades after starting out, the silver-haired designer has managed to remain popular thanks to high-profile ad campaigns featuring the likes of Amber Valetta, Kate Moss, and Naomi Watts, and the dedicated base of fans who love his eye-catching, chunky jewelry. Yurman continues to oversee the design of the pieces, although in 2006 he handed over the CEO reigns to David Blum, the former president of Kenneth Cole. While the company currently sells from the Madison Avenue flagship store, boutiques from Boston to Beverly Hills, and department stores worldwide, Blum plans to expand the business overseas and bring out new lines of sunglasses, luggage, and fragrance. Sybil remains involved as president and chief marketing officer.

Pet causes

The David & Sybil Yurman Humanitarian & Arts Foundation supports a variety of causes and annually presents the David Yurman Humanitarian Award, which has previously honored Steven Spielberg and Elton John. The couple also sells angel pins to benefit various organizations.

Personal

David and Sybil have one son, Evan, who officially joined the family business in 2003 and designs men's jewelry. The Yurmans live on Greenwich Street: In 2006, they expanded from their four-bedroom triplex loft (which features a 4,000-square-foot roof terrace, where Yurman keeps his scooter) by buying a $3.125 million two-bedroom apartment next door and connecting it to their existing pad. They also have a home in Bedford where, in warm months, David keeps his two horses on the property. His horses move to the Florida Panhandle town of Marianna during the winter.