GGs Vintage Jewelry
Vintage Jewelry
Names Facts and Time-lines
A Few Names
Am Lee From 1946 to Unknown
Art 1940s to 1970s
Atwood & Sawyer Founded in England 1956 to present
Barclay, McClelland 1930s to 1940s
Barclay Jewelry Inc. Since May 1948
Boucher, Marcel 1930s to early 1970s
BSK (Steinberg, Slovitt & Kaslo) 1948 to 1980s
Cadora 1940s to 1970s
Carnegie, Hattie 1920s to 1980s
Carolee 1973 to present
Castlecliff 1940s to 1960s
Caviness, Alice 1945 to present
Chanel, Gabrielle "Coco" 1920s to present
Ciner 1892 to present
Coro (Cohn and Rosenberger) 1901 to present
DeLizza & Elster D & E Juliana 1940s to 1980s
DeMario, Robert 1940s to late 1950s or early 1960s
De Nicola Late 1950s or early 1960s to 1970s
DeRosa (Ralph DeRosa) 1935 to 1955
di N, Mimi 1962 to present
Eisenberg Late 1920s to present
Florenza Late 1940s to late 1970s or early 1980s
Gerry's c.1950s to unknown
Givenchy Early 1950s to present
Hagler, Stanley 1950s to 1996
Haskell, Miriam 1920s to present
Hobe 1887 to present
Hollycraft 1940s to 1970s
J.J (Jonette Jewelry) 1937 to present
Joseff (during 1940s and 1950s limited retail line)
Juliana (DeLizza and Elster) 1940s to 1980s
Korda, Alexander (Thief of Bagdad, Korda) 1940s
Kramer 1940s to 1970s
Karu Arke 1940s to 1970s
Lane, Kenneth J. 1960s to present
Ledo-Polcini 1911 to present
Les Bernard (Originally 1936 was Vogue in 1963 changed to Les Bernard)
Marvella 1911 to present (now owned by Crystal Brands Jewelry)
Mazer/Jomaz 1939 to 1951
Moini, Iradj 1980s to present
Monet 1937 to present (now owned by Crystal Brands Jewelry)
Napier 1875 to present
Panetta 1945 to early 1980s
Pennino 1926 to unknown was very popular in 1940s
Rader, Pauline 1962 to unknown
Reja 1940 to unknown
Robert (Levy) 1949 to 1960 under Fashioncraft, then Robert Originals, finally from 1980s to present Ellen Designs
Rosenstein, Nettie Early 1930s to 1960s
Saint Laurent, Yves 1960s to present mid 1960s Monet produced for them in early to mid 1980s
Sandor (Sandor Goldberger) 1930s to 1970s
Schiaparelli, Elsa Late 1920s to mid 1950s or early 1960s
Schreiner 1950s to 1970s
Swarovski (jewelry) 1985 to present
Trifari (TKF) 1918 to present (now owned by Crystal Brands Jewelry)
Volupte 1926 to late 1950s or early 1960s
Weiss 1940s to early 1970s
Whiting and Davis 1876 to present
Vintage Jewelry a Brief Time line
Late Georgian Jewelry c. 1760-1837
Early Victorian (Romantic Period) c.1837-1861
Mid Victorian (Grand Period) c.1861-1880
Late Victorian (Aesthetic Period) c.1889-1901
Arts and Crafts c.1890-1920
Art Nouveau c.1895-1910
Beaux-Arts and "Neo-Renaissance" c.1890-1920
Edwardian c.1890-1920
Mid-Century Modern American Studio Jewelry c.1945-1965
The "Modern" Era c.1919-1970s
Contemporary c. 1970's-Present Day
Copyrights
The copyright symbol on a piece of jewelry indicates a date of 1956 or later.
Became more cost effective in 1956 to register a design Copyright which
led designers to abandoned the expensive patent registration process.
Designer Marks
Knowing how each piece was signed or marked by a designer or
manufacturer during specific years may help you date
a signed piece of vintage costume jewelry.
Styles
Not all jewelry will be marked. Knowing the styles that
were popular throughout the years will then be most helpful.
Jewelry styles changed due to changes in clothing and
hairstyles. 1920s -1930s - very long
necklaces, cocktail rings, tennis bracelets
in bold angular designs 1940s - sophisticated
and large Hollywood style bows and floral designs,
patriotic war-time jewelry1950s -faux pearl, beaded
and rhinestone necklace and earring sets, abstract modernist designs
Revival Jewelry
Revival pieces are often a copy of a style from an earlier period.
A trained eye will detect the difference. One must learn to
identify the revival period pieces from original period pieces.
Egyptian
The excavation of Egyptian tombs in the 1870s inspired an extreme fascination
with Egyptian symbols. This fascination inspired
the creation of "Egyptian Revival" which featured sphinxes,
scarab beetles and other Egyptian designs.
The style was "revived" in the 1920s and 1930s after opening King Tut’s tomb.
Again in the 1960s when Elizabeth Taylor portrayed Cleopatra. And
last time in the 1970s during the King Tut’s world tour.
Victorian
Victorian revival jewelry was popular in the 1930s and again in the 1950s.
While similar in design, the revival pieces lacked the quality
and detailed craftsmanship of the original period pieces.