Researching Costume Jewelry History, Companies and Signatures -“R”

Posted by Mark Lewis | On 24 August,2019 | In Costume Jewelry Marks

Costume Jewelry Collectors Int’l
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Researching Costume Jewelry

 originally published by Dotty Stringfield on IllusionJewels.com

 

Jewelry History – Jewelry Research – Jewelry Marks – Jewelry Signatures – Jewelry Articles – Jewelry Galleries

 

COSTUME JEWELRY MARKS – R*

 

Information and images contained in Researching Costume Jewelry (RCJ) were created by Illusion Jewels and are currently maintained and updated by Costume Jewelry Collectors Int’l (CJCI). Written permission by CJCI is needed to use any information obtained from RCJ in any other publication whether written or electronic.


Mystery Marks?  | Researching Costume Jewelry – Home

Due to the large volume of requests received, we are unable to answer individual questions about jewelry marks and signatures.

 

R

R — used by many companies with different style lettering, inside shapes, etc.

Some of the companies were:

  • Royalty Jewelry MFG of NY — 1955
  • Reich Jewelry — 1956
  • O.M. Resen –1932
  • Reeves MFG Corp. of NY — 1961

 

R with 10 KT inside — See W.E. RICHARDS

 

R with INC. inside — See ROLYN

 

RR — See RUSH, ROBIN

 

RABANNE, PACO — c. March 1966

 

RADER, PAULINE — 1962-1980s

  • Mark:   Pauline Rader     Photo courtesy Laura Libio.
  • Business established by Pauline Rader and her husband, Benton.
  • Started out selling strands of Majorca pearls and novelty watches.
  • Used New York manufacturers to produce their designs including prototype necklaces created by Pauline and replicating some of her collection of antique finger rings.
  • Established showroom in Forrest Hills, NY around 1968 with a winter location in Palm Beach, Florida.
  • Couple retired in the 1980s and donated their remaining stock to charity.

Updated 1/15/20 by Pamela Wiggins Siegel
 

RADIO — See FORSTNER–FORSTNER CHAIN CORP

 

RAFFALELE

  • Mark:   Raffaele Sterling     Photo courtesy Alison’s Antiques & Vintage Jewelry on Ruby Lane
  • Possibly a Canadian company in Quebec.

 

RAFFAELLO — See CREAZIONI RAFAELLO

 

RAGA INC.

  Mark:      Photo courtesy Molly Garza

  • Mark: RAGA
  • Dates: 1985; mark abandoned in 1992
  • Location: NYC

 

RALPH DEROSA — See DEROSA, RALPH

 

THE RALPH SINGER JEWELRY CO., Chicago, Illinois — 1921 to present

    • Mark:   Ora was first used in the late 1940s     Photo courtesy of Gail Gupton
    • Mark:   Ora Creations
    • Mark:   Ora Originals      Photo courtesy Cheri Van Hoover.
    • Founded in Chicago by Oreste Agnini & Ralph Singer.”ORA” is a combination of “Oreste” and “Ralph”.
    • Early pieces were not signed.
    • Manufactured early pieces for Eisenberg according to company records. Many of these pieces were unmarked.
    • In addition to fashion jewelry, the company made Fraternal jewelry for Shiners, Masons, Lions, etc.
    • Agnini retired 1953 & Mr. Singer bought his half of the company and it became “The Ralph Singer Co.”
    • The Singer family ran the company until 1984.
    • In 1984, Singer’s son-in-law, Ray Pausback sold the company to Stanford B. Smith. Mr. Smith died in 1992, and his son Stan and daughter-in-law Carole now own and run the company.
    • Currently, their fraternal line is sold all over the country, and the fashion line is currently sold just on the internet.
    • The company has a website: https://www.ralphsingerjewelry.com/
    • Have ad from 1954.

 

RAMBLING ROSES (script) — See CORO

 

RAME’

      • Mark: Rame’ Photo courtesy justabunchawildflowers
      • Dates: c. 1950’s
      • Location: Providence, RI
      • Other comments: Made copper jewelry very similar in design to Renoir. Firm eventually closed due to Renoir’s enforcement of copyright laws (info from Copper Art Jewelry by Matthew Burkholz)

 

RAMSEY, LAURA — c. 1990s

      • Line:   Romanza — line of costume jewelry, plated metal and rhinestones.
      • Line:   Illusions — higher end 925 vermeil CZ jewelry sold exclusively by Value Vision.
      • Mark:   “LR 925” was marked on all her vermeil pieces.      Information and photo courtesy Robin Deutsch.
      • She and her husband also make fine jewelry.

