Kenneth Jay Lane costume jewellery
Kenneth Jay Lane costume jewellery
The history of a legendary American brand began in 1963. Born in 1932 in Detroit, Kenneth Jay Lane studied in New York at the School of Design in Road Island. He worked as an art director in «Vogue» and was an assistant to the famous French shoemaker Roger Vivier for the American company “Delman.” In 1956-1963 Lane worked in Paris for shoe line “Dior”, and in 1963 he opened the company for the production of original jewelry and exclusive shoes for special occasions.
Noteworthy, one of the first and perhaps the most prominent connoisseurs of the brand was Jacqueline Kennedy. One day Jacqueline Kennedy asked Lane to create a copy of a precious necklace that Aristotle Onassis had given her. By the way, the necklace of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis of emeralds and sapphires, was sold at the department store “Saks Fifth Avenue” for $ 250. Since then, the creator of the KJL brand became known as the “king of counterfeiting and imitation of jewelry.”
Also, his jewelry appeared in such iconic films, as “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, “Dallas”, “Dynasty”, and “Sex and the City”.
Lane offered his clients copies of ornaments of known firms – Bulgari and Cartier, Roman medallions and coins and so on. Exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, his pieces received the highest praise in the world of American fashion.
The story of his career – a typical embodiment of the “American dream”, starting with the moment when the ambitious twenty-year-old shoe designer was invited to the branch of the fashion house Dior. In fact, in the early 60s three largest store in Manhattan went on a risky step and bought jewelry made by unknown to anyone designer. The risk was in the collection itself: too unusual and too cheap … for Manhattan elite materials. Instead of gold – gold plating, instead of precious metals – the insertion of plastic … much, and many cultured pearls! An unusual collection “Midnight”, because Lane was working day and night in the “Dior”, and created his decorations mostly at night.
After his debut in Manhattan, Lane quickly gained the love of wealthy New York ladies. However, a truly royal glory brought him orders from the two “queens” – Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Kennedy Onassis. For Audrey Lane made the legendary necklace of cultured pearls, familiar to anyone who watched “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”.
Kenneth Jay Lane costume jewellery
By the way, in 1980s, with a similar request – to make copies of expensive jewelry, so to safely wear it at meetings with the public, turned another “Queen”. This time it was the Queen of people’s hearts – Princess Diana.
Despite his advanced age (83), the King to this day continues to delight fans with new collections, catchy and provocative. Among the regular clients of Lane – Sarah Jessica Parker, the Olsen sisters, Michelle Obama, Nicole Kidman, Madonna, Meryl Streep, and Angelina Jolie.
Lane himself says that “any woman can look glamorous in a set of jewellery … unless, of course, it is the right jewelry.” By the way, nearly all products labeled KJL are 22-karat gold-plated, with the use of rhinestones, once glorified Lane still in the “Dior”.
The massive and luxurious jewelry by KJL is out of time and seasons, and it becomes neither old-fashioned nor non-wearable. Such things, despite the lack of precious stones and metals is for the collection and worth to be inherited.
Taking into account the cost of materials and a big name of the author, all Kenneth Jay Lane jewelry belongs to the category of luxury. In addition, all products are marked, which automatically increases their collector’s value. Special interest collectors show to the products that the King himself has posted on the pages of his best-selling book “Faking it!”. For example, page 85 features the famous character from “Alice in Wonderland” Humpty Dumpty.
Kenneth Jay Lane costume jewellery
If you are the happy owner of jewelry from Kenneth Jay Lane, to determine its approximate age can be easily done according to the type of marking:
– K.J.L. – Marking with unsigned copyright, used from 1962 to the end of the 70s, including marked the very first, “midnight” collection.
– KENNETH LANE or KENNETH © LANE – 1960 – 1970s, exclusive marking for jewelry sold in the “Sax” on Fifth Avenue.
– K.J.L. for AVON or KENNETH LANE for AVON – from 1980 to 2004. Labeled as decoration, ordered from Kenneth Jay Lane’s company Avon. This title can be found on the Avon’s box and velvet boxes.
– KENNETH JAY LANE or KENNETH LANE – 1980 – 90s, marking for products sold in the company store KJL.
– © KJL – marking, used exclusively for the company QVC during the period of the brand KJL.
