This site has limited support for your browser. We recommend switching to Edge, Chrome, Safari, or Firefox.

FREE SHIPPING to the United States & Canada

Expert in vintage costume jewelry from the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s & 1950s

Aquamarine earrings by Pennino Bros.
Flirty 1940s earrings by Pennino Brothers
Close-up view of flower petals & center
Earring backs
Maker's mark

Aquamarine Floral Earrings by Pennino Bros.

$245.00

MAKER: Pennino Bros.

SIZE: 1 1/4" diameter

CONDITION: Excellent

DATE: c.1947 (see description)

MARKS: "STERLING PENNINO PAT. PEND"

REFERENCE: See Brunialti, Vol. 2, pp.7-8, for "Sunburst" brooches and "Bulrush" set

These aquamarine earrings were made by Pennino Bros. in the 1940s. The curled, flirty flower petals in gold-washed metal are the same shape and finish this maker used in a series of 1947 brooches called Sunburst. The glass stone settings are the same as their Bulrush brooch and earrings set from the same year. Both were made in vermeil sterling. According to Brunialti, the patent pending mark on these earrings refers to the clip mechanism, as these designs were not patented. Because the sterling mark is on the ear clip only, I can’t say for sure that this pair is sterling silver. These details are just for background – all Pennino jewels are divine! And by facing each other, these earrings frame your face to perfection. Please note that bright spots are merely lighting reflections.

FREE SHIPPING to the United States and Canada

[{"variant_id":"44746032742676" , "metafield_value":""}]

Aquamarine Floral Earrings by Pennino Bros.

$245.00 USD
Why Buy Vintage Costume Jewelry?

One reason is that it’s environmentally friendly. Resale fashion and vintage jewelry has become a preferred sustainable and affordable shopping choice by today’s discerning fashion and eco-conscious consumer.

Another major reason is the quality. Although vintage costume jewelry was made for all levels of the marketplace – from dime stores to high-end fashion boutiques and jewelry stores – you will find only the best pieces here. They were well-designed and carefully made to last. The manufacturers represented here used only the finest materials – glass stones and beads from Bohemia, Austria, and France, and faux pearls from France and Japan. Settings were primarily sterling silver, gold-filled, or base metals heavily plated with gold, silver, or rhodium. Stones were hand-set, and pieces were hand-finished.

The northeastern part of the U.S. was the center of the industry, with the largest companies located in Providence, Rhode Island by the end of World War II. During the Depression, the quality of costume pieces climbed to new levels when many jewelers and craftsmen had to switch to this segment of the industry. In addition, it attracted many skilled workers who fled the political situation in Europe for the U.S. For these reasons, designs and manufacturing techniques rivaled those employed in the making of fine jewelry.

A third reason to buy costume jewelry is its uniqueness. Having survived for so many decades in such wonderful condition and having been selected for their aesthetic quality, the pieces you’ll find here are unlikely to be found elsewhere.

True vs Fake - how to shop vintage costume jewelry with confidence

Barbara Schwartz, a noted costume jewelry historian, is the author of "True vs Fake" , an in-depth blog series providing examples of how vintage costume jewelry can be accurately attributed. She also shares tips on how to avoid being duped into buying misidentified vintage costume jewelry.