The founder of the eponymous company, Thomas Sabo silver jewelry art

Thomas Sabo silver jewelry art
The history of the German company Thomas Sabo GmbH & Co began in 1984. Born in Austria in the 60s, Thomas Sabo, versatile and talented, is not only a jewelry designer, but also a former rocker, musician and traveler.
Thomas liked to discover something new every day, for which he has traveled half the world, inspired by new ideas for his designs.
Noteworthy, initially Sabo did not mark his jewelry pieces.
The company produces not only jewelry, but also watches and perfumes. But still, the world fame for the Thomas Sabo brand was brought by unusual silver jewelry.
In the 90s, Suzanne Kölbli became the creative director of the company. It was she who gave the brand a new breath, and the worldwide popularity of the company is her merit.
Today, Thomas Szabo has 300 boutiques around the world. Thomas himself, who is 60 this year, stepped down from the management, but retained a controlling stake in the company.
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Fire fighter brooch. Silver tone, enamel, rhinestones. 1980s. Wendy Gell vintage costume jewelry

Wendy Gell vintage costume jewelry
The history of Wendy Gell brand began about 50 years ago in New York. According to official data, Wendy Gell Jewelry Inc., founded in 1975, ceased to exist in 1993. Its founder was American artist and jewelry designer Wendy Gell. Initially, the designer created eye-catching wrist bracelets with a multi-layered three-dimensional design. Since 1985, she has added Disney characters to her work by purchasing a license from the Disney Company.

In addition, she owned the eponymous trademark for the production of scarves (since 1988).
Noteworthy, after the closure of her company, the legendary Napier company invited her as a consultant on jewelry with Disney characters. Besides, after a long absence, Gell came back with new designs and ideas on her website wendygell.com.
Many stars, such as Elizabeth Taylor, Cher, Diana, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Hillary Clinton and Mick Jagger have had Wendy Gell jewelry in their collections.
Jewelry pieces created by Gell are wearable art, and highly collectible now.

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Winter cap snowflake pattern pin. Textured gold tone, blue enamel, rhinestones. Charter Club costume jewelry (2004-present)

Charter Club costume jewelry
The history of the brand for the production of costume jewelry, Charter Club (New York) began in 1997. Since 2004, the brand has been owned by one of the world’s largest department stores – Macy’s. An iconic and one of America’s oldest brands, Macy’s dates back to the late 19th century.
Charter Club’s costume jewelry production is located in China. Traditionally, these are beautiful figurative ornaments exquisitely packaged in branded boxes. Most often, jewelry designs include Christmas, Easter, Halloween and other holiday and classic motifs. The selection of brooches, pendants, necklaces and earrings is very diverse in terms of material, color and price. The material used in the creation of jewelry is also diverse – from an alloy of gold-tone metals to gilding, and silver, enamel, Swarovski crystals, rhinestones and art glass. Also characteristic in the design of jewelry is the use of abalone.
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Byzantine Empire collection. 2013. Dolce Gabbana haute couture jewelry

Dolce Gabbana haute couture jewelry
The variety of collections, where each collection differs from the previous one in form and style, is the jewelry of the Italian haute couture house Dolce & Gabbana.
Noteworthy, the famous Italian fashion designers owned two jewelry trademarks. The first international brand, Dolce & Gabbana, owned by GADO S.r.l. since 1994 for the production of costume jewelry and watches was registered in 1994. The second trademark, D&G fine jewelry, was registered in 2000.
Dolce & Gabbana costume jewelry is made from base metals, nickel-free and allergy-free. Also, designers use plastic, enamel, leather, resin, art glass imitating natural stones, crystal and rhinestones.
The epitome of chic and luxury, jewelry with the D&G logo is perfect for women of any status and age. Undoubtedly, the owners of these massive bracelets, earrings and necklaces with the D&G logo will be constantly in the spotlight.
Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, who hail from Italy, founded Dolce & Gabbana in 1985 in Milan. Taking part in the Milano Collezioni fashion show, they immediately became popular. Italian designers have become the personification of youth, and the tendency to turn their dreams and desires into reality. Nowadays, D&G boutiques are available in more than 80 countries around the world.
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Cactus brooch. Gold tone metal alloy, rhinestones, faux pearl. 4.5 cm. Chinese costume jewelry brand Shmik

