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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 – A*

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A

1928 JEWELRY CO.

•   Mark: 1928 © and unmarked.  Photo courtesy Deb Schneider
•   Distinctive swirl design on back of 1928 unmarked jewelry.   Photo courtesy Deb Schneider
• Dates: 1968-present
• Founded: Melvyn Bernie.
• Location: Burbank, CA, USA
• Line: “2028” sold through Macy’s.
• Line: “The Vatican Library Collection”

A4567 (example)  — See SPHINX

*A* inside triangle  — See NAPIER

A.B.  — See ALFRED BURGESS

A WERTHLEY CREATION  — See WERTHEIMER

A*D — See DAUB, ANDREAS

A&S — See ATTWOOD & SAWYER

A & Z CHAIN CO.

•   Mark: A & Z.  Courtesy ID: eclecticgramma.
• Dates: 1905 to at least 1975
• Founded: Carl Anshen and Saul Zietlin
• Location: Providence, RI
• Notes: Now part of the Hayward Company.

ABARGAS — See BARGAS

ACCESSOCRAFT PRODUCTS CO.

•  Mark: Accessocraft N.Y.C.  Photo courtesy Cheri Van Hoover
•  Mark: Accessocraft © Courtesy Cheri Van Hoover
•   Tag: A Accessocraft  Courtesy Lilly Vittetow
• Mark: PLASTIGOLD — September 1940
• Mark: FETHAGOLD — August 1945 — used for plated plastic jewelry.
• Dates: 1930, closed 1998
• Founded:
• Location: New York, NY, USA
• Notes: Some designers for Accessocraft were: Theodore Steinman, Philippe Israel, Edgar Roedelheimer, Robert Appleby and Albert Freedman. (information
  from Costume Jewelry 202 by Julia Carroll)

ADAGIO

•   Adagio   Photo courtesy Lilly Vittetow
• Dates: 1983 to present
• Location: Northbrook, IL
• Notes: Handcrafted porcelain jewelry.

ADELE SIMPSON — See SIMPSON

ADRIAN

•   Mark:   Sterling by Adrian   Photo courtesy Carolyn Newhouse
• Mark: By Adrian
• Dates: c. 1939 – 1949
• Founded: by Adrian Scannavino as “Adrian Classic”
• Location: NYC
• Notes: The company made unsigned jewelry for many companies.
• Notes: Thanks to Robin Deutsch for bringing this information to our attention.

AERONAUT— See PROVIDENCE STOCK COMPANY

AFJ  — See AMERICAN FASHION JEWELS

AFJ — AMBRAS FINE JEWELRY CORP. – NY

• Mark:   AFJ   

AFJ — SING KEUNG LAI CORP.  — NY

• Mark:   AFJ   

AGUILAR, HECTOR

•  Mark: Stylized H, numeral 9 in Mexican eagle.  Photo courtesy of “Jennifer Lynn’s Timeless Jewelry.”
• Dates: Mid 1930s to ??
• Location: Taxco, Mexico
• Notes: Began working in Spratling’s silver shop in 1937, started his own workshop in 1939.

AJC — AMERICAN JEWELRY CHAIN CO.

•   Mark: AJC (used as late as 1997)  Courtesy Linda Heberling.
•  Mark: © AJC (used as late as 1997) Photo courtesy of Gail Gupton.
• Mark: AJC Co. — overlapping each other inside an elongated diamond shape
• Mark: American
• Dates: 1927 to at least 1997

AJMC — AMERICAN JEWELRY MANUFACTURING COMPANY — Pittsburgh, PA 1979 (?) Has been in business for 31 (?) years.

AKSEL HOLMSEN  — See HOLMSEN, AKSEL

ALBERT

•  

•   Mark: ALBERT  Photo courtesy Cathy Gordon.

ALBERT MANUFACTURING CO.

•   Mark: Alberta  Photo courtesy RCJ
• Dates: Early 1930s to ??
• Founded: Albert Weiner
• Location: Providence, RI, USA

ALBERTA — See ALBERT MANUFACTURING

ALBION JEWELERS

•     Mark: ALBION Photos courtesy Beth Rowlands.
• Mark: A
• Mark: Contessa (1955)
• Location: Chicago, IL, USA
• Notes: Not always marked.

ALEX AND ANI

•   Mark: Design of flower with two letter A’s at base.
•   Mark: Alex & Ani ©.   Photo courtesy Nancy Lewis
• Dates:1996 to present
• Founded: Carolyn Rafaelian-Ferlise and named after her first two daughters.
• Location: Providence, RI, USA
• Notes: Uses vintage stones, crystals, and castings. All metals used in jewelry are from recycled scrap.

