Sybil Yurman, cofounder and Chief Brand Officer at David Yurman, Inc., has been instrumental in the success of the renowned design house since its inception in 1980. Sybil’s creative discipline as a painter coupled with her marketing acumen has helped to create an internationally acclaimed jewelry and timepiece leader brand at the forefront of the luxury market.

In 1969, Sybil and David met while working together in a sculptor’s studio—he as a sculptor and she as a young painter. A mutual interest in the arts sparked a relationship that would become the foundation of the brand as it is today. David’s initial foray into creating jewelry started with one-of-a-kind gifts for his then-girlfriend, Sybil. She wore David’s sculpture as jewelry. In 1971, a necklace called “Dante” caught the eye of Bella Fishko, founder of New York’s Forum Gallery, and she asked if it was for sale. Simultaneously, Sybil said “yes” and David said “no,” but they agreed to leave it with the dealer. By the time they got home, four had sold. And so the inception of the brand as it is known today began.

Sybil has received a wide variety of industry accolades and awards from peers and associates alike. She and David were both proud recipients of the JIC (Jewelry Information Center) Gem Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004, and were presented in 2007 with the Savannah College of Art and Design’s Etoile Award in recognition of their contributions to American jewelry design. Sybil also received the Women’s Jewelry Association’s Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.

In 2001, the Yurman Family Foundation was founded as a means to provide support to a variety of organizations. In 2017, Sybil was honored by Fashion 4 Development with the Women’s Champion award for her commitment to philanthropy.