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

1940s Corocraft brooch with amethyst & diamantes
Another view of Coro Retro Modern brooch
Close-up view of vermeil flower petals
Close-up view of faceted amethyst glass stones
Brooch back
Design patent for Corocraft brooch

Amethyst, Diamanté & Vermeil Bouquet Brooch

$445.00

MAKER: Coro

SIZE: 1 1/2" x 3 1/2"

CONDITION: Excellent

DATE: c.1943 (based on design patent and use of sterling, per Brunialti)

MARKS: "Coro Craft" (in script) and "STERLING" on oval cartouche

REFERENCE: Design patent D136,506 issued to Adolph Katz in 1943

This Corocraft brooch is just stunning! This Adolph Katz-designed piece has four pavé stems topped with faceted, oval amethyst-glass stones that are gathered through the center of a flower with diamanté-rimmed gold-plated sterling silver petals. The gold-plating on the flower is perfect – the difference in tone you see is from the camera’s reflection. What an outstanding example of the Retro Modern style! I have photographed the brooch in the vertical position as well as horizontally, as it appears in the patent drawing (shown in the second photo). This jewel, which closes with a roll-over safety clasp, is rich in contrasting colors and was in my personal collection. Wear it on the lapel of a blazer, and I guarantee you’ll be noticed!

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Amethyst, Diamanté & Vermeil Bouquet Brooch

$445.00 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.