ALEXIS KIRK — See KIRK
ALICE CAVINESS — See CAVINESS
ALICE JEWELRY CO.

•   Mark: Alice ® in cursive.
•   Mark: Alice in cursive.
• Dates: 1956 until at least 1977. (Dolan states about May 1950, Rainwater states 1956.)
• Founded: Jennie Jaron and her husband. Purchased by Bernard Scola in 1977.
• Location: Providence, RI, USA
• Notes: Not Alice Caviness and no connection to her company.

ALFRED BURGESS — BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND

• Mark:  A.B.     Courtesy Carolyn Sunday

ALFRED SUNG  — See SUNG, ALFRED
ALICE NIELSON— See WHITING & DAVIS
A.L.L. CO. — See LINDROTH, A.L.

ALPACA  (term definition)

• Metal with content of copper, zinc, nickel and 2% silver — Jewelry Concepts and Technology by Oppi Untracht.

ALPHA CRAFT

• Dates: ? 1946 to ?
• Location: 303 5th Ave., New York, NY, USA
• Ads: Have ads from 1946 and 1947.

ALUMESH — See WHITING & DAVIS
ALVA STUDIOS

•   Mark: ©Alva Museum Replicas.  Photo courtesy RCJ
• Dates:  At least circa. 1957, per records at a museum.
• Mark first used 1960; trademark cancelled 1/1999 (US Trademark records).
• Location: New York, NY, USA
• Notes: Owned in 1981 by Time, Inc. Reported to be sold to an affiliate of the Paul Hanson Company (NYT, Dec 23, 1981)

AM  — See MICHELSEN, ANTON

AM LEE — AM LESS JEWELRY CO.

•  Mark: AmLee Sterling. Photo courtesy Lilly Vittetow.
• Dates: January 1946.

AMCO

•   Mark: Amco, 1/20 – 12KT, Gold Filled.  Photo courtesy Beth Rowlands.
•   1/20K GF, AMCO.  Courtesy Evelyn Phillips.
• Mark: Amco in cursive.
• Mark: AMCO, 1/20 10K G.G.
• Mark: amcojewels (the “j” has a small star above it)
• Mark: Amco
• Mark: Amcojewels
• Dates: 1919 to late 1970s.
• Founded: A. Micallef & Company
• Location: Providence, RI, USA

AMERICAN — See AJC

AMERICAN BEAUTY PEARLS  — See RICE WEINER AND NEW ENGLAND GLASS WORKS

AMERICAN FASHION JEWELS, INC. 

•     Courtesy justabunchawildflowers
• Dates: 1985 – 1993; San Francisco, CA
• Mark:   AFJ – 1991-1994
• Mark:   Faux That Fits – 1992 – 1993
• Mark:   The Latest In Faux – 1991
• Mark:   Keep Them Guessing – 1990 – 1993
• Mark:   The Attwood Collection – 1991 – 1992
• The company had retail jewelry stores around the US named “Imposters”.
• Filed for bankruptcy May 1993.

AMERICAN QUEEN— See PITMAN & KEELER

AMFARCO — See SIAM
AMOURELLE — See KRAMER
ANA NUNEZ BRILANTI — VICTORIA — MEXICO

• Photo courtesy Jennifer Lynn’s Timeless Jewelry.
• Mark: Victoria
• Location: Taxco, Mexico

ANDERSEN, DAVID

• •   Mark: D.A Norway Sterling 925 S  Photo courtesy Erik Yang.
  •   Mark: DAVID – ANDERSEN NORWAY STERLING  Photo courtesy Erik Yang.
  •  Mark: D-A 925 S Sterling Norway “W” in circle (designer Willie Winnaess circa 1955)  Courtesy eclecticgramma.
  • Dates: 1876 to present
  • Founded by David Andersen who died in 1901. His son Arthur Andersen took over and changed the family name to David-Andersen which is the current name of the company as well.
  • Location:Oslo, Norway
  • Notes: For an in-depth review of David Andersen marks, see Online Encyclopedia of Silver Marks, Hallmarks & Maker’s Marks.

Updated 2/28/2020 by Pamela Wiggins Siegel

ANDRE’ COURREGES, PARIS

• Mark:           Courtesy of Nicole St-Pierre
• Dates: 1961 to present

ANDREAS DAUB — See DAUB, ANDREAS

ANDREE BAZOT — See BAZOT, ANDREE

ANN TAYLOR — See TAYLOR, ANN

ANN – VIEN — See VIEN, ANN
ANNE KLEIN — See KLEIN, ANNE

ANSON PEWTER

•   Mark: ANSON PEWTER  Photo courtesy Glitz & Glitter Boutique.

