In November, 2018 David Webb jewelry was blessed by premier auction house Sotheby’s with the ultimate compliment.

Among the many jewelry houses that have shaped modern jewelry over the course of the 20th century, only a handful can truly lay claim to an aesthetic style that is all theirs. Of these, even fewer have been able to stay as consistently faithful to that signature style over the decades. David Webb is one of these.

Elizaveta Porodina [IG] photographs key pieces from David Webb’s ‘TOTEM’ [IG] collection, worn by model Viktoria Wirs. Jaclyn Bloomfield provides creative direction for the December 2025 campaign. / Hair by Shingo Shibata; makeup by Kanako Takase

Founder David Webb

Ashville, North Carolina native, David Webb opened his first flagship store on Manhattan’s Madison Avenue in 1948, 30 years before his untimely death in 1975 of pancreatic cancer at age 50.

French socialite and businesswoman Antoinette Quilleret provided the capital for Webb’s business; and she was instrumental in introducing Webb to New York’s elite high society.

The house’s early clients included Ava Gardner, Diahann Carroll, Diana Vreeland, Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, Jackie Kennedy, Martha Graham and The Duchess of Windsor.

A businesswoman herself, the Paris-born Quilleret also worked as president of David Webb Inc. until her retirement in 1963. Following Webb's passing in 1975, Nina Silberstein, then President of David Webb Inc. and her family continued his legacy, working with the abundant designs and renderings he left behind.

After navigating the 2008 financial downturn, the company found new life in 2010 under the ownership of Mark Emanuel and partners, establishing its current home at 942 Madison Avenue in a historic 1920s bank building.

David Webb’s New Owners in 2025

In April, 2025 Mark Emanuel retained a stake in the David Webb jewelry business with an infusion of new capital by POP Capital and Middle West Partners.

As a result of the acquisition, James Weiss became CEO of David Webb. The former Bain & Company principal and Palantir Technologies executive advised David Webb on the transaction and has been involved with the company since 2017.

Ray Simpson, a POP Capital partner who has worked at Harry Winston and is a managing partner of Diamond Asset Advisors, also joined David Webb’s board.

David Webb currently has four retail salons, in New York City, Beverly Hills, Montecito and Doha, Qatar. Its workshop, archives, and flagship salon are located at 942 Madison Avenue between 74th and 75th Street. The Beverly Hills boutique is located in the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. In Doha, the boutique is located at Downtown Msheireb complex. The new Montecito, California location is at Rosewood Miramar Beach.

Jewelry As Artwork

David Webb believed that jewelry and gems should be treated as artworks. Nearly every ancient culture around the world inspired David Webb: The arts from Africa, Asia, the Americas, and more were all re-imagined as modern jewels in David Webb's hands.

Porodina’s images of The Totem Collection, featured here, reflect Webb’s passionate interest in archaeology, anthropology and global civilization.

The iconic Animal Kingdom Collection, featuring vibrant enamel, textured gold, and precious gems in figures like zebras, frogs, lions, and snakes, is beloved by Hollywood and style icons for their playful yet luxurious artistry that transformed animals into wearable art.

A Bit of Free Wisdom . . .

This is one luxury jewelry brand Anne of Carversville will be watching closely. The name is beloved by older women who know David Webb jewelry and its history. New, younger, global customers are surely enchanted by its visual design DNA and storytelling global ‘heart’.

It’s pure coincidence that Chanel’s new creative director Matthieu Blazy tapped into the dreams of New York City women, arriving from all over the world determined to achieve high goals of self-actualization and personal excellence.

Many of us are crazy in love with Blazy’s ‘democratic’, global, multicultural direction at the Chanel Métiers D’Art Show early December 2025 show.

New York women from all over the world rode the subway in the 1970s — a time of great liberation for talented, determined women around the world. I’m not glamorizing the experience, but Blazy and Chanel absolutely tapped into these dreams.

David Webb jewelry ads tapped into these same dreaming of success plans, especially when beauty brands like Revlon began using David Webb jewelry in their campaigns.

This brand has the capacity to tap into this same creative, emotional energy. To state the obvious, the uber-talented photographer Elizaveta Porodina should be onboard as a creative consultant to David Webb, as well as a photographer.

Porodina has the professional understanding of emotional branding with her clinical background in psychology. She has major expertise in shooting editorial work in China and is a cross-cultural creative in every aspect. The world is Porodina’s oyster, and she is whip smart.

David Webb combusts a spectacular opportunity for the brand’s future and David Webb’s personal legacy. I’m really excited about the future for this American brand. Beautiful! ~ Anne