Category Archive: Vintage

Bird of prey vintage brooch, 1980s. Jewelry alloy, enamel, rhinestones. 5.5 cm. Rafaelian vintage costume jewelry

Rafaelian vintage costume jewelry
The history of this brand began in the early twentieth century, when an Armenian immigrant Rafaelian came to America and started a small jewelry business. His grandson, having worked in the jewelry firm of his sister’s husband for several years, opened his own jewelry company “Cinerama”. The great granddaughter of the first Rafaelian – Carolyn Rafaelian, also founded her own brand Alex & Ani. Noteworthy, she entered the Forbes list as the richest woman jeweler.
Undoubtedly, fans of costume jewelery appreciate jewelry made by the Rafaelian family. A popular collectible decoration is the brooch in the form of the American flag, assembled from colored crystals. Rafaelian floral decorations, notable for their quality and interesting design, are equally popular.
Known in the 70s in America, Rafaelian costume jewelry ceased to exist in the mid 80s. During its short activity, the company has released several series: patriotic jewelry, flower line, trees, birds of America, as well as fruits and berries.
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Sparrow vintage brooch. Gold tone jewelry alloy, lucite. 4 cm. Anne Klein vintage costume jewelry

Anne Klein vintage costume jewelry
Born Hannah Golofsky 3 August 1923 in Brooklyn, Anna Klein has become synonymous with American style, and a pioneer in the fashion world. In the early 1940s, Hannah marries Ben Klein and takes the name of Anne Klein. In 1948, she and her husband opened the company Junior Sophisticates. And in 1968, Anna Klein together with her second husband Matthew Rubinstein founded the company “Anne Klein and Co” and “Anne Klein Studio design”. Suddenly, at the height of her success at the age of 50, Anna Klein died of breast cancer on March 19, 1974.
For over 30 years, Anne Klein understood what women want very well. So, in the early 1970s, under her brand name, Anne Klein began producing watches and fashion jewelry. For creating high-quality jewelry for women in the classical style, she used matte and glossy metals, glass, rhinestones, cabochons and artificial pearls of the highest quality.
Noteworthy, “Anne Klein” collaborated with such brands as “Erwin Pearl”, “Accessocraft”, and “Swank”. The logo “Anne Klein” is a lion, this particular symbol has become one of the most popular in the jewelry of this brand. Traditionally, Anne Klein jewelry has marks with the copyright sign “Anne Klein ©”, and “AK ©”. Also, used the tag with the company logo – the image of a lion.
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Ancient gold butterfly brooch. Jewelry alloy, glass. 1950s. 4 cm. Signed West Germany vintage costume jewelry

West Germany vintage costume jewelry
To date, vintage jewelry collectors don’t know for certain the name and exact location of the manufacturer of these decorations. The names of the designers, the composition of the alloys used, and much more remains a mystery. Every year the number of fans of these decorations is growing, while these decorations are becoming more difficult to find.
Initially, for all the jewelry made in Germany before 1949, jewelers simply used “Germany” label. As we know, in 1949, Germany was divided into two parts, West and East Germany. Successful in the jewelry art, West German masters began signing their products “Western Germany” or “West Germany”, and sometimes “W. Germany”, or “Made in West Germany”.
Traditionally, European jewelry makers signed their decorations with the name of the country. Therefore, we can determine jewelry from Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, etc. Unlike American colleagues, European jewelers preferred not to advertise their products in fashion magazines. So, you will not see W.Germany jewelry advertising posters. Noteworthy, in 1990, after the reunification of East and West Germany, W.Germany jewelery ceased to appear on sale. Accordingly, it is instantly becoming a collectible rarity …
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Iconic Maltese cross design brooch made of gold tone jewelry alloy, white glass cabochons, rhinestones and large crystal in the middle. Howard Benedikt vintage costume jewelry

Benedikt vintage costume jewelry
New York based jeweler Howard Benedikt made costume jewelry marked Benedikt in the period of 1955 – 1963. Located at 389 5th Avenue, one of the most fashionable streets of New York, Benedikt jewelry company produced high quality decorations. Meanwhile, collectors of vintage costume jewelry find Benedikt designs and quality similar to Hattie Carnegie’s. Indeed, the original design of Benedikt NY works inspired many of Howard Benedikt’s colleagues. In particular, well-known designer Kenneth Jay Lane, who drew ideas for his collections in Benedikt jewelry. And less famous bijou masters didn’t hesitate to copy the works of the brand, for example, the Maltese crosses of incredible beauty. The Maltese cross in various styles and color combinations was the most famous and iconic design by Howard Benedikt.
Noteworthy, the last mention of the brand was in the “Seventeen” magazine, dated 1963.
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Tree of life sterling silver brooch decorated with multicolor rhinestones. 5.5 cm. American vintage – Curtis costume jewelry

Curtis costume jewelry
American company Curtis jewelry manufacturing co., known since 1936, produced high quality jewelry. These were silver and gilded ornaments with semiprecious stones and ivory – brooches, clips, and necklaces. However, the history of Curtis is inextricably linked with another American company, Uncas Manufacturing Co., part of which it became in 1936. As for Uncas Manufacturing Co., its owner was Vincent Sorrentino (1892-1976), an Italian immigrant who came to America in the early 20th century. He first registered the Sorrento company in 1911 in Providence, Rhode Island. Of course, the earliest Sorrento jewelry is difficult to find now and they are a collectible rarity. Then, in the early 1920s, Vincent Sorrentino renamed Sorrento into Uncas Manufacturing Co. Uncas jewelry was popular for its variety, exquisite design and high quality.
Along with the above-mentioned Curtis jewelry manufacturing co, the Curtman Company also joined the Uncas Manufacturing Co. In addition, Uncas Manufacturing Co. acquired the company Vargas MFG together with its building in 1996. Interestingly, the Sorrentino family still continues the jewelry business.
Noteworthy, the letters DCE that appeared in 1950 refer to Curtis jewelry manufacturing co.
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Gorgeous heart pendant and clip on earrings. Crystals, jewelry alloy. Laguna vintage costume jewelry

Laguna vintage costume jewelry
New York City based company Royal Craftsmen Inc. founded Laguna jewelry brand in 1944. The highlight of Laguna, which distinguishes it from any other brand, is jewelry made of high quality artificial pearls. Large pearls framed in gold-colored alloys give the impression of real jewels. And the multi-colored necklace beads, which Laguna was also famous for, were not inferior to jewelry in terms of the quality of design and execution. In addition to artificial pearls, Laguna traditionally used Austrian crystals and faceted beads.
Laguna ceased to exist in 1980, so any product labeled Laguna is definitely vintage, and often – a rarity.
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Beautiful leaf brooch of gold tone, sterling silver. Eggert vintage botanical jewelry – Flora Danica

Eggert vintage botanical jewelry – Flora Danica
Founded in Copenhagen in 1953 by Orla Eggert and his wife Grethe Eggert, Flora Danica is the most unique Danish jewelery company. The uniqueness of this jewelry is in particular, in the casting technique, real botanical materials used as the base. As a result, each piece is truly realistic, one-of-a-kind botanical jewelry of the highest quality. Indeed, all jewelry is unique and no two can ever be the same. A living flower or a leaf taken as a basis, then coated with silver or another 24-carat gold by electroplating. Even the destroyed base leaves an exact silver or gold copy of a living plant. Noteworthy, gorgeous vintage jewelry line is among the most collectible of botanical style European jewelry.
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