Balenciaga vintage costume jewelry
Balenciaga vintage costume jewelry
Founded by the Basque fashion designer Cristobal Balenciaga (1895-1972), Balenciaga is a legendary fashion house with a century of history. Noteworthy, known in future as Coppola e Toppo jewelry company, Italian brother and sister Bruno Coppola and Lyda Toppo, created jewelry for Balenciaga in the 1940s. Cristobal ended his career in 1968 and closed fashion houses in Paris, San Sebastian and Madrid. However, after his death, his fashion house continued to exist, having gone through a change of owners. Thus, the production of ready-to-wear clothes, perfumes, and accessories under license continued.
At one time, many of the designers who worked at the Balenciaga house later opened their successful fashion houses. Among them, in particular, were Oscar de la Renta (1949), André Courrèges (1950), Emmanuel Ungaro (1958), and Hubert de Givenchy.
Traditionally, most Parisian fashion houses of the 1980s created bijoux for their shows, as well as for the release of perfumes, or for opening boutiques. And Balenciaga was no exception. Although the history of Balenciaga jewelry began in the 1950s, yet, officially it lasted no more than two decades, from 1981 to 2003. Paris-based company Balenciaga, S.A. registered 2 trade marks of the same name – for the production of glasses and accessories in 1976, and for the production of luxury costume jewelry in 1981. Authentic Balenciaga matte gold plated jewelry, so characteristic of 1980s French luxury costume jewellery, are very collectible now.
Noteworthy, such well known jewelry companies as Maison Gripoix and Orena Paris made jewelry for Balenciaga.
Balenciaga vintage costume jewelry
Authentic vintage pieces may include three markings – “Balenciaga Paris Made in France”, “Balenciaga Paris” and/or two intertwined “B” letters, and a copyright sign.
Made under license in other countries, and brand new jewelry pieces usually have markings “BB”, or “Balenciaga”, “Made in Italy” etc., and without a copyright symbol.
Noteworthy, the renewed trade mark “Balenciaga” for the production of fine jewelry of precious metals and stones was registered in 2014.
