Accessocraft
Was founded in New York in the early 1930’s by Edgar Rodelheimer and Theodore Steinman. The jewellery produced by the Company was bold with original and innovative designs. In addition to jewellery they also produced buckles, chain belts and opera glasses. They also produced ranges of jewellery for fashion designers Anne Kline and Pauline Trigere.
Albion
The Albion Jewelry Company was founded in Chicago, in 1935. They did not always sign their jewellery and their designs could easily be confused with those produced by Bogoff. Albion jewellery is relatives scarce.
AMCO
A. Micallef & Co. Inc. was founded in Providence, RI, in 1919. They prided themselves on producing costume jewellery which emulated fine jewellery. Their designs were classic, elegant and well constructed using top quality materials. AMCO jewellery has always been relatively expensive and is now highly sought after by collectors. The Company ceased production sometime in the late 1970’s.
Art
The Art Mode Jewelry Creations Company founded in the mid 1940’s, created ART jewellery. Their designs are quite unusual, harking back to the Victorian and Art Deco periods. They used good quality stones, unusual colour combinations and orate metal work. The Company ceased production in the 1970’s.
Barclay
This Company should not be confused for McClelland Barclay. This Company originated as the New England Glasswork Company founded in 1911. It subsequently changed to the Rice-Weiner Company in 1938, then in 1946 the Company split and the name was changed to Barclay Jewelers Inc. Their jewellery is usually marked however in the last few years of production pieces were not signed. The Company ceased production in 1957.
Beau/Beaucraft
Beaucraft Inc was founded in Providence, Rhode Island in 1947. They created fine quality jewellery in silver and some times 14k gold. The gold pieces are always marked Beau, so as not to be confused with the silver items. In 2004 the Company ceased production and all the stock was auctioned off.
Bellini
The Formart Corporation, New York, made Bellini jewellery. They designed high quality and unique costume jewellery throughout the 1960’s and 70’s. The Company is still producing jewellery.
Bergere
Bergere is the mark used by Herbert and Pohs Inc, which was founded in New York in 1947. The jewellery produced by this Company was sold through prestigious department stores such as Lord and Taylor, and Marshall Fields in America. In the mid 1950’s they created a line of meshed and stamped metal jewellery, which they retailed as having “the look of real jewelry”. The Company ceased production in 1979.
Bogoff
Founded in Chicago in 1946 by Henry Bogoff. They sold their pieces through major retailers such as Sears, J.C. Penney and Saks Fifth Avenue. Henry died in 1958 and despite his wife’s best efforts to keep the business going sadly it ceased production sometime in the 1960’s. Jewellery produced by Bogoff must have been manufactured in relatively limited quantities since it is not very common in the collectible market.
Boucher
Boucher is possibly one of the best designers of costume jewellery in America. This talented designer began his career in 1920’s Paris, studying/apprenticed to Pierre Cartier. In 1937 he established Marcel Boucher et Cie in New York, where he produced the most exquisite costume jewellery, it was often mistaken for the “real” thing. Marcel died in 1965 his wife, Sandra, led the company until 1972. In 1979 the Company was sold to a Canadian Company, D’Orlan.
Butler and Wilson
Established by Nicky Wilson and Simon Butler in London in the early 70’s. They originally started with a market stall selling art deco pieces, which they later drew inspiration from when creating their own lines. In the 1980’s they became known for their bold whimsical interpretations of animals and, in particular, their spider brooches. Famous celebrities including Joan Collins and Diana Princess of Wales wore their designs. Their jewellery has glamour and glitz. The duo split in the 1990’s with Simon Wilson retaining the Butler and Wilson name.
Carnegie
Hattie Carnegie (Henrietta Kanengeiser) was born in Vienna in 1886, immigrating to America in the early 1900’s. Her career started in the garment industry, she opened several shops in New York selling high-end dresses and millinery, thereby creating Hattie Carnegie Inc. in 1918. As with many of the other designers she created lines of jewellery to compliment her dresses. Due to the popularity of her designs, they began to mass-produce pieces selling them through exclusive department stores. Among the clientele to her boutiques were prominent socialites and movies stars such as Joan Crawford. Her jewellery was expensive at the time and remains so, it is highly collectible today.
