Signed Rutino Vintage Costume Jewelry

An Italian manufacturer of high-fashion costume jewelry, Rutino traces its roots back to the late 1970s. As was often the case, the small town of Rutino in southwestern Italy gave its name to the jewellery workshop and brand. The jewellery is clearly marked on the back with the word “Rutino” in capital letters on a rectangular cartouche and without a copyright sign.

Rutino created couture costume jewellery that caught the attention of the Italian fashion houses in the 1980s. Handcrafted from high-quality alloys, using gold plating, cubic zirconia, Austrian crystals, mother-of-pearl and enamel, these pieces participated in fashion shows.

However, Rutino created jewellery for no more than a decade, unable to withstand the competition from Asian jewellery that flooded the fashion jewellery market. Already in the early 1990s, a Taiwanese company bought the brand and began producing Rutino costume jewelry, but without the previous markings on the back of the products. Instead, they sold jewelry on branded cards and also indicated Taiwan as the country of manufacture. Noteworthy, not only the style of the Rutino logo changed, but also the quality of the jewelry.

Today, made in the 1970-80s Rutino costume jewelry is extremely rare on the vintage jewelry market and is a collector’s item.

Made in Italy Rutino Vintage Costume Jewelry (1970-80s)

Made in Taiwan Rutino costume jewelry: