Kaleidoscope effect

Bow filigree 12 K gold brooch. 1960s. Dixelle vintage costume jewelry (1962-2016)

Dixelle vintage costume jewelry
The history of Dixelle costume jewelry brand began 60 years ago in Pawtucket Providence County, Rhode Island. Incorporated on 7 June 1962 The Dixelle Company was a family business owned by Robert Stearns. Distributor, seller and manufacturer of jewelry and related products, The Dixelle Company ceased to exist in 2016. Noteworthy, in the 1970s the company’s alternative trading names included Robo, Inc. (1976), Sarmeste, Inc. (1976), and Sammartino Bros. (1972).
Te company’s jewelers handcrafted classic filigree design pins, brooches and earrings, Traditionally, they used 925 sterling silver, 12 K gold and semi-precious stones, such as jade, onyx, tiger’s eye and moonstone. Also, cultured pearl, crystals and art glass. Very often, jewelry was sold in beautiful branded boxes, lined with silk and covered with a tapestry with an exquisite pattern. The marking includes ‘Dixelle”, 12 KGF or sterling.
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Bow gold tone haute couture brooch. 6.5 cm. 1970s. Elizabeth Arden vintage costume jewelry

Elizabeth Arden vintage costume jewelry
The history of Elizabeth Arden costume jewelry brand began in the 1970s, after the death of its founder. Like most cosmetics companies, costume jewelry was part of the brand’s advertising. Traditionally, the design of brooches and charms included lipsticks, perfume bottles, logo, and other company symbols. Arden jewelry design also included a door, symbolizing the famous Red Door of her first salon in New York.
Noteworthy, some well-known jewelry companies collaborated with Arden to create jewelry for her. In particular, the Schreiner company, which created several designs for Arden in the early 1970s. The marking on Arden jewelry traditionally includes initials EA, or Arden.
Born in Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada, Florence Nightingale Graham (December 31, 1881 – October 18, 1966) became known as American businesswoman Elizabeth Arden.
She opened her first “Red Door” salon in New York in 1910. The golden “Elizabeth Arden” sign and the red door at the entrance became a kind of symbol of splendor and luxury. Elizabeth invested a lot of money in advertising, constantly publishing promotional notes in Vogue.
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Clown brooch. Gold tone, enamel, rhinestones. 1980s. Signed W vintage costume jewelry

Signed W vintage costume jewelry
Incorporated on 30 September 1959, Weingeroff Enterprises, Inc. was a family owned business registered in Cranston, Rhode Island. The company traded in jewelry, accessories, and gifts. In the 1970s Frederick Weingeroff joined his father’s business and made it very successful. In the 1980s the company actively collaborated with such jewelry companies as Stacy, Inc., Gem-Case Inc, Lynne Suzanne, Imperial Jewelry and Jay Strongwater. Besides, Frederick Weingeroff launched several trademarks on production of costume jewelry.
In 1996, his son Gregg C. Weingeroff (born 1955, Providence) became president of the company, and continued to expand the business. Unfortunately, on March 26, 2005 he, his wife Dawn and their son died in a plane crash in Pennsylvania.
Next, the company was headed by Gregg’s sister Lisa Weingeroff, daughter Jolie and stepmother Lynn Suzanne. Weingeroff Enterprises, Inc went through ups and downs, changes of owners, trading names, and ceased to exist in 2012.
The company manufactured costume jewelry of classic designs – figural animal and flower brooches, pins, earrings, bracelets and necklaces. Traditionally, the craftsmen used metal alloy, gold and silver plating, lucite, glitter enamel, rhinestones, and art glass imitating precious stones. The marking included capital letter W with a copyright sign.
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Cat brooch. Gold tone, crystals. 1960s. Ciro vintage costume jewelry