Chinese costume jewelry brand Shmik
The world’s largest virtual marketplace, Aliexpress is offering millions of products, including accessories and jewelry. Costume fashion jewelry is extremely widely represented here, and there are few top stores selling high-quality jewelry. However, to replenish your jewelry box with high-quality and beautiful jewelry is not so easy. According to the reviews and ratings, as well as the overall impression of the jewelry, you can rank the top ten stores to visit. One of these stores (although not the first in my ranking) is “Exquisite Business Store”. The store, which has been operating since August 2018, offers “Shmik” costume jewelry.
The bijoux of “Shmik” brand, first of all, is distinguished by a variety of designs and styles. In particular, plant and floral motifs, replica European jewelry, Maltese crosses, Victorian, Art Deco, modernist geometric and traditional Chinese design jewelry. Traditional materials include gold-tone metal alloys, bright enamels, rhinestones, pearls, and art glass imitating natural stones.
Notably, since the 1980s, many American and European jewelry companies have moved their production to China, or used parts made in China in their jewelry. In addition, Chinese jewelry brands are increasingly appearing on the pages of fashion magazines and on the catwalks.
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Swarovski crystals, faux pearls, rhinestones Xmas tree. David Husar Christmas costume jewelry

David Husar Christmas costume jewelry
The Czech jewelry industry, and in particular its jewelry capital, Jablonec nad Nisou, is very rich in historical traditions and legends. Renowned worldwide for its costume jewelry, buttons, beads, perfume bottles, and mirrors, Jablonex was one of the largest costume jewelry manufacturers in the world. Now there are many small bijouterie companies operating in the region, which mainly produce components for the bijouterie industry, as well as costume jewelry.
One of them, registered by David Husár in 2001, still operates at Lidická 1576/7 Jablonec nad Nisou 466 01. Due to the high quality of workmanship, meticulous handwork, the use of sparkling special cut stones, shimmering rhinestones, and breathtaking Czech beads, jewelry has a collectible vintage look. The company produces costume jewelry in a classic style typical of the middle of the last century. Also, most of their collections consist of brooches that create a special Christmas mood. The marking on an oval cartouche includes “Husar D.” without a copyright mark.
However, there is another explanation that the owners of these pieces are selling them as vintage pieces.
Husar creates jewelry from vintage components that once belonged to the famous jewelry manufacture Jablonec, which went bankrupt in 2009. The bankrupt enterprise was so huge that its warehouses had to be sold piece by piece, which was used by small jewelry companies. One of them was David Husár jewelry company.
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Butler and Wilson Pierrot Art Deco brooch. Vintage costume jewelry from galalith

Vintage costume jewelry from galalith
The word “galalith” comes from the Greek words “gala” (milk) and “lithos” (stone). Invented in 1893 by French chemist Auguste Trillat, galalith, or so-called French Bakelite, had remarkable properties. In particular, it was non-combustible, unlike celluloid, inexpensive and easy to manufacture. Also, it did not generate static electricity, not allergenic, and at the same time was durable and decorative.
Therefore, it was perfect material for the manufacture of buttons, combs, handles, umbrella handles, and jewelry
Noteworthy, the first massive production began in 1914 in Gloucestershire, England. Some other countries also produced similar material. Among them – Germany, the USA, the USSR and Japan. However, this plastic became widespread only in Europe.
During the Second World War, milk, like other food products, became strategically important, and the production of galalith reduced. Besides, the triumphal procession of lucite began, which was cheaper to manufacture.
Galalith jewelry is now rare and has collectible value. Noteworthy, the name “French Bakelite” is only a figure of speech and galalith is not Bakelite.
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