Citrine, Golden Topaz & Mother-of-Pearl Brooch & Earrings Set
1950s Jewelry, Alice Caviness Jewelry, Costume Jewelry Sets / Parures, Vintage Brooches & PinsThis vintage wreath brooch and earrings set by Alice Caviness features amazing layers of components wired onto a decorative brass frame. Included are citrine- glass stones in multiple shapes and sizes, faceted golden-topaz beads, mother-of-pearl disks, aurora borealis diamanté, and textured brass leaves. The jeweled frame of the brooch is mounted on another that holds the pin and roll-over safety clasp; each earring has a round filigree back with the ear clip. The complexity of the design and construction seen here are often present in this maker’s work, which I believe is underrated. This set is definitely not for the faint-hearted! I will include the matching bracelet, which has only three of its four strands of beads, but it is wearable. Scroll down to see a similar pair of earrings by Caviness.USD$395.00USD$395.00Citrine, Pearl & Gold 1950s Brooch & Earrings Set by Elsa Schiaparelli
1950s Jewelry, Costume Jewelry Sets / Parures, Elsa Schiaparelli Jewelry, Vintage Brooches & Pins, Vintage EarringsThis Schiaparelli earrings and brooch set from the 1950s features a large citrine glass stone surrounded by tiny pearls in an elaborate, antiqued, gold-plated setting. Notice how the faceting of each citrine forms an eight-pointed star design. Schiaparelli frequently used this cut of glass stone in her pieces. The pin has a roll-over safety clasp. You can see the utility patent for the ear clip here, below the names Frederick A. Ballou, Jr. & Rogers T. Stafford.USD$495.00USD$495.00Colored Bead Dangling Brooch by Miriam Haskell
1930s Jewelry, Vintage Brooches & Pins, Vintage Miriam Haskell JewelryThis dangling bead pin was designed by Frank Hess for Miriam Haskell in the 1930s. A textured Russian-gold wreath embellished with blue, green, red and yellow glass beads forms the top of this whimsical jewel. Note that the beads were hand-sewn onto the pierced metal foundation. Dangling tubes and beads in the same colors finish the piece. It closes with a simple C-clasp. Lots of movement here. Primary colors never looked so good!USD$225.00USD$225.00Crystal Brooch with Onyx Stripes
1930s Jewelry, Unsigned Jewelry, Vintage Brooches & PinsThis crystal brooch features a beautifully-faceted triangle on each end. The centerpiece has three rows of alternating crystal and onyx-glass rectangles. The construction of this Art Deco piece is outstanding. White metal frames hold the stones, and the edges of the triangle frames are etched. This stunning jewel from my personal collection closes with a roll-over safety clasp. I believe this piece was made in Germany or the former Czechoslovakia.USD$275.00USD$275.00Diamanté & Sterling 1930s Lapel Watch by Pennino Bros.