ANSON INC.

•   Mark: Anson in cursive.
• Mark: Glider [key chain]
• Mark: Curvo-gram
• Mark: Golden Weave
• Mark: Grip Clip
• Mark: Kuff Loop
• Mark: Midg-ette
• Mark: Nife slide
• Mark: Pin-ettes
• Mark: Sir!
• Mark: Tri-Slide
• Dates: 1948 to at least 1994.
• Founded : Olof anderson
• Location: Providence, RI
• Notes: Anderson founded Anderson Tool & Die Co. in 1938; became Anderson Tool & Die Works in 1946; became Anson July1948.
• Notes: Women’s jewelry introduced in 1967.

ANTHONY CREATIONS, INC.

• Mark: Jewels by Antoinette
• Dates: Circa 1948
• Founded: Antonio Aquilino
• Location: Providence, RI, USA
• Notes: See several Anthony Creations patents at JewelryPatents.com.

ANTHONY — ANTHONY ORIGINALS

• Mark: Anthony
• Mark: A.
• Dates: Circa 1946
• Location: Providence, RI, USA
• Ads: Have an ad from 1946.

ANTONIO FOR SANDOR GOLDBERGER — See SANDOR
ANTONIO PINEDA — See PINEDA, ANTONIO

ANYWEAR —  GEM-CRAFT

APEX ART

•   Mark:   Apex Art    Photo courtesy Erik Yang.
• Mark: Apex Art
• Dates: Circa 1965.

APOLLO STUDIOS

• Mark: Apollo Studios
• Dates: 1909 to 1922.
• Location: New York, NY, USA

A REGEL

• •   Mark: A Regel

ARISTO-GRAM — See SWANK, INC.
ARMILLA — See R.F. SIMMONS
ARPAD

• Mark: ARPAD
• Dates: Circa 1949.
• Founded:
• Location:
• Ads: Have ad from 1949

ART  (within a star shape)

• •   Mark: Art within a star shape.  Photo courtesy Cyndy Threadgill.

ART DECO

•   Mark:   Art Deco, BO56   Photo courtesy Carol Hearn
• Dates: c. 1980s
• Location: Providence, RI

ART / MODE ART

•   Mark: ART © after 1955.
•   Mark: MODE ART ©  Photo courtesy eclecticgramma.
• Dates: 1950-1980.
• Founded: Owned by Arthur Pepper.
• We have found NO connection between ART and HAR. If anyone has proof of such a connection, please let us know.

ART-CARVED, INC. — See J.R. WOODS & SONS.
ARTEL JEWELRY MFG. CO.

•   Mark: ARTEL  Courtesy Kristen Mackey.
• Dates: Circa 1931 to 1965.
• Location: Providence, RI, USA

ARTIFACTS — See   Mark: Askew, London    Photo courtesy C ynthia Fore Miller

Dates: c. 1980s

Location: London, UK

ASSOULIN, ROXANNE

•   Mark: ROXANNE © ASSOULIN
• Mark: Roxanne Assoulin for Lee Angel
• Dates: Contemporary (circa 1980’s – not sure if still in business)
• Founder: Roxanne Assoulin
• Location: New York, NY, USA
• Notes: Assoulin founded the Lee Angel line in 1999, named after her son Lee.

ASTRA — See JOSEPH WIESNER
ASTRO GEMS — See TRIFARI
ATHENNIC ARTS — See ATLAS MANUFACTURING

ATLAS MANUFACTURING COMPANY

• Photo courtesy Linn Alber.
• Mark: Athennic Arts
• Dates: Circa 1950.
• Founded:
• Location: New York, NY, USA

ATTACHABLES — See GEM-CRAFT
ATTLEBORO MANUFACTURING CO.

•   Mark: ACo  Photo courtesy Lyn Peightal.
• Dates: Circa 1898.
• Location: Attleboro, MA, USA
• Notes:   Later became Swank, Inc. (Rainwater).

ATTWOOD AND SAWYER  (A & S)

• Mark: A&S – 1976 – 2003
• Dates: Founded in 1956
• Founded: Horace Attwood (Sawyer was a silent partner).
• Location: England
• Notes: Acquired by Buckley Jewellery Ltd. in 2001, including all of their prior designs.

AUREA JEWELRY CREATIONS

• Mark: Aurea
• Dates: 1969
• Location: New York, NY, USA
• Notes: Information courtesy of Plenty O’Jewels at Rubylane.

