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KIM Craftsmen vintage costume jewelry

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Tragedy and Comedy theatrical mask cufflinks made of copper. KIM craftsmen vintage costume jewelry

Tragedy and Comedy theatrical mask cufflinks made of copper. KIM Craftsmen vintage costume jewelry

KIM craftsmen vintage costume jewelry

The history of Kim Craftsmen, the Largest Custom Jewelry Manufacturer in NYC during the 1950’s to the early 1980, lasted for nearly 50 years. Incorporated in 1950, the company ceased to exist in 1997.
Carl and Marty Shimel were still teenagers, when in 1950 they decided to opened their first business in New York.
First, they began from wholesale jewelry, as the brothers did not have any money or experience to make jewelry. Opening store was also costly and troublesome. Therefore, the Shimels became intermediaries. After registering “C & M” company, Carl and Marty began to travel to Biju factories, buy costume jewelry, and resell to retail chains.
Originally, the brothers specialized exclusively on charms and monogrammed bracelets. C & M got regular customers, and the Shimels had an impressive bank account and a desire to expand their business.
Working with factories, the Shimels became interested in both – the cost of jewelry and the process of creation. So, they took up the new business with enthusiasm and confidence in success. The main material became copper, which was just gaining popularity in the 1950s. The brothers made the highest quality copper rings, abstract brooches and twisted bracelets for forearms.

Avant garde design pin of gold tone. KIM craftsmen vintage costume jewelry

Avant garde design pin of gold tone

The Shimels took inspiration from the work of their colleague, the modernist jeweler Arthur Smith of Brooklyn, fascinated by surrealism, biomorphism and primitivism. In addition, New York jeweler Paul Lobel influenced the brothers. This particularly applies to KIM’s figure brooches and animal-shaped brooches.

KIM craftsmen vintage costume jewelry

Abstract design gold tone pin KIM craftsmen vintage costume jewelry

Abstract design gold tone pin

Noteworthy, in 1952, the Shimels changed their company name from C & M Jewelry to KIM Copper (indicating the favorite metal). KIM, according to Carl and Marty, sounded simple and at the same time very feminine. In 1958, the brothers registered another brand. Expanding the range of metals used to make jewelry, non-copper jewelry, the Shimels began to label their decorations as “KIM Craftsmen”.

Signature

Maker’s mark

Generally, from 1952 to the early 1990s, the Shimel brothers set up a lot of experiments. First, they experimented with forms, then with metals. Finally, in the early 1970s they became seriously interested in enamels, plastic, lucite, and art glass.

According to Сarl, the lack of special education allowed them to find their own way in design and turn to innovation in production. Thus, the Shimel brothers tried unique for the 1950s technology – they used radio waves to connect individual parts of the jewelry.

KIM craftsmen vintage costume jewelry

KIM craftsmen vintage costume jewelry

Alien Figure copper cufflinks. 1950s

Piano brooch of gold tone signed KIM

Piano copper brooch

Drop shaped copper brooch. 1950s

Drop shaped copper brooch. 1950s

Feather textured copper earrings signed KIM

Feather textured copper earrings

Filigree gold tone ring with faux sapphire in the moddle signed Kim Craftsmen.

Filigree gold tone ring with faux sapphire

Fish gold tone modernist brooch by Kim Craftsmen

Fish gold tone modernist brooch

Frog brooch

Frog copper brooch

Green opal silver tone filigree ring. 1960s

Green opal silver tone filigree ring. 1960s

Horse brooch, 1950s, copper, signed KIM

Horse brooch, 1950s, copper

Leaf earrings made of copper

Leaf earrings made of copper

Made in 1960s Kim Craftsman Copper Cuff Links and Tie Clip

Made in 1960s Kim Craftsman Copper Cuff Links and Tie Clip

Modernist Copper Cat Brooch

Copper Cat Brooch

Moonstone silver tone filigree ring. 1960s

Moonstone silver tone filigree ring. 1960s

Owl copper brooch pendant

Owl copper brooch pendant

Pike sterling silver pendant, 1960s

Pike sterling silver pendant, 1960s

Purple amethyst silver tone filigree ring. 1960s

Purple amethyst silver tone filigree ring. 1960s

Sailboat copper cufflinks. 1960s

Sailboat copper cufflinks. 1960s

Theatrical masks comedy and tragedy bracelet

Theatrical masks comedy and tragedy bracelet

Whale brooch. Sterling silver. Kim Craftsmen NY signed

Whale brooch. Sterling silver

Yellow daisy enameled gold tone ring

Yellow daisy enameled gold tone ring

Signature

Maker’s mark