Ciro vintage costume jewelry (1940-1996)
The history of London jewelry brand Ciro began almost 105 years ago. Incorporated on 23 May 1917, Ciro Pearls Limited was a private company registered at the address 1 Surrey street London WC2R 2NT United Kingdom. On 14 Nov 1928 the company headed by H.M. Penney became known as Cho Realization Limited. However, on 25 Jan 1940 the company changed its address to 9A New Bond street, London, W1Y 9PE and became known as “Ciro of Bond Street Limited”.
Originally a mail order company, Ciro produced and sold cultured pearl costume jewelry. The company opened its first retail stores in the 1920s, while continuing use mail order. Costume jewelry and accessories by Ciro enjoyed success, and the company had to expand the business. Its boutiques appeared one by one in Canada, France, and Germany. According to the United States Patent office, the subsidiary of Ciro of Bond Street, Inc. was registered in New York as Ciro Pearls Ltd. in 1955.
Ciro brand which lasted for more than a century ceased to exist in 1998 hit by the effects of cheap imitation jewellery imported from Asia.
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Double flower gold plated brooch. 5 cm. 1950s. Georges Legros vintage costume jewelry

Georges Legros vintage costume jewelry (1917-1998)
The history of the Georges Legros brand began over a hundred years ago, in 1917. However, the history of the family jewelry business began in the 19th century, when the French jeweler Mr. Murat created a small company in 1850. Having become a senator in Ardèche, he entrusted the administration to Achilles Legros, who had two sons Marius and Georges. Marius Legros founded the ML jewelry company in 1905, and Georges founded the Bijoux GL jewelry company in the neighboring town of Cheylard, in 1917.
In fact, it was the competition between these companies that allowed them to develop successfully. Based in the Ardèche department in the south of France, highly skilled craftsmen created luxury jewellery in gold plating and 925 sterling silver. Traditionally, they combined manual labor, time-tested traditions and modern technologies.
GL group got the most prestigious French awards “Living Heritage seal” and “Joaillerie de France”.
Noteworthy, the GL Group is no longer managed by the Legros family. In 1998 Altesse company bought GL group, headed by the representative of the third generation jewelers – Pierre Legros. The company couldn’t survive the changes of policy and owners, which led to its compulsory liquidation on March 25, 2014.
The GL Group offers jewelry under licenses from Kenzo, Nina Ricci, Paul & Joe, Ted Lapidus, and Inès de la Fressange. Under its own label, the GL group markets the Altesse, GL Paris, as well as a Les Georgettes capsule collection.

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Elephant Giraffe Lion Camel Noahs Ark vintage brooch of gold tone. 1980s. Laura Gayle vintage costume jewelry

Laura Gayle vintage costume jewelry
The history of the Laura Gayle brand for the production of jewelry and watches began in October 1986. The brand was one of dozens of trademarks owned by Dillard’s Inc., headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. Dillard’s Inc. is an upscale American department store chain founded in 1938 by William T. Dillard.
The name Laura Gale is fictitious and does not identify any specific living person. Labeled as “American Classics”, the Laura Gayle brand ceased to exist in 2009.
Traditionally, LG craftsmen used metal alloys of gold and silver tones, Austrian crystals, enamels and rhinestones. The markings consist of the wordmark “Laura Gayle” written in a fancy script.
Notably, there was also the Laura Gayle trademark owned by the Mercantile Stores Company Inc. for the production of clothing, leather goods, jewelry and accessories. Founded in 1996 in Ohio, the brand ceased to operate in 2000. Despite the fact that both brands are of the same name, it is very easy to distinguish them due to the design and labeling. Thus, the labeling of Laura Gayle trademark owned by the Mercantile Stores includes “Laura Gayle” in capital block letters.
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Greek mythological sardonic laughter mask. Gold tone clip on earrings. 1990s. Signed Prevost vintage costume jewelry

Signed Prevost vintage costume jewelry
The history of the English jewelry brand Catherine Prevost began in 1991, when a young college graduate opened her own shop and launched a jewelry production. London fashion icon, Catherine is the mother of four daughters who are also involved in the family business. Starting from a small store on Walton Street in London, today the products of this brand are sold in the most prestigious boutiques and department stores in the world. In particular, Neiman Marcus, Harrods, and Saks 5th Avenue. This brand’s products in addition to jewelry include clothes and accessories. Catherine herself, beautiful and stylish, is the epitome of classic elegance and glamour.
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