Bracelets

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About Sarah Coventry

Founded in 1949 by Charles Stuart, who named his costume-jewelry company after his granddaughter, Sarah Coventry did not follow the Coro, Trifari, or Miriam Haskell practice of producing the work of a strong in-house designer. Instead, Stuart purchased designs from freelancers, then hired firms such as DeLizza and Elster, whose house brand was Juliana, to create its chokers, necklaces, brooches, earrings, and bracelets.

Also unlike its competitors, Sarah Coventry did not focus on getting prime counter space in department stores or selling its wares to Hollywood movie stars. Stuart’s approach was more grassroots, using house parties (a la Tupperware and Avon) to get people talking about his affordable jewelry. He also gave his costume jewelry away to contestants on game shows and at beauty pageants. The word of mouth that resulted from this marketing strategy made Sarah Coventry one of the most popular jewelry brands of the mid-20th century. Sarah Coventry was sold in 1984 after filing for bankruptcy and it completely ceased production in 2008.

About CORO

Coro, a partnership between Emanuel Cohn (the "Co") and Carl Rosenberg (the "ro"), began producing jewelry in New York circa 1901 and continued through the 1970s under the marks Coro, Coro Craft (later Corocraft 1937), and Vendome (1944), among others. Although Vendome was the company's high-end line, some of the most sought-after pieces today are the Coro pieces, especially the Duettes, the company produced in the 1930s and 1940s. Coro’s success lasted through the mid-1950s, when it sold the American assets to Richton International Corp. of New York. The American branch of the company folded in 1979; the branch in Canada lasted through the 1990s.

About Trifari

Since the 1920s, Trifari has been one of the most respected and admired producers of costume jewelry in the United States. Founded in the 1910s by Gustavo Trifari, the Italian-immigrant son of a Napoli goldsmith, the company has designed jewelry that’s been worn by countless high-profile clients, from Mamie Eisenhower to Madonna. In 1994, Trifari became part of the Monet Group, which was acquired by Liz Claiborne in 2000.

About Lisner

For nearly 30 years after its 1904 founding, Lisner imported and sold Elsa Schiaparelli's Parisian jewelry in the United States. In the '30s, the company achieved a higher profile by finally selling its own designs that employed Dupont's new colored acrylic plastic called Lucite, as well as clear and colored rhinestones (particularly aurora borealis) and lava stones, as well as chromed, silver-plated, and black japanned metal.

About Napier

Though the history of Napier goes back to the late 19th-century, when the E. A. Bliss company made silverware, as well as gilt and silverplate jewelry, the word Napier was not associated with costume jewelry until the 1920s. If you’re intrigued, continue reading…

Costume Jewelry, Beyond June Cleaver by Tamara Bradshaw

Most women own at least a few pieces of costume jewelry, perhaps received as hand-me-downs from family members. Too often, though, these strings of faux pearls, goldtone chains, strands of glass beads, and heavy brooches remain in the jewelry box because they seem, well, boring. But you can wear ordinary pieces like these without looking like June Cleaver, Barbara Bush, or, for that matter, Hillary Clinton. Here’s how. If you’re intrigued, continue reading…

About Kramer

Founded in New York City at the height of World War II, Kramer Jewelry Creations produced intricate and artistic pieces out of gilt metal, rhinestones, glass, and enamel. Louis Kramer, who started the company in 1943, was later joined by his brothers, Morris and Harry, as he tapped into the burgeoning costume-jewelry market. All aspects of the business took place in New York City, so the pieces were marked “Kramer,” “Kramer N.Y.,” or “Kramer of New York.” Kramer closed its doors in the 1970s.

About Weiss

Before Albert Weiss founded his own costume-jewelry company in 1942, he was a designer for Coro in the 1930s. Weiss excelled at floral and figural brooches and earrings. The company also made numerous styles of bracelets and necklaces. Although Weiss never got as big as Coro and ceased operations in 1971, business was good enough in the 1950s and ’60s that the company had to contract with Hollycraft to fill its orders.

About Gale

Gale Creations, Inc., New York, New York was organized in 1955; it is not known when it was closed or sold. Gale signed jewelry is rare and very hard to find, either is was not produced in large quantities or pieces were marked with only a paper label.