 

RANDEL, ESHA — See ESHA RANDEL

 

RAPALLO

Mark:   Rapallo
  Photo courtesy ID: justabunchawildflowers

 

RAZZA, LUCA — designer Luca Razza from 1950s

      • Mark: RAZZA — c. 1970    Courtesy Lilly Vittetow
      • Mark: L. Razza — April, 1965    Photo courtesy eclecticgramma
      • Razza began working in the jewelry business in the 1950’s.
      • Razza and Lionel Mercier started Raz-Mer Casting Co. which made raw castings for Alice Jewelry [Lillian Vernon], Rice-Weiner, and Weiss among others.
      • In Dec. 1958, Luca & Stanley Conheim started the Ronnie Jewelry Co.
      • They sold Ronnie Jewelry in 1968 to The Certified Corporation, who owned Whiting & Davis and DaVinci Jewelry.
      • Stanley died about 1969; Razza remained with Certified until 1975, where he designed the plastic pieces, including large pendant animal necklaces, for which he is well known.
      • In the early 1990’s Razza formed Plaza Jewelry in North Kingstown, RI.
      • Information from the Fall 2003 & Spring 2004 issues of VFCJ Magazine.

 

RDEROSA — See DEROSA, RALPH

 

REBAJES — 1932 to 1967

      • Mark:   Rebajes  
      • Mark:      
      • Francisco Rebajes relocated to Spain & continued to make jewelry until his death in 1990.
      • Some Rebajes pieces are currently being reproduced.
      • Photos courtesy Cathy Gordon.   Visit her gallery to see examples.

 

REEVES

      • Mark:   REEVES     Photo courtesy ID: justabunchawildflowers

 

REGALA — See CORO

 

REGEL — See A REGAL

 

REGENCY –Regina Novelty Company, New York, New York — c. 1950–1970

      • Mark:   Regency     Photo courtesy Beth Rowlands.
      • Mark:   “Fleur de Paris by Regency”; other side “hand Made of Imported French Glass”     Courtesy Joan Redden
      • Mark:   Regency Jewels  mark has been seen on a brooch with an original Regency hangtag.   Photo courtesy Kathryn of the-vintage-jewelry-advisor.com
      • The family name was Polowitz.

 

REGIMENTAL CRESTS — See SANDOR

 

REINAD — 1922 to at least 1954

      • Mark: Reinad — used after 1941  .
      • Mark: Reinad script      Photo courtesy Myrna Seale.
      • Mark: Reinad N.Y.C.     Courtesy Mary Ann Docktor-Smith
      • Mark: Reinad 5th Ave. N.Y. – hang tag    Courtesy Cindy Franze
      • Mark:   Sceptron — 1944. Listed in books as Reinad mark, but needs further research.
      • Made retail line using the name “Chanel Novelty Co.” with mark “Chanel” in script. Maison Chanel had closed in France (1940) due to German Occupation, but raised objections to the use of the name. Chanel Novelty Co. made only one collection in spring of 1941. Thus, there are a limited number of designs.
      • Reinad copied the designs of Boucher, Carnegie, and Eisenberg and others. Some books assert that they manufactured jewelry for these companies, but further research has not substantiated this information.
      • Have ad from 1948.
      • Listed in a 1954 brochure for an accessories show at the Hotel McAlpin in New York.

 

REIS COMPANY, INC., Indianapolis, Indiana — 1919

      • Mark:   CRC (with the o inside of the C for company)     Courtesy Liz & Maggie
      • Mark:   REIS.
      • Mark:   Small “c” large “R” small “o” inside triangle with point down.     
      • Bought by William Nichols in 1972 and company became Reis-Nichols, Inc.

