Kaleidoscope effect

Scenic design artisan bronze tone round shaped clip on earring. 1990s. Lynne Champion vintage costume jewelry

Lynne Champion vintage costume jewelry
The history of the Lynne Champion SF jewelry brand began in 1993 in San Francisco.
Born in 1954, Lynn Champion is an Australian fashion designer, author and founder of a successful global jewelry business. According to her biography, she began designing jewelry in the 1980s. In 1992, she met her husband, Nicholas James Bonura, with whom she lived happily in San Francisco until his death in 2008. Prior to their meeting, Lynn had her own business in Australia as a jewelry seller, fashion designer, B&B owner, chef and writer. While living in San Francisco, she continued to make jewelry under the Lynne Champion SF label. The business expanded and soon she had retail stores and distributors around the world. In addition, she ran the fashion company Excessorise.
Lynn described her amazing life in her autobiographical book Champion Stories (later filmed in New York) published in 2013.
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Cameo adjustable ring of gold tone with solid perfume. Signed Luzier vintage costume jewelry

Signed Luzier vintage costume jewelry (1962-1977)
The history of the Luzier jewelry brand began in 1962 in Kansas City, Missouri, but the company Luzier Inc. originates in the 19th century. Its founder, Thomas Luzier (1872-1947), was interested in chemistry and science as a child and was educated in chemistry. At the age of 22, he joined the Diamond Development Company in Wyoming as chief chemist.
Luzier moved to Kansas City in 1897, where he met the successful cosmetician Pattie Park Funk (a.k.a. “Madame Patty”). Thomas Luzier married Madame Patty and joined her cosmetics business, which brought back his passion for chemistry. They founded Luzier’s Special Formula Laboratories in 1898, where they had worked together for twenty-five years.
The company prospered, but the success of the business led to conflicts between Patti and Thomas, and even to a divorce in 1923. Since that time, each of them went into their own business.

So, Luzier founded the company Special Formula Laboratories, which produced cosmetics, perfumes and skin care products. Despite the Great Depression, his new company flourished and he expanded the business beyond Kansas City. In 1928, Luzier renamed the company Luzier’s Incorporated.

Luzier’s Incorporated became part of Bristol-Meyers Inc. in 1954. Noteworthy, the company began to actively advertise Luzier products, part of which became branded Luzier jewelry. Traditionally, these were brooches, pendants and rings lockets with perfume, compacts and other accessories advertising Luzier cosmetics.

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Fire fighter brooch. Silver tone, enamel, rhinestones. 1980s. Wendy Gell vintage costume jewelry

Wendy Gell vintage costume jewelry
The history of Wendy Gell brand began about 50 years ago in New York. According to official data, Wendy Gell Jewelry Inc., founded in 1975, ceased to exist in 1993. Its founder was American artist and jewelry designer Wendy Gell. Initially, the designer created eye-catching wrist bracelets with a multi-layered three-dimensional design. Since 1985, she has added Disney characters to her work by purchasing a license from the Disney Company.

In addition, she owned the eponymous trademark for the production of scarves (since 1988).
Noteworthy, after the closure of her company, the legendary Napier company invited her as a consultant on jewelry with Disney characters. Besides, after a long absence, Gell came back with new designs and ideas on her website wendygell.com.
Many stars, such as Elizabeth Taylor, Cher, Diana, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Hillary Clinton and Mick Jagger have had Wendy Gell jewelry in their collections.
Jewelry pieces created by Gell are wearable art, and highly collectible now.