1930s Jewelry, Pennino Bros. Jewelry, Vintage Brooches & PinsThis amazing lapel watch by Pennino is the ultimate in Art Deco design, with pavé and baguettes set in rhodium-plated sterling silver. The pin closes with a roll-over safety clasp. And the best part is that the watch works! It has been cleaned by my expert watchmaker. The watch is attached to the brooch upside down, so you can read the time when you are wearing this piece. The numbers on the watch face are also SO Deco in design, and the original blue hour, minute and second hands are present. What an unusual and fantastic piece! Scroll down to see a selection of lovely coordinating bracelets.USD$595.00USD$595.00Diamanté & Sterling 2-Row Bar Brooch
1920s Jewelry, Unsigned Jewelry, Vintage Brooches & PinsThis Art Deco pin with two rows of diamanté and sterling silver has the same look and construction of the channel-set glass-stone bangle bracelets of the era. Even the edges of the brooch are engraved. The faceted, square-cut stones are bright and sparkly. This piece closes with a roll-over safety clasp. This classic jewel goes with everything! Scroll down to see a selection of lovely coordinating bracelets.USD$195.00USD$195.00Diamanté & Two-tone 1940s Maple Leaf Brooch by McClelland Barclay
1940s Jewelry, Rice-Weiner Jewelry, Vintage Brooches & PinsThis brooch by McClelland Barclay features a small silver-tone diamanté-encrusted maple leaf laid on top of a larger gold-tone one. The pin closes with a roll-over safety clasp. With two colors of metal, this graceful piece can be worn with anything. The bright areas on the bottom leaf are camera reflections. The two small areas of darkening are not noticeable when worn. According to Brunialti, Gioia Mori's biography of Tamara de Lempicka includes a picture of the well-known Art Deco portraitist wearing a brooch like this one. Need a better endorsement?USD$275.00USD$275.00Diamanté & Gold Leaf Brooch
1950s Jewelry, Hattie Carnegie Jewelry, Vintage Brooches & PinsThis 1950s gold leaf brooch features ropes of yellow metal that form a trio of leaves adorned with diamantés. This graceful piece by Hattie Carnegie has lots of sparkle. It goes with nearly everything and closes with a roll-over safety clasp. Wear your own yellow gold hoop earrings, or a pair of diamond studs or hoops to complete the look. Or put on your gold bangle bracelet if you have one. A lovely and elegant jewel for those who love diamonds and like to wear warm colors.USD$295.00USD$295.00Diamanté & Gold Starfish Brooch by Alice Caviness
1950s Jewelry, Alice Caviness Jewelry, Costume Jewelry Sets / Parures, Vintage Brooches & PinsThis vintage starfish brooch is bold and dazzling. The aurora borealis diamantés in the gold-tone setting take on the color of the metal, catch the light, and seem to dance. The brooch with a roll-over safety clasp reflects the hue of the garment it's pinned to. Although women in the 1950s typically wore matching sets of jewelry, you don't have to do that. Just add gold studs or hoops. Consider these ear clips, each shaped like one of the creature's arms, a bonus. This jewel is versatile and guaranteed to get you noticed! What an imaginative adornment for a bride's hair or veil!USD$395.00USD$395.00Diamanté & Rose Vermeil Floral Réja Brooch
1940s Jewelry, Réja Jewelry, Vintage Brooches & PinsThis Réja brooch is a graceful 1940s creation in the Retro Modern style. It features rose-gold-plated sterling silver embellished with diamanté flowers and pavé leaves. The warm-toned metal setting makes this piece a perfect adornment for women who like to wear warm colors. This maker’s jewels are hard to find, and this one is lovely and timeless.USD$295.00USD$295.00Diamanté & Sterling Ciro Brooch or Pair of Clips