 

REJA, INC., New York, New York — Jan. 17, 1941 – Dec. 4, 1953 — Pronumciation: RAY_ZHA (like Zsa Zsa Gabor)

      • Mark: DEJA     Courtesy of Rosie Dyer
      • Mark: Deja Original
      • Mark:   Deja Reg. in 1939 & 1940.
      • Mark:   Reja Reg.         Photo courtesy Cathy Gordon.
      • Mark:   Reja     Photo courtesy Beth Rowlands.
      • Mark:   Reja Sterling      Photo courtesy Cathy Gordon.
      • Mark:   Reja, Inc.
      • Mark:   Pinch Pin — oct. 1949
      • Mark:         Photo courtesy The Victorian Gallery.
      • Solomon Finkelstein started manufacturing jewelry for retail in 1939 as Deja Costume Jewelry. DuJay, Inc. took him to court requiring Deja to change their name. On Jan. 17, 1941, they announced a name change to “REJA”.
      • Pre-1950 used sterling for Reja pieces.
      • Went bankrupt in 1952.

 

REMEMBRANCE — See FORSTNER–FORSTNER CHAIN CORP

 

RENOIR — 1946-1964

      • Mark:   Renoir
      • Mark:   Renoir script 1946  
      • Mark:   Matisse 1952
      • Mark:   Matisse script 1952-1964    
      • Mark:   Matisse Renoir  
      • Mark:   ©Renoir in script      Courtesy Ann Robinson ID: 9am.
      • Mark:   Matisse (beside 4 “M’s” placed north, south, east and west) — 1956
      • Mark:   White Copper By Renoir — 1958
      • Mark:   Copperwood 1959
      • Mark:   Sauteur 1958-1963           Photos courtesy Beth Rowlands
      • Earring card          Courtesy eclecticgramma

 

R .F. S. Co. — See R. F. SIMMONS

 

R. F. SIMMONS CO., Attleboro, MA — since 1885

      • Mark:   Simmons     Photo courtesy Sam & Yvonne Mitchell.
      • Mark:   Armilla
      • Mark:   Betsy Ross
      • Mark:   Brenda
      • Mark:   Floradora
      • Mark:   Slident
      • Mark:   Stubby
      • Mark:   Tyton
      • Mark:   Venetian  
      • Mark:   Victorian
      • Mark:   R.F.S. & Co.
      • Mark:   R.F.S. Co.
      • Mark:   Simmons’ Chains
      • Purchased by by Amtel in 1974.
      • Have ad Nov. 1952.

 

RICARDE OF HOLLYWOOD — See HOLLYWOOD JEWELRY PRODUCTS, INC.\

 

RICCI, NINA — Paris, France/Toronto Canada

      • Mark:   Nina Ricci — used for precious jewelry as well as costume — first used Sept. 1960.
      • Purchased from D’Orlan Jewellers in Toronto in 2006 by Creed Canada.

 

RICE-WEINER — 1938

        • Mark: Jeray   Photo courtesy David Pritchett.
        • Mark: Jeray Photo courtesy Beth Rowlands.
        • Mark:   Design By Bel Geddes Jeray      Photo courtesy Cathy Gordon.
            Bel Geddes, © Jeray    Photo courtesy Deb Schneider
        • Mark:   Etrusceana was a line and a trade-mark of Rice Weiner produced in 1941    Photo by Jan Cox. Info from Roberto Brunialti to Cheri Van Hoover (2/07)
        • In 1938 the New England Glass Works (founded in 1911) became Rice-Weiner & Co. (Brunialti).
        • Made McClelland Barclay jewelry.
        • Under license to United Artists, made costume jewelry inspired by films produced by Alexander Korda–“Thief of Bagdad”(1940) & “The Jungle Book”(1942). Story that the items were commissioned by Korda to give to crew members is false.
        • Rice-Weiner Co. split in 1947 (some sources cite 1946). Alvin & Robert Rice, with designer Louis Mark founded the new Barclay Jewelry Co. using the mark “Barclay”.
        • Rice-Weiner was relaunched by the introduction of 2 new lines: Jeray and American Beauty Pearls.
        • According to an ad, they were still in business in 1950.

      Updated 1/16/20 by Pamela Wiggins Siegel

 

RICHARDS, W. E. CO., North Attleboro, MA — c. 1900-present

      • Mark:   WRE with the R larger than the other letters — since Jan. 1944     Photo courtesy Glitz & Glitter Boutique
      • Mark:   Symmetalic first used Dec. 1936 – was still being used in 1946.     Photo courtesy Cheri & Rocky Van Hoover
      • Mark:    “R” with 10 KT inside

 

RICHELIEU — See JOSEPH H. MEYER

 

RIFAS — owned by Frank Rifas; Chicago, IL — c.1960

      • Mark:   FRARICO — 1962      Courtesy Plenty O’Jewels.
      • Mark:   RIFAS     Courtesy Lilly Vittetow
      • Info courtesy Plenty O Jewels

 

RISIS, Sinapore — 1976- ?

