Kaleidoscope effect

Crescent and marcasite face crescent brooch. Signed HAN vintage silver jewelry

Signed HAN vintage silver jewelry

The history of HAN jewelry began in 1993 as a trademark owned by Helen Andrews inc. Incorporated in 1976, Helen Andrews inc. was a family business launched by Helen D. Andrews. Headquartered in Mineola, New York, the company has gone international by recruiting teams of jewelers in Thailand, Mexico and Italy. Made in Italy, HAN jewelry includes gold, 925 silver, platinum and diamonds. Also, the company’s craftsmen used marcasite, turquoise, onyx, jade, topaz, jasper, and cubic zirconia. Made in the 1970s and 90s, these exquisite vintage pieces are still a hit today.
The markings on the back of these items traditionally include “HAN 925 ster made in Italy”. In case the jewelry was made in Thailand, the marking, respectively, includes the word “Thai”.
Noteworthy, the company’s craftsmen did not produce brooches, and the main items were chains, bracelets, pendants, charms, earrings, rings and lockets.
Wholesalers and manufacturers, Helen Andrews inc. founded two trademarks in 1993 – HAN (earrings, rings, chains, bracelets, pendants and medallions) and Bodi Rox (body jewelry).
Run by Norman Kelapire (CEO) and Andrew Kelapire (President), the company is still active.
Read more »

Peace dove Christmas brooch. Gold tone, enamel, rhinestones. 1990s. Holiday Lane vintage costume jewelry

Holiday Lane vintage costume jewelry
Originally founded by Macy’s, Inc., Holiday Lane trademark began its activity in 1995. In 1997 the trademark merged with Charter Club’s costume jewelry production located in China. This explains the similarity of designs and materials of both lines – Charter Club and Holiday Lane.
Sold exclusively in Macy’s stores, these figurative ornaments – brooches, pins, bracelets and earrings are traditionally packaged in branded boxes. Most often, jewelry designs included candy cane, poinsettia, Santa, snowmen and other classic Christmas motifs. The material used in the creation of these ornaments – alloys of gold and silver tone, rhinestones, faux pearls, crystals, glitter and multicolor enamel.
True to the name of the brand, Holiday Lane jewelry can be a nice gift for the holiday, and in particular for Christmas.
Read more »

Faux turquoise copper pendant and earrings. Signed SHB vintage costume jewelry

Signed SHB vintage costume jewelry
The history of SHB jewelry trademark owned by Shofel Bros Mfg Co began in 1962. Its founders were Masha Shofel (1920-1987), Mark Shofel (1926-1988), and Larry Shofel (1931 -2016). It was a family business headquartered at the address 71 West 47th Street New York, New York (10036). The company manufactured costume jewelry with the use of 14 K gold and glass imitating natural stones. The marking included capital letters SHB without a copyright sign. Noteworthy, Shofel Bros Mfg made jewelry for Avon, accordingly, the marking consisted of two stamps – SHB and Avon.
Unfortunately, Masha and Mark passed away in 1987 and 1988 respectively. Left alone, Larry was unable to continue the family business and retired. He lived until 2016, and was buried next to Masha and Mark at the New York Cemetery.
Thus, founded in 1962, the company ceased to exist in 1987, after 25 years in the costume jewelry market.
Read more »

Swan round filigree frame pendant. Gold tone, enamel. 1960s. Signed SHP vintage costume jewelry

Signed SHP vintage costume jewelry

The history of the jewelry brand S.H.P. covers a fairly short period, from 1965 to 1971. The trademark was owned by Stanley Home Products Inc., located in Westfield, Massachusetts. The company’s founder was Canadian-born Frank Stanley Beveridge (1879 – 1956). He began his family business on production of home cleaning and personal care products during the Great Depression in 1931. Noteworthy, the company launched hundreds of brands, and the jewelry brand was one of them, founded after Stanley’s death.
Initially a small company, over the years it has grown into a million-dollar corporation with hundreds of brands and subsidiaries in most states. First, in Oklahoma (1941), then New York (1945), Ohio (1946), Texas (1949), Virginia (1950), Missouri (1951), etc.
Notably, the company sold its products through home shopping parties, where housewives from across the US could earn extra money working as consultants. They hosted such gatherings, showing their guests the latest and greatest Stanley merchandise. According to 1952 ad, “10 000 women had their own Stanley Hostess parties…”.
Today, the New Jersey-headquartered company sells home care, personal care, and health products online.
Read more »

Victorian oval shaped gold plated brooch with purple crystal. GC Hudson vintage costume jewelry

GC Hudson vintage costume jewelry
One of the oldest jewelry manufacturing companies G. C. Hudson & Co., Inc. began operations in 1890. The company’s original address was 126 Broad St., North Attleboro, Massachusetts. It is important to note that the first mention of the company was in “The Jewelers’ Circular and Horological Review”, published in November 1893. In 1900, the company, founded by George Cheever Hudson, employed about thirty jewelers.
Traditionally, craftsmen used gold, silver, semi-precious stones, rock crystal and art glass imitating natural gems. Victorian and Art Nouveau brooches, necklaces, earrings, cufflinks and pins were marked GCH&CO., GCH or GCH & CO.
After Hudson’s death, G. Herbert French became president of the company. The company went out of business in the 1940s, and Hudson antique jewelry is a highly collectible item today.
Read more »

Lady in hat enameled gold tone brooch pin. Courtney G vintage costume jewelry

Courtney G vintage costume jewelry
The history of American costume jewelry trademark Courtney G began in 1983. Well known and loved around the world, the brand offers costume jewelry in ethnic, byzantine, vintage, haute couture and modern styles. Made from a variety of materials – metal alloys, plastic, glass, faux and natural stones, mother-of-pearl and crystals, the new collections appear monthly.
Noteworthy, the company’s catalog contains a large selection of jewelry for men and women. In particular, more than 300 designs of bracelets, hundreds of necklaces, brooches, earrings, pendants, clips, rings, sets, as well as belts, jewelry boxes and other accessories. Traditionally sold on branded cards, and most of them have a postscript that the metal is hypoallergenic.
The key to the success of Courtney G popularity is in a huge range of products, variety of styles and materials, and a low retail price.
A winner of many beauty industry exhibitions, the company is developing steadily and confidently, promoting jewelry in general.
The Courtney G retail network exists in many countries with thousands of boutiques in different cities.
Noteworthy, there are two eponymous jewelry trademarks in Austin, TX USA owned by Courtney G.Studio and Courtney Gray.
Read more »

Textured gold plated metal pendant of abstract design. 1980s. Gerard Pasquier vintage costume jewelry

Gerard Pasquier vintage costume jewelry
Born in 1925, French designer Gérard Pasquier launched his namesake brand in 1953. The women’s clothing business was located at 21 Rue Saint Fiacre, Paris. Initially, the company produced collections of skirts, blouses and dresses with simple and elegant lines, which immediately became popular. The success of the first collections brought the company international fame, and in 1956 Pasquier founded Gérard Pasquier International.
In addition to clothes, the company launched the production of shoes, eyeglasses, bags, gloves, wristwatches and other accessories.
Noteworthy, in 1977, Pasquier became one of the first to use television to advertise his brand and a network of Parisian boutiques. At the same time, the company began manufacturing costume jewelry, which did not last long, mainly in the 1980s. Handcrafted in limited quantities, podium brooches and pendants marked Gérard Pasquier are extremely rare and highly collectible.
Monsieur Gérard Pasquier died at the age of 79 in July 2004. Luckily, the Pasquier name remains in the fashion business thanks to the designer’s son, Philippe Pasquier.
Read more »