Kaleidoscope effect

The Sun in your hands. An Indian boy Aladdin holding a vase with a large disc. Gold tone metal brooch. Length 5 cm. 1960s. £ 20 JJ (the price from the catalog). Jewelarama vintage jewelry from “Difffraction” collection

Jewelarama vintage jewelry Difffraction Jewels
Located in Barrington, New Jersey, the jewelry making company Jewelarama was in fact, a branch of a large manufacturer of optics, Edmund Scientific Co.. First they released the series called “Difffraction Jewels” in 1960. Noteworthy, their decorations became innovative and unique in design. The centerpiece of every ornament was a round polished metal disc that reflected light. According to other sources, this series was known as “Refraction Jewels”. In the creation of jewelry craftsmen used silver and gold tone metal, and in the center of every piece was polished metal disk.
Costume jewelry lovers still enjoy their brooches and earrings in the form of musical instruments, flowers and animals. Rare on jewelry markets, made in 1960s Jewelerama pieces were featured in many catalogs of vintage costume jewelry.
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Pea brooch, silver, white gold, jadeite and demantoid. Hemmerle unique nature inspired jewelry

Hemmerle unique nature inspired jewelry
The history of the German jewelry house Hemmerle began in 1893, when two brothers Joseph and Anton Hemmerle founded their company. Originally, the company produced medals, orders and other regalia. Among the customers of the company was the Bavarian Royal Court.
Having undergone a serious design evolution, the company’s craftsmen came to naturalistic ornaments finding inspiration from seemingly ordinary things, such as vegetables. Thus appeared the most sensational collection – Delicious Jewels. Noteworthy, the idea came to the designer when he cut vegetables for salad.
In addition to traditional precious metals, craftsmen used copper, aluminum and steel. Hemmerle took a step towards the experiments in 1995, when Stefan Hemmerle, at the request of one client, installed a diamond in a rim of iron. Since then, masters have used copper, brass, iron, stainless steel, aluminum, and rare woods in the manufacture of jewelry along with precious metals, stones and pearls.

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Romantic oval floral painted brooch, metal, acrylic, gold plated. 1960s Whiting and Davis vintage costume jewelry

Whiting and Davis vintage costume jewelry
The history of Whiting and Davis jewelry brand began in 1876, when three men met in Boston, Massachusetts. Willian H.Wade, Edward P. Davis and Louis Heckman organized a small workshop for making silver jewelry. And in 1886 they named their company Wade, Davis & Co.
Noteworthy, their first debut collection (featured in fashion magazines) appeared in August 1886. It consisted of silver jewelry, popular in the late Victorian era – bracelets, earrings, pins and brooches. Also, in the 1950s they began producing jewelry with cameos, pendants and earrings and charm bracelets.
Founded in in 1876, the Whiting and Davis Company became known for its fine evening bags, wiped out of gold and silver threads.
In 1907, the company began to produce silver and gold plated jewelry – necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Traditionally, the design includes Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Egyptian and Victorian era motifs. Notable are golden and silver mesh necklaces in the shape of ties, and highly valuable among collectors spiral bracelets in the form snakes.
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Sapphire blue brooch teardrop shaped rhinestones. Catamore vintage costume jewelry (1942-1981)

Catamore Jewelry vintage costume decorations
Founded in 1942, Catamore Jewelry Co. Inc. was a family business of Christopher and Phillis Catanzaro who opened their production in Providence, Rhode Island. The Catamore jewelers handcrafted jewelry from silver, and 12K gold. Also, they used semiprecious stones – agate, onyx, opals, mother of pearl and fresh water pearls.
Noteworthy, after 1970 on the label appeared additional mark – John Grant Designs.
Traditionally, Catamore jewelry has unique design with curls of the finest twisted golden threads, elegant cameos carved on shells, and filigree frames. Catamore gave preference to precious metals and semi-precious stones, and sold their decorations in large stores and boutiques. Before 1970s, they made decorations for such iconic brand as Coro. The company ceased to exist in 1981.

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Lion Head Cuff bracelet. Gold plated metal alloy. Ciner vintage costume jewelry

Ciner vintage costume jewelry
Founded in 1892 by Emanuel Ciner New York based company “Ciner Manufacturing Co, Inc” originally made only expensive jewelry. However, since 1929, due to the Great Depression, the demand for expensive jewelry dropped significantly. To stay in the business and just to survive, the company turned its attention to costume jewelry.
Since 1930, the production of costume jewelry of very high quality, reminiscent of fine jewelry, has begun.

Traditionally, craftsmen used gold plating and faux pearls made in Japan on special technology. The technology allowed Ciner to make faux pearls look natural.
Innovative technologies and rich experience with precious materials allowed masters to artfully combine precious stones, gold plating, natural pearls, and rhinestones.

Noteworthy, the company began marking jewelry with “CINER” stamp only after 1945.
Located at 20 West 37th Street New York , NY, the current status of the company is active, re-registered and renewed. Considered a long-liver among jewelry manufacturers, now the fifth generation manages the company. According to designers, they draw inspiration from nature itself, using images of flora and fauna.
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Flower design rhinestone enamel brooch and Earrings. Louis Kramer exquisite costume jewelry

Louis Kramer exquisite costume jewelry (1943-1980)
Founded by designer Louis Kramer and his two brothers Morris and Harry in 1943 in New York, Kramer Jewellery Creations continued production until the late 1970s. From the very beginning the brand’s jewelry enjoyed a great success among buyers due to original designs and excellent performance.
Kramer jewelry was a high class, with scrupulous performance and often very interesting design. In addition, the high quality products had limited circulation. Also, traditional materials included gilded metal with black enamel, faux pearls, imitation of rubies, emeralds, lapis lazuli, jade, turquoise and pearls.
Noteworthy, in the early 1950s the company produced ornaments for Christian Dior. Accordingly, they labeled these products “Kramer for Christian Dior” and “Dior by Kramer”. A distinctive feature of these decorations are large blue or green stones, usually located in the middle of the jewelry piece, framed by clear rhinestones. Due to Dior name, these pieces were more expensive than the rest of Kramer products.
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Sparkling brooch, Aurora borealis crystals, 1940s. Henry Schreiner vintage costume jewelry

Henry Schreiner vintage costume jewelry
German born jewelry designer Henry Schreiner opened his own jewelry manufacturing company in 1951, after having worked at the Dior fashion house with Norman Norrell and Pauline Trieger.
Henry’s daughter Terry and her husband Albert Ambros joined the business in 1953. Henry died in 1954, and Terry and Albert continued his work.
In the 1950s and 1970s, many stars shone in Schreiner jewelry. Among them – Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Bette Davis, and other celebrities.
The value and exclusivity of Schreiner Jewelry is undoubted and, accordingly, increases their collectibility.
Firstly, Schreiner craftsmen made high-quality jewelry with unusual designs and in small quantities. Second, handmade. Thirdly, they used stones of special shapes and unusual colors, made by skilled Czechoslovak craftsmen and in the best workshops in Austria. These stones and crystals are unique and no longer produced. And fourthly, a combination of incongruous, and no restrictions in mixing colors and shapes.
Noteworthy, Henry Schreiner was the first to use a blackened metal. Thus, he wanted to emphasize the brightness and beauty of the crystals.
In addition, very often Schreiner created jewelry for fashion shows, so they were large and eye-catching.
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