      • Mark:   RISIS      Courtesy Joanne Clyde
      • Specialize in genuine orchids dippedin 24K gold

 

RIVO OF SWITZERLAND — c. 1954

      • Featherweight pure aluminum jewelry in gold or silver finish that is said to be non-corrosive, non-allergic and guaranteed against tarnishing.
      • Large collection of bracelets in narrow to very wide adapted from solid gold jewelry. Chain type bracelets and necklaces, and bangle bracelets along with pastel iridescent aluminum in bangle bracelets and bead necklaces.
      • Information from a 1954 brochure of an accessories show at the Hotel McAlpin in New York.

 

ROBBINS — now Tharpe Robbins

  • Mark: Robbins Co. Attleboro    Photo courtesy Gloria Barnhart
  • Mark: Jewelry by Robbins   Photo courtesy Janet Bagley
  • Dates: 1892
  • Founded: Charles Robbins
  • Location: Attleboro, MA
  • Notes: Merged with Tharpe Co. in 2007.

 

ROBERT — See FASHIONCRAFT JEWELRY CO. ORIGINAL BY ROBERT

 

ROBERT FLEISCHER — See FLEISCHER, ROBERT

 

ROBERT GOOSSENS — See GOOSSENS, ROBERT

 

ROBERT MAYO — See MAYO, ROBERT

 

ROBERT ROSE — See JEWELRY FASHIONS, INC.

 

ROC — contemporary mark — China

      • Mark:   ROC — Republic of China

 

RODERICK TENORIO — See TENORIO, RODERICK

 

ROGER JEAN-PIERRE –See JEAN-PIERRE, ROGER

 

ROGER SCEMAMA — See SCEMAMA, ROGER

 

ROHNER — ROBERT A. ROHNER & CO., INC. — c. 1946

      • Mark:        Courtesy eclecticgramma
      • Have ads form 1946.

 

RO-LON — See SWANK, INC.

 

ROLYN INC., Cranston, RI 1961 — present

      • Mark: R with Inc. inside – 1962   
      • Mark: Chante’ – 1983   
      • Mark: Magna Tron 1000 – 1998   

 

ROMA — See FAIRDEAL

 

ROMAN COMPANY – St. Louis, MO — 1973 to present

      • Mark: ROMAN     Courtesy RCJ
      • Mark:   Inside presentation box    Courtesy RCJ
      • Founded by Melvin Roman in 1973.
      • Had sales offices in New York, Chicago and Texas.
      • Became the largest engraving company in the world, with engraving machines in department stores.
      • By 1984 it became apparent you could buy direct from Asia for much less than making jewelry in US.
      • Designer and distributor of costume jewelry; products mainly manufactured in Asia. Melvin Roman sold the company to four vice presidents around 1984.
      • Purchased by TSI Holding Company in 1994.

 

ROMANTIC — See CORO

 

RONTE OF HOLLYWOOD — See AVON

 

ROSLYN HOFFMAN — See HOFFMAN, ROSLYN

 

ROSE, ROBERT — See JEWELRY FASHIONS, INC.

 

ROSENSTEIN, NETTIE c. 1935–1975

      • Mark:   Nettie Rosenstein    Photo courtesy Robin Deutsch
      • Mark:   Sterling Nettie Rosenstein     Courtesy RCJ

 

ROUND THE CLOCK — See CORO

 

ROUSSELET, LOUIS — French jewelry designer

 

ROXANNE ASSOULIN — See ASSOULIN, ROXANNE

 

ROYAL BEAD NOVELTY, CO.
  “Delroy ®” on one side; “Blue Ribbon Quality” on the reverse.

      • Mark: La Royal 1926; now dead
      • Mark: DelRoy 1962; now dead
      • Mark: Crystal Magic 1987; cancelled in 1995
      • Dates: c. 1926 until at least 1987
      • Location: NY
      • Notes: See Royal Craftsmen

 

ROYAL COPENHAGEN — Madison Ave., NY — c. 1977

      • Have ad for porcelain bracelets — 1977.