1930s Jewelry, Ciro Jewelry, Double Clip Brooches, Vintage Brooches & PinsThis fine vintage Ciro brooch is a dainty and exceptionally well-made piece, probably from the late-1930s. The design of furled sterling silver ribbons set with diamantés reflects the romanticism of the period. Wear this lovely piece as a brooch on your collar, hat, or cloth bag. The separate dress clips bring elegant sparkle to a round- or v-neckline. The condition of the stones is exceptional. Although this jewel bears Ciro's mark, the piece was made by an unknown French or German company. The trombone clasp is a clue to the country of origin. Like the jewelry of many high-end retailers, Ciro’s was designed, produced and stamped with their logo by various manufacturers whose work was commissioned. This double clip brooch is the only one I’ve seen with a brooch mechanism that frames the entire piece. Vintage Ciro jewels are hard to date and were not inexpensive when they were made.USD$345.00USD$345.00Diamanté & Sterling Twisted Bar Brooch by Dorsons
1940s Jewelry, Dorsons Jewelry, Vintage Brooches & PinsThe design of this 1940s Dorsons sterling silver brooch with hand-set diamantés was called a ‘twisted bar pin’. It comes in its original box, marked with the Jubilee trademark used by the maker (aka D. Ornstein & Sons). This jewel is timeless, and it goes with everything! You can even wear it as a barrette in your hair! This brooch was advertised in the December 1, 1947 issue of Life magazine. Scroll down to see a selection of lovely coordinating bracelets. One is by the same maker.USD$295.00USD$295.00Diamanté Bar Brooch by Schreiber & Hiller
1930s Jewelry, Schreiber & Hiller Jewelry, Vintage Brooches & PinsThis vintage bar brooch has a 3 ½”-long, single channel of diamantés in a rhodium-plated setting. From the side, the shape is a trapezoid. This design incorporates the flat-top construction of the patented link. This brooch closes with a trombone clasp. A great piece for a jacket lapel! Scroll down to see bracelets by this maker to wear with this jewel.USD$185.00USD$185.00Diamanté Floral Brooch by Miriam Haskell
1950s Jewelry, Vintage Brooches & Pins, Vintage Miriam Haskell JewelryWhether you’re looking for a wedding dress brooch or something unique and elegant for every day, this sparkly jewel is for you. It is identical to the “central motif” of a necklace shown in the Gordon & Pamfiloff book on this maker. There the centerpiece is described as “silver metal leaves edged with rose montées and two large clear rhinestones surrounded by smaller rhinestones”. While the necklace is much more elaborate, this Frank Hess-designed 1950s piece is perfect for today, any time of day! I bought this brooch for myself, but I am now reluctantly offering it to a new home.USD$445.00USD$445.00Diamanté Lightning Bolt 1930s Brooch by Schreiber & Hiller
1930s Jewelry, Schreiber & Hiller Jewelry, Vintage Brooches & PinsThis 1930s brooch by the German maker Schreiber & Hiller reminds me of a bolt of lightning, a popular theme in Machine Age jewelry of that decade. This piece is formed by seven flat-top links that are bent to form a sort of zig-zag shape. Long (3 ¼”) and lean, this unusual brooch closes with a trombone clasp. An elegant and unusual adornment for a jacket lapel. Scroll down to see coordinating bracelets.USD$225.00USD$225.00Emerald & Diamanté Circle Brooch by McClelland Barclay
1940s Jewelry, Rice-Weiner Jewelry, Vintage Brooches & PinsThis vintage emerald brooch, designed by McClelland Barclay, has two layers. On the bottom is a curved, rhodium-plated base with a pin and roll-over safety clasp. The top layer has faceted, emerald-cut emerald-glass stones, emerald-glass baguettes, and diamanté accents, all set in a spiraling rhodium-plated frame. As with all of this designer’s creations, this 1940s piece is well-constructed with a hefty weight. I’ve shown this jewel positioned in different ways, so you can choose which you prefer. Note that the Barclay’s name rather than the maker’s is stamped on this jewel.USD$295.00USD$295.00Emerald & Pavé Gold Bow Boucher Brooch
1950s Jewelry, Marcel Boucher Jewelry, Vintage Brooches & PinsThis Boucher brooch from 1950 is a fine example of this maker’s design flair. A gold-plated open-work bow is embellished with diamantés and emerald glass stones. The curled edges with pavé and square-cut, faceted green stones that form the knot showcase his attention to detail. This jewel closes with a roll-over safety clasp. Scroll down to see the same design with sapphires.USD$295.00USD$295.00Emerald, Diamanté & Gold Bow Brooch by Mazer Bros.
