Connect Savannah recently had the opportunity to speak with David and Sybil Yurman about the luxury jewelry brand’s success and advice for young artists. The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) announced a collaboration with iconic, luxury jewelry brand David Yurman.
SCAD and David Yurman announced the David Yurman Endowed Scholarship for Jewelry Design.
The scholarship will be awarded to a “rising star” jewelry design student in the university’s School of Fashion.
The Yurmans also donated one million dollars worth of gemstones from the brand’s private collection to SCAD’s jewelry program.
David and Sybil visited Savannah last week and met with dozens of SCAD jewelry design students to give feedback on their work and offer advice to the next generation of designers.
The couple offered advice on entering the industry and staying relevant in a world of fast fashion.
“We try to be slow fashion,” David said. “Jewelry is an art form that’s ancient. You really can’t rush it.”
Sybil added, “It comes down to something that I would like to wear, or what someone in our family would like to wear. We stay relevant by knowing what’s going on in the world.”
Part of the success of David Yurman comes from the connection between David and Sybil.
Their love and respect for each other was radiating as they shared stories of milestones in their business, reflected on their past creations, and joked together.
“Jewelry has always been a celebration to us,” Sybil said. “David was a sculptor and I asked him one day if I could wear one of his sculptures. How did we do that? He adapted one of his sculptures and made me some jewelry that I was able to wear. It was a gift to me—a love gift.”
David added, “I love making jewelry, and after 53 years, I still love her. She’s my partner, she’s my gal. A lot of our love for each other is in our work. We’ve worked together for over 50 years. She’s a brilliant artist, not good, brilliant.”
That connection, David said, goes beyond the Yurman love story.
He explained to students that putting love, emotion, and passion into their work will build connections with customers and other artists throughout their careers.
“The students here, how they’re being taught, is to dig inside and make what you’re going to make, something that touches you,” he said. “It has to be a feeling. And most of the feelings are pretty deep.”
He went on to say, “Their jewelry is an expression of that. If they put those feelings into it, it’s in the object. It’s not metal. You think you’re buying gold and silver, or a diamond, but you’re getting the feeling of the gift. Whether you gift yourself, or someone is gifting it to you. You’ve given yourself something that is lasting and beautiful. When it goes to the store, when the jewelry goes to the customer, they sense that.”
When asked if he feels inspired by students in Savannah, David replied, “Absolutely. The vibrancy of what’s going on at SCAD has blown me away.”
“It’s been thrilling being here,” Sybil added. “Seeing the budding careers of these young people meant a lot to us, and it also reminded us of where we came from.”
David Yurman will be recognized by SCAD with a Humane Doctorate of Letters at the 2022 SCAD Commencement ceremony on June 3.