 

ROYAL CRAFTSMEN
  Mark:   Laguna 1944; renewed in 1972, now dead
  Mark:   Persiana 1946; renewed in 1987, now dead

      • Mark: Oceania 1944, renewed in 1987, now dead
      • Mark: Neptuna 1944, renewed in 1987, now dead
      • Mark: Royal Craftsmen 1944; renewed in 1985, now dead
      • Dates: c1944 – ?
      • Founded: Louis and Lillian Detkin
      • Location: NY, NY
      • Notes: Last listed owner of all these trademarks was Royal Bead Novelty Co, Inc.of NY
      • Notes: see Royal Bead Novelty Co

 

ROYAL INTERNATIONAL, Japan — c. 1950’s

      • Mark:   “Royal International Made in Japan” on paper tag around a glass bead necklace c. 1950’s      Courtesy RCJ

 

ROYAL OF PITTSBURGH — ROYAL OF PITTSBURGH, INC., Pittsburgh, PA

      • Mark:   Royal/Pittsburgh
      • Mark:   Royal of Pittsburgh
          Photo courtesy John Bene
      • Mark:   Royalustre — 1959     Courtesy RCJ
      • Mark:   Royal Pastelli – 1961     Courtesy RCJ
      • Mark:   Luvbugs – 1966    Courtesy RCJ
      • Mark:   Andre Pierre Originals – 1962 (back & front of hangtag)       Courtesy Toy Nicole
      • Have ads from 1946, 1947, 1962

 

ROZ KAPLAN, Baltimore, MD

      • Mark:        Courtesy Kathy Earls

 

RR — See RUSH, ROBIN

 

R. SERBN — See SERBIN, R.

 

R. TENNESMED — See TENNESMED, R.

 

RUBINSTEIN, HELENA — New York, New York

      • Mark:   Helena Rubinstein first used in 1928.
      • They purchased Maui Divers of Hawaii, LTD. in 1977.

 

RUBY Z — See PARROT PEARLS

 

RUCINNI — Contemporary made in China

 

RUOPOLI, CHARLES

      • Mark:   By C. Ruopoli      Photo courtesy Cathy Gordon.

 

RUSH, ROBIN — Florida — contemporary

      • Mark:   RR — has jewelry made in China and imports.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

PAT SEAL: research files
DOTTY STRINGFIELD: research files
BOBYE SYVERSON: research files.
A TRIBUTE TO AMERICA by Carla and Roberto Brunialti
AMERICAN COSTUME JEWELRY by Carla and Roberto Brunialti
AMERICAN JEWELRY MANUFACTURERS by Dorothy T. Rainwater
COLLECTIBLE COSTUME JEWELRY by Cherri Simonds
COLLECTING COSTUME JEWELRY 101 By Julia Carroll
COLLECTING COSTUME JEWELRY 202 By Julia Carroll
COLLECTING RHINESTONE COLORED JEWELRY by Maryanne Dolan
COPPER ART JEWELRY by Burkholz and Kaplan
COSTUME JEWELRY A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK AND GUIDE by Fred Rezazadeh
COSTUME JEWELRY (2nd Ed.) by Harrice Simons Miller
EUROPEAN DESIGNER JEWELRY by Ginger Moro
INSIDE THE JEWELRY BOX By Ann Pitman
LUCILLE TEMPESTA: owner-publisher of the Vintage Fashion & Costume Jewelry Magazine
MASTERPIECES OF COSTUME JEWELRY by Ball and Torem
MID-CENTURY PLASTIC JEWELRY By Susan Klein
MIRIAM HASKELL JEWELRY by Cathy Gordon and Sheila Pamfiloff
OLD JEWELRY by Jeanenne Bell
WARMAN’S JEWELRY 2nd Ed. by Christie Romero
WARMAN’S JEWELRY 3rd Ed. by Christie Romero

 

*DISCLAIMER: As in the past, we make every effort to ensure all information contained in the RCJ pages is accurate. However, errors can occur. Neither the prior owner of RCJ, CJCI or its representatives are responsible for your use of these resources.

 

Copyright 1997 to present — www.costumejewelrycollectors.com —
All Rights Reserved.
All RCJ publications and pages were created
by Dotty Stringfield with the assistance of research contributor Pat Seal

and other valued members of the costume jewelry collecting community.

 

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Mark Lewis