Diamanté & Sterling Ciro Brooch or Pair of Clips
MAKER: Ciro (Retailer)
SIZE: 2" x 3/4"
CONDITION: Excellent
DATE: Late-1930s
MARKS: "CIRO ENGLAND STERLING"
REFERENCE:
This fine vintage Ciro brooch is a dainty and exceptionally well-made piece, probably from the late-1930s. The design of furled sterling silver ribbons set with diamantés reflects the romanticism of the period. Wear this lovely piece as a brooch on your collar, hat, or cloth bag. The separate dress clips bring elegant sparkle to a round- or v-neckline. The condition of the stones is exceptional. Although this jewel bears Ciro’s mark, the piece was made by an unknown French or German company. The trombone clasp is a clue to the country of origin. Like the jewelry of many high-end retailers, Ciro’s was designed, produced and stamped with their logo by various manufacturers whose work was commissioned. This double clip brooch is the only one I’ve seen with a brooch mechanism that frames the entire piece. Vintage Ciro jewels are hard to date and were not inexpensive when they were made.
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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.