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Cow: MONET
A BRIEF HISTORY OF MONET by Jim Katz.

Brothers Jay & Michael Chernow founded Monocraft in 1927. Monocraft began using the name Monocraft in May of 1927... They made high
quality gold plated metal initials that stores attached to handbags at the
time of purchase.

Their success and reputation for high quality monograms led them to produce
jewelry as early as 1935 (first patent)..

(Other information has said that  Monet was another mark used by Monocraft Products beginning in 1937. Monocraft [using that name] continued in business for many more years. The name Monet was first used in Sept 1937 on various kinds of fashion/costume jewelry. So any jewelry marked Monet is no older than 1937.Contributed by Pat Seal).

During the 1940's most of the jewelry was gold plated sterling (vermeil).
They were famous for their modern designs as well as some amusing enameled
pins (see Cathy Gordon's post with the enameled hand  pin).
Average prices in the '40s were $12-$20.00 dollars for bracelets, necklaces
& brooches & $4-$7.50 for earrings.  

Groundbreaking inventions came with the Friction Ear Clip (1947 patent) that
allowed the wearer to adjust the clip to the right tension w/o constant
pressure on the ear.  They later invented the Barrel Clutch for pierced
earrings - which is the industry standard. From the very beginning Monet
produced a full range of fashion earrings which they first referred to as
"Jewelry Clips" in their patents.   

In the 50's & 60's  Monet continued their success with classically styled
jewelry for clothes women were wearing to the office.  They were also
extremely successful with their charm bracelets with charms attached by
spring rings (http://tinyurl.com/ckl8m) so that they could mix and match.

Monet  was the first company to sign all their jewelry and still does to
this day.

Some of Monet's licenses were Shirley Temple, the Dionne quintuplets and
Yves St. Laurent.  

In 1977 Monet produced a line called Ciani with prices as high as $500.00

During the '60s & '70s Monet ran an ad campaign with hooded models wearing
only one fabulous piece of jewelry while other companies were scurrying to
stuff as much jewelry into an ad as possible.  This 20 year run of "Hooded
Woman"  ads is famous in both the Advertising business as well as in the
jewelry business. See Monet Ads  for examples of these
gorgeous ads.

In 1981 Monet launched a 4 year program with Yves St. Lauent w/designer
Sandy Miller Burrows (see Miller Confident Collector pg. 52 for entire
interview).  All cast parts were manufactured by Monet with stones and other
parts produced and set by different companies. Avg. prices for this line
were $25.00 to $250.00.  A number of items were  made in limited editions of
500 and marked as 80/500 to denote the 80th piece made.  Interesting note:
"The pieces that looked like poured glass were really built-up epoxy w/foil
backings.  All earrings in the YSL line used Monet's friction ear clip.  

Monet was always considered ahead of their time.  Their jewelry was always
classic, never trendy or faddish.  Many bracelets, brooches and Necklaces
contained flat metal areas that were intended for engraved initials. You
will see this in their patents.
See the gorgeous necklace on pg. 55 of Fifty Years of Collectible Jewelry
1925-1975 by Lillian Baker for an example of an adjustable collar with the
round flat slide engraved with initials.

Monet was acquired by General Mills in 1968, sold to Crystal Brands in 1989,
sold again to Chase Capital Partners and finally to Liz Claiborne in 2000.



Reference info. and examples can be seen in:
                 Price Guide to Costume Jewelry by Harrice Simons
Miller
                 Costume Jewelry by Fred Rezazadeh
                 Fifty Years of Collectible Fashion Jewelry by Lilian
Baker
                 Collectible Costume Jewelry  by Cherri Simonds
                 Popular Jewelry of the '60s, '70s & '80s
                 Costume Jewelry 101 by Julia C. Carroll
                 Silver Jewelry by Fred Rezazadeh
                 Costume Jewelry The Fun of Collecting by Nancy
Schiffer
                 Inside the Jewelry Box by Ann Mitchell Pitman
                 Milky Way Jewels for the vintage ads
                 

Stefanie Brawner
JEWELRY PATENTS.COM and click on Companies and then Monet to view Monet Patents.
Date(s): January 10, 2006. Album by Jewelry Ring. 1 - 127 of 127 Total. 60306 Visits.
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Monet AD 1966

Courtesy of Cheri Van Hoover


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Monet Sterling from the Jim Katz Monet Collection.

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Monet Sterling signature.

From the Jim Katz Monet Collection.


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Monet Pin Clip (Tussie Mussie)

Courtesy of Jim Katz


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Beautiful MONET Demi.

Courtesy of Kathleen Engesser


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Exceptional MONET fruit salad style necklace.

Courtesy of Nona Grumpp


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Very interesting MONET fur clip.  Not sterling, perhaps rhodium.

Courtesy of Cathy Gordon. See more of Cathy's Collection at Cathy's Imageevent Albums


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Stunning MONET Parure.

Courtesy of Carol Bell


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Very Early MONET JEWELERS Heart Charm Bracelet.

Courtesy of Cheri at MILKY WAY JEWELS


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MONET Demi: Heavy gold links with a pearl accent for necklace and earrings.