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Glycines (wisteria) bracelet. Watermelon tourmalines, opals, enamel, gold, garnets and rubies. Made in 1900 for World Exhibition in Paris. Sold in 2016 for $260,000 at Christie’s, a record for the company’s jewelry. Wolfers Frères fine jewelry

Wolfers Frères fine jewelry
The history of Wolfers Frères jewelry company began in 1834 founded by the Belgian jeweler Louis Wolfers. His sons joined the family business in 1875, assisting their father in the workshop in Brussels.
After Louis’ death in 1892, his three sons, including Philippe Wolfers, continued the family business. Originally, they created designs in the Rococo style, and later followed the aesthetics of modernity.
Noteworthy, Philippe Wolfers marked his pieces, made between 1897 and 1908, with his unique stamp to distinguish them from the company’s creations. In total, he created 131 unique works and stopped making jewelry by 1908. Instead, he concentrated on sculpture in marble, ivory and bronze. Also, the master was engaged in ceramics, furniture and metal decor items. This was due to the fact that the Art Nouveau style gradually began to go out of fashion.
After the death of Philippe Wolfers in 1929, his son Marcel (1886-1976) continued the family business and made it successful.
Since 1987, Patrick Descamps has run the prestigious Wolfers Frères company. His luxury boutiques are currently located at 1 Waterloo Boulevard in Brussels, Belgium.
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Pulse collection geometric design 18 K rose gold and diamond earrings. French jeweler Jean Dinh Van

French jeweler Jean Dinh Van

Born 11 September 1927 in Paris, Jean Dinh Van is a renowned French jeweler of Vietnamese origin. He studied silversmithing at school and joined Cartier in the early 1960s. There he continued to study jewelry making, first as an apprentice and then as a craftsman, working for the company for 10 years. While working at Cartier, he met Pierre Cardin and made pieces for him that are still a symbol of his work, such as the Two Pearls ring.

Noteworthy, Dinh Van first used his name in jewelry marking in 1965, although he did not open his workshop until 1972. In the late 1960s, he immersed himself in the world of the Bauhaus masters and created exquisite jewels of great restraint. He also made friends with young designers, in particular with Claude Pelletier, who wanted to take jewelry out of its traditional “straight-line”. His products became popular both in France and Europe, as well as in the USA.
In order to sell his products in the US, he applied for an eponymous jewelry trademark on October 12, 1976. According to the United States federal trademark registration, the Jean Dinh Van trademark ceased to exist in 1985.
All of his minimalist designs, even those created 50 years ago, are very modern and highly collectible.
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Grape vine filigree bronze tone art glass brooch. 1980s. Jan Michaels vintage costume jewelry

Jan Michaels vintage costume jewelry
The history of Jan Michaels jewelry brand began more than forty years ago in Pacifica San Francisco, California. Incorporated in 1980, Jan Michaels Inc ceased to exist in 2020. For over 40 years she has created unique handcrafted designs which are recognized wearable art. Noteworthy, she designed each piece herself and her team of artisans meticulously assembled each piece by hand. Traditionally, they used antique brass, metal alloys and semi-precious stones and created a layered effect.
Inspired by travels, visits to museums and study of history, most of her collections pay tribute to the traditions of ancient India, Persia, China, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. In addition, during her travels, she collected materials for her jewelry. Among the most popular collections, which are miniature works of art, are Future Tribe, Sputnik, Romance, and others.
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Liberty Bell patriotic brooch pin. Gold tone, rhinestones, art glass. 1960s. Signed Cinerama vintage costume jewelry

Signed Cinerama vintage costume jewelry
History of Cinerama Jewelry Inc began in 1966 in Cranston, Rhode Island. It was a family business founded by Ralph Rafaelian (January 3, 1935 – February 18, 2012). A hereditary Armenian jeweler, Ralph was the grandson of goldsmith Melkon Rafaelian, who came to America in the early 20th century.
Ralph (Raffi) opened a jewelry factory where he designed patriotic, as well as classic floral motifs jewelry using rhinestones and crystals.
Following the family tradition, Raffi taught his daughters and they helped him in the factory from childhood.
One of them, Carolyn Rafaelian, joined the company in 1994 and became a well-known jeweler, a businesswoman who founded her own company, Alex and Ani. In addition to co-owning Cinerama, she founded dozens of jewelry brands and even became the richest female jeweler.
After her father’s death, Carolyn Rafaelian took over the management of Cinerama.
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