AUSTIN & STONE

•   Mark:   Austin & Stone — on goldfilled bangle. Patent 1907   Photo courtesy Fynderskeepers
• Dates: At least 1907-1915
• Location: Attleboro, MA

AUTHENTICS

•   Mark: Van S. Authentics  Photo courtesy of Cheri van Hoover.
•   Mark: VAN S.
•   Mark: Authentics  Courtesy JoAnn Kahan
• Mark: Wendy Jewelry
• Dates: Circa 1930 to ?? Sold by the Moonans in 1969.
• Founded:  Founded by Joanne and Reginald Moonan; later changed name
  to Van S. Authentics.
• Location:
• Notes: Mrs Moonan also designed a line of children’s jewelry called
  Wendy Jewelry, after her daughter.
• Notes: In 1966, Joanne Moonan designed the “3-C” collection for Castlecliff. It was noted in WWD she was a FORMER partner at Van Authentics. — Melinda Lewis

AUTOMADE — See AUTOMATIC CHAIN COMPANY
AUTOMATIC CHAIN COMPANY

• Mark: AUTOMADE
• Dates: At least 1920 – Listed in a 1920 state of RI factory inspection report.
• Location: Providence, RI, USA
• Notes:  Sold to Herbet Kaplan of Marathon Company in 1972 (Rainwater).

AUTOMATIC GOLD CHAIN CO.

• Mark: Cellini (all capital letters in block print) — first used in 1930.
• Location: Providence, RI, USA

AVERY, JAMES — JAMES AVERY CRAFTSMAN, INC.

•   Mark: Three pronged candelabrum with the initials JA.   Photo courtesy Julie Lavine.
• Dates: 1954 – present
• Founded: James Avery
• Location: Kerrville, TX, USA

AVON — 1963 TO PRESENT FOR JEWELRY

NEW INFORMATI0N: The 2 and 3 letter initials sometimes seen on pieces marked AVON are NOT designer initials. An AVON spokesperson has said, “The initials on some of our jewelry pieces are an internal company code for our jewelry in manufacturing. This identifies the vendor who has manufactured the jewelry for us. In some cases, the same piece of jewelry could be manufactured by two different vendors”. So far identified initials are: SH, MR, SP, LYK, BW, WN. Thanks to Ronda Allman for getting this info from Avon.

•  Mark: AVON
•   Mark: Avon ©
•   Mark: K.J.L. for Avon – designer 1986 to at least August, 2005.
•  Mark: Barrera for Avon — Jose’ and Maria Barrera for Avon 1989 to 1996.
•   Mark: Louis Feraud (Avon capital “A” between two names).
•      Mark: Avon WN   Photo courtesy Lilly Vittetow
•   Mark: Avon SH   Photo courtesy Lyn Peightal
•   Mark: Smithsonian Avon   Photo courtesy Kathy Small
• Mark: Celia Sebiri for Avon designer 1987.
• Mark: Shaill Jhevari for Avon designer 1993 to 1994.
• Mark: Elizabeth Taylor for Avon designer 1993 to 1997.
• Mark: Coreen Simpson for Avon designer 1994 to 1998.
• Mark: Billy D. Williams for Avon desigined the UNDENIABLE SET.
• Trifari designed and made the 1986 Centennial Jewelry for Avon.
• Dates: Company in business, 1886 to present. Jewelry first offered as a gift to customers in 1963.
• Dates: 1965-1969 a very few pieces of jewelry could be purchased. Several came only with other Avon products. Jewelry became more widely available in 1970.
• The first set signed Avon was “Precious Pretenders” (stated in an Avon ad in March 1970 ad in Woman’s Day magazine)
• Founded: Founded by David H. McConnell as California Perfume, became Avon
  Products, Inc. in 1939.
• Location: New York, NY, USA
• Notes: Tiffany was acquired in 1980 by Avon, but resold in 1984
  to a consortium.
• Notes: Information courtesy of Ann Hellie — Ann’s Gems Avon Information.

AVON (BELLEVILLE)

•   Mark: Sterling AVON  Photo courtesy Julie Levine.
•   Mark: AVON in block upper case letters.  Photo courtesy Linda Jo D. Mitchell.
•   Mark: Avon in a stylized script.  Photo courtesy Luda Tovey.
  • Dates: 1945 to 1971.
  • Founded by Abe Mazer of Mazer/Jomaz.
  • Location: Belleville, Ontario, Canada

• Marcel Boucher designed much of AVON of Belleville’s jewelry and his four digit code number is found on many pieces.
• Name changed to Avon Canada Ltd., the offshoot of the California Perfume Company in 1971.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

PAT SEAL: research files
DOTTY STRINGFIELD: research files
LUCILLE TEMPESTA: Vintage Fashion & Costume Jewelry Magazine
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
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.

 

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