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

1940s brooch with bows of diamantes & sapphire glasss
Close-up view of flower layer
Back of 1940s brooch, showing construction & maker's mark

Sapphire & Diamanté Bow Brooch by Mazer Bros.

$245.00

MAKER: Mazer Bros.

SIZE: 2 1/4" x 1 5/8"

CONDITION: Excellent

DATE: 1946-1948 (based on mark and non-use of sterling, per Brunialti)

MARKS: "MAZER"

REFERENCE:

This 1940s brooch shaped like bows was made in two layers. The base is formed by five loops and seven tails encrusted with diamantés. A flower with sapphire-glass-baguette petals and diamanté center, cupped in the same rhodium-plated base metal, sits on top. This piece was made by Mazer Bros. after World War II. As with all of the company’s jewels from this period, this one is well-designed and constructed. The pin closes with a roll-over safety clasp. This piece is perfect for a woman who likes to wear cool colors. Scroll down to see another version in warm hues.

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Sapphire & Diamanté Bow Brooch by Mazer 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.