Castlecliff
The Castlemark Company was founded in 1937 although, they did not use the Caslecliff mark until 1941. The pieces they created were bold and well constructed in a variety of designs, influenced mainly by the Gothic, Renaissance and Art Deco periods. The Company, in this form, ceased production in 1977.
Caviness
Alice Caviness, like so many of the other designers, started her career in the garment industry. Just after the Second World War she moved into the production of costume jewellery, with two designers, Camille Ketronzio and Lois Steever. Her jewellery exhibits bold designs and bright colour combinations. Alice retired from the Company in 1970 and subsequently died in 1983. Piece by Alice Caviness are not readily available in the collectible market.
Chanel
Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel was a pioneering French designer (probably the best known designer in the world) who opened Chanel Modes in Paris in 1910. The salon carried an exclusive line of hats. In 1913 she introduced her luxe casual line, which subsequently expanded into a full line of fashion, shoes, accessories and jewellery. Again, the jewellery was originally made to compliment her fashion creations. She introduced the new concept of wearing fine jewellery with “junk” or costume jewellery. Her jewellery designs often harkened back to the Renaissance period using heavy gilt with large stones and faux pearls. During the Second World War Chanel closed her boutique but re-opened in 1954. She continued to design jewellery until her death in 1971. Her pieces, in particular the older items, are extremely highly collectible. The Chanel Company is still producing costume jewellery.
Charel
The Charel Jewelry Co was founded in New York in 1945. Pieces by this Company are not common.
Ciner
The Ciner Manufacturing Company was a family-owned business, founded by Emanuel Ciner in 1892 in Manhattan, New York. The Company originally produced expensive fine jewellery. In 1931 Ciner moved into the world of costume jewellery. They produced a wide range of pieces resembling, and often mistaken for, fine jewellery. Ciner jewellery is characterised by beautiful designs, superbly executed workmanship using high-quality materials.
Coro
Emanuel Cohn & Carl Rosenberger founded Coro jewellery, in New York in 1901/02. By the 1920’s the Company had become one of the largest of all costume jewellery manufacturers, producing a prolific amount. Sadly, the company went out of business in 1979, although Coro Inc. in Canada continued production in to the 1990’s. The Coro Company produced many ranges of jewellery from low to high quality, using different trade names such as Corocraft, Coro supreme and Coro Originals, to name but a few.
Danecraft
In the 1930’s Victor and Thomas Primavera opened their Company Primavera Jewelry Company Inc. After Thomas’ death in 1939, Victor founded Danecraft Inc. and set up production in Providence Rhode Island. During the Second World War the Company changed it’s name to Felch and Co. They produced good quality silver jewellery influenced by the designs of Scandinavian silver jewellery. Danecraft also produced an alternative clip fitting called the Wingback fastener. The Company is still producing jewellery today.
Haskell
Miriam Haskell, in collaboration with Frank Hess, created some of the most original jewellery ever made, creating organic floral and abstract designs. She started her career in 1924 and was influenced by her friend Coco Chanel. In 1926 she opened her first boutique “Le Bijou De L’Heure” In New York’s McAlpin Hotel, where she created stylish and lavish jewels for the society ladies of the day, including the Duchess of Windsor and Joan Crawford. Her pieces were all hand made with an extremely high attention to detail, which made them expensive at the time and extremely collectible now.
Ledo
Ledo costume jewellery is quite rare, possibly because the Ledo mark was only used between 1948 and 1963 (approximately). The Company was founded by Ralph Polcini in 1911, and was originally called the “Leading Jewelry Manufacturing Company”.
Sherman
Gustave Sherman started his Company in 1947 in Canada. He was considered to be Canada’s premier costume jewellery manufacturer, using only the finest quality Swarovski crystals in bold and extravagant designs. The Company ceased production in/around 1981.