1940s Jewelry, Mazer Bros. Jewelry, Vintage Brooches & PinsThis gold-plated brooch from the 1940s has pavé-trimmed, ribbon loops tied in bows. On top sits a flower with petals of emerald-glass baguettes and a round diamanté center. A silver-tone metal cup holds the flower, which is attached to the base with a screw. The pin closes with a roll-over safety clasp. Mazer Bros.’ use of high-quality materials and techniques is evident in this piece. With its gold-tone metal and green stones, this brooch is perfect for a woman who likes to wear warm colors. Scroll down to see a version in cool colors: an all diamanté base topped with a sapphire flower.USD$225.00USD$225.00Emerald, Diamanté & Vermeil Coro Bouquet Brooch
1940s Jewelry, Coro Jewelry, Vintage Brooches & PinsThis Coro bouquet brooch is another beautiful Retro Modern design by Adolf Katz for Coro’s high-end line. This jewel features a gold-plated-sterling silver wide furled ribbon. It has one edge trimmed in diamantés and emerald-glass baguettes at the center of the curl. A cut in the ribbon holds four baguette-lined stems with faceted, oval, foil-backed emerald-glass flowers with diamanté accents. This jewel has a complex construction, as illustrated by the rivets that bind the elements. The pin fastens with a roll-over safety clasp. This brooch was included in an ad in the August 1, 1944 issue of Vogue that featured Coro-Craft “Masterpieces of Fashion Jewelry”. The first image shows the brooch as it is positioned in the technical drawing for the design patent; the second shows it as positioned in the ad. You decide how to wear it!USD$225.00USD$225.00Emerald, Diamanté & Vermeil Ribbon Brooch
1940s Jewelry, Coro Jewelry, Vintage Brooches & PinsThis gold ribbon brooch is a triple-loop horizontal bow adorned with a row of diamantés at each end. A flower cupped in the same gold-plated sterling sits on top. It has a diamanté center and petals of baguettes alternating with teardrop-shaped emerald-glass stones. This Retro Modern piece was designed by Adolph Katz for CoroCraft, Coro’s high-end line of costume jewelry. The pin closes with a roll-over safety clasp. Some spotting on gold-plating; any bright color variations in metal are only camera reflections.USD$225.00USD$225.00Gemstone & Rose Vermeil ‘Stars in the Sky’ Brooch by Coro
1940s Jewelry, Coro Jewelry, Vintage Brooches & PinsThis 1940s Coro brooch is named Stars in the Sky. At 4 1/2" in length, this bouquet brooch designed by Adolph Katz is a triumph of the Retro Modern style and the largest piece in this collection. Nine rose-gold-plated sterling silver stems are held together with furls of ribbon and topped with faceted-glass flowers in shades of emerald, sapphire, ruby and citrine. Diamanté accents complete the jewel. This brooch was advertised in the September 1, 1943 issue of Vogue.USD$395.00USD$395.00Gemstone & Rose Vermeil Calla Lily Pin by Coro
1940s Jewelry, Coro Jewelry, Vintage Brooches & PinsThis calla lily pin from the 1940s has a rose-gold-plated sterling silver ribbon tied in a three-looped bow. Three stems of calla lilies with a navette centers of amethyst, ruby, and peridot glass sit on top. Tiny pink tourmaline, sapphire, and diamanté navettes tie the stems together. The pin closes with a roll-over safety clasp. Although the drawing in the design patent shows this brooch with the flowers facing down, I prefer them facing up, reaching for the sky! The photos show both positions, so you can decide. This gorgeous Retro Modern design by Adolph Katz for Coro’s high-end line was also made with all citrine flowers – scroll down to see that version.USD$325.00USD$325.00Gemstone & Vermeil Flower Adolph Katz Brooch
1940s Jewelry, Coro Jewelry, Vintage Brooches & PinsThis Adolph Katz brooch is a substantial gold-plated sterling silver flower adorned with aquamarine- and ruby-glass stones and a diamanté center. The petals have decorative piercings and are tilted and slightly curled, giving them lots of life. Stylized and graceful, this piece is a fine example of the Retro Modern style so popular in the 1940s. This three-dimensional jewel is a larger version of two brooch/pendants in this design – scroll down to see them. Note that any bright color variations in metal are only camera reflections.USD$325.00USD$325.00