A Yurman Love Story
A Yurman Love Story
Art and design brought David and Sybil Yurman together and led them to create collections that celebrate how love inspires.
Art and design brought David and Sybil Yurman together and led them to create collections that celebrate how love inspires.

Looking for Each Other

Looking for Each Other

Born two months and a few miles apart, David and Sybil Yurman led parallel lives, coming to art separately in their youth. In the 1960s, they were both involved in the underground art worlds of New York and California, going back and forth between the Village and the West Coast.

Born two months and a few miles apart, David and Sybil Yurman led parallel lives, coming to art separately in their youth. In the 1960s, they were both involved in the underground art worlds of New York and California, going back and forth between the Village and the West Coast.

Despite traveling in the same circles, they never met. At one point, both were putting notices on the bulletin board at City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco, “home” of the beat poets, looking for friends or places to live. Sybil muses, “We were really looking for each other—we just didn't know it."

Despite traveling in the same circles, they never met. At one point, both were putting notices on the bulletin board at City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco, “home” of the beat poets, looking for friends or places to live. Sybil muses, “We were really looking for each other —we just didn't know it."

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David and Sybil Yurman both put notices on the bulletin board at City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco.
David and Sybil Yurman both put notices on the bulletin board at City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco.
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Sybil caught David Yurman’s eye with her wild black hair and unique style.
Sybil caught David Yurman’s eye with her wild black hair and unique style.

When David Met Sybil

When David Met Sybil

It was September of 1969. Tie-dye and bell-bottoms were all the rage, but Sybil had her own distinct style. David, a foreman in Hans Van de Bovenkamp’s sculpture studio in Greenwich Village, remembers seeing Sybil for the first time when she applied for a job there. She had wild black hair and wore colorful Peruvian ponchos—both as a top and skirt.

It was September of 1969. Tie-dye and bell-bottoms were all the rage, but Sybil had her own distinct style. David, a foreman in Hans Van de Bovenkamp’s sculpture studio in Greenwich Village, remembers seeing Sybil for the first time when she applied for a job there. She had wild black hair and wore colorful Peruvian ponchos—both as a top and skirt.

“I was just smitten,” David recalls. He did a triple take as Sybil strode across the loft, her black boots with red laces and little bells tinkling with each step.

“I was just smitten,” David recalls. He did a triple take as Sybil strode across the loft, her black boots with red laces and little bells tinkling with each step.

First Date

First Date

Sybil got the job at Van de Bovenkamp’s studio. After a couple months of mutual admiration at a distance, she asked David if he wanted to join her on a day trip to Bear Mountain State Park in upstate New York. The night before, an ice storm had transformed the park into an extraordinary winter wonderland, the branches of the trees glistening like a scene from a Russian fairy tale. It was a magical day.

Sybil got the job at Van de Bovenkamp’s studio. After a couple months of mutual admiration at a distance, she asked David if he wanted to join her on a day trip to Bear Mountain State Park in upstate New York. The night before, an ice storm had transformed the park into an extraordinary winter wonderland, the branches of the trees glistening like a scene from a Russian fairy tale. It was a magical day.
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An hour north of New York City, Bear Mountain State Park is a magical landscape where one can get lost in reverie or discover true love.
An hour north of New York City, Bear Mountain State Park is a magical landscape where one can get lost in reverie or discover true love.
A Deepening Connection
A Deepening Connection
David and Sybil’s connection deepened in the frozen silence. Back in the city, they agreed their attraction was stronger than merely liking each other.
David and Sybil’s connection deepened in the frozen silence. Back in the city, they agreed their attraction was stronger than merely liking each other.
It was a rushed ceremony before an important business meeting. In the elevator on their way to the ceremony, Sybil, wearing her corsage and flowers, looked at David and asked, “Where are the rings?"
Months later, Sybil invited him over to her studio. “I was just blown away by what she was doing.” David recalls. “I thought, oh my god, she is a great talent.” Not long after, he moved in and their life was making art.
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I’m welding. She’s painting. Life is art.
I’m welding. She’s painting. Life is art.
—David Yurman
—David Yurman
The Wedding
The Wedding
Ten years after they first met, David and Sybil married.
Ten years after they first met, David and Sybil married.
It was a rushed ceremony before an important business meeting. In the elevator on their way to the ceremony, Sybil, wearing her corsage and flowers, looked at David and asked, “Where are the rings?"
It was a rushed ceremony before an important business meeting. In the elevator on their way to the ceremony, Sybil, wearing her corsage and flowers, looked at David and asked, “Where are the rings?"
David headed back to their studio and quickly soldered some simple bands from gold. “So we got married—as simple as that,” says David. “And, then we had an appointment to see a man who was buying fledgling jewelry businesses.”
David headed back to their studio and quickly soldered some simple bands from gold. “So we got married—as simple as that,” says David. “And, then we had an appointment to see a man who was buying fledgling jewelry businesses.”
Sybil and David thought that by selling their young company they could go back to being full-time artists—a wedding present to each other. But the offer was too low. “Are you kidding?” Sybil said, “Let’s get the hell out of here!” So, the wedding gift was keeping the business after all.
Sybil and David thought that by selling their young company they could go back to being full-time artists—a wedding present to each other. But the offer was too low. “Are you kidding?” Sybil said, “Let’s get the hell out of here!” So, the wedding gift was keeping the business after all.
Love Inspires
Love Inspires
Thirty-five years later, David designed the DY Crossover ring for Sybil as a metaphor of theirdecades of creative collaboration. With intertwined bands holding a diamond, it represented unity and became the first design in the David Yurman Wedding Collection. Today, with their son, Evan, they continue to create artistic expressions that celebrate a shared commitment and a deep emotional connection.
Thirty-five years later, David designed the DY Crossover ring for Sybil as a metaphor of theirdecades of creative collaboration. With intertwined bands holding a diamond, it represented unity and became the first design in the David Yurman Wedding Collection. Today, with their son, Evan, they continue to create artistic expressions that celebrate a shared commitment and a deep emotional connection.
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