Courtesy of Nancy Brace


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MONET Garnet Rhinestone Danglers. Contemporary.

From the private collection of Cynthia Fore Miller.


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MONET invention. The Friction Ear Clip (1947) used to this day.

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Exquisite Monet Fish Pin.

Courtesy of Lilly Vittetow.
Lilly's Vintage Jewelry


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MONET Enamel Demi from the 1980's.

Courtesy of Adrienne Shivers at GARDEN PARTY COLLECTION


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A rare early Monet enameled Retro fur clip.

Courtesy of Adrienne Shivers.


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Early MONOCRAFT Pin Initials FDR.

Courtesy of Nancy Hopper.
HOPPERSBAZAAR


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Heavy Silverplated MONET Bracelet. This mark "MONET JEWELERS" is extremely rare.

Courtesy of Sam & Yvonne Mitchell.


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MONET Goldtone Brooch.

Courtesy of Dawn from Atlanta.


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Filigree pitcher Charm signed MONET.

Courtesy of Carol Cook.
ladygirl on eBay.


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Monet Hair Clip

Compliments of the Linda Jo D. Mitchell Collection


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back view

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MONET 1963 'Tempo Collection' Jewelry Ad~New Yorker Magazine

Courtesy of Vera Battemarco


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Golden Hours Monet Ad

Courtesy of Vera Battemarco


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Royal Plume Monet Ad

Courtesy of Vera Battemarco


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Monet charm bracelet

Compliments of Vera Battemarco

Vera Battemarco Vintage Jewelry!


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Classic Monet Necklace

Courtesy of Vera Battemarco


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Monet bead Necklace

Courtesy of Vera Battemarco


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Monet goldtone Bow pin

Compliments of Diana Craig Sparks

Belle a Coeur Treasure Trove Vintage


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Monet rhinestone Necklace

Courtesy of Diana Craig Sparks


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Close up view

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Lovely Monet Pin

Courtesy of Doris Lusk


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Gorgeous Monet Bracelet

Compliments of Delores Benedict

Bitz of Glitz


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Monet demi

Compliments of Debi Reed

My Vintage Jewels


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Monet classic white Brooch

Courtesy of Debi Reed


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Summer white bead Bracelet

Courtesy of Debi Reed


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Monet fish pin

Courtesy of Debi Reed


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Monet set, 1947. Discoloration is glare from my scanner. Set is on page 109 in the book "Monet The Master Jewelers" by JR member Alice Vega.

Compliments of Dan Day

The Queen's Jewels


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Monet Fish Pin 1980's

Courtesy of Dan Day


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Monet "Scheherazade" Brooch, 1968.
Brooch is on page 194 in the book "Monet The Master Jewelers" by JR member Alice Vega. Large size piece.

Courtesy of Dan Day


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1940's Sterling Monet Horse Brooch

Compliments of Dinah Hoyt Taylor

DH Taylor Jewelry


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1970's Monet Cordelia Demi

Courtesy of Dinah Taylor


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1960's Monet Chains Bracelet

Courtesy of Dinah Taylor


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Monet Parure

Compliments of Dotty Stringfield

Illusion Jewels Vintage Costume Jewelry


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MONET Psychedelic Pattern Necklace with Beads

Compliments of Sheri Weiss

Boo Bears Baubles


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MONET 1980s Limited Edition Fruit Juicy Lucite and Enamel Necklace and Bracelet Set

Courtesy of Sheri Weiss


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MONET Modernist Matte Finish Sculptural Necklace and Earring Set

Courtesy of Sheri Weiss


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MONET Magical Fringed Byzantine Collar Sectional Necklace 1973

Courtesy of Sheri Weiss


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MONET Pop Art Purple Enamel Modernist Sculptural Necklace

Courtesy of Sheri Weiss


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MONET Early Dimensional Sculptural Swirling Flower and Square Gaspipe Chain Necklace

Courtesy of Sheri Weiss


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Monet Modernist Chain Necklace

Compliments of Cheri Van Hoover

Milky Way Jewels


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Monet Retro Wide Link Bracelet

Courtesy of Cheri Van Hoover


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1957 Monet Wide Silver Bracelet

Courtesy of Cheri Van Hoover


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Monet “Bolero” Lariat Necklace
Ad in Monet book shows it worn with the baubles down the back

Courtesy of Cheri Van Hoover


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Very Early Monet Jewelers Heart Charm Bracelet

Courtesy of Cheri Van Hoover


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Monocraft initial pin from the 1930's or 40's with my initials "D".

Compliments of Dianne Lavenburg

Vintage Jewelry Meadow


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Monet bead Necklace

Compliments of Rene Colon


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Monet goldtone Bracelet

Courtesy of Rene Colon


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Monet tubogas Necklace with black enamel

Compliments of Nicole St-Pierre

Pop Goes My Vintage


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Monet faux pearl brooch

Courtesy of Nicole St-Pierre


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Monet Multiple chains heavy Necklace

Courtesy of Nicole St-Pierre


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Signed Monet modern Sapphire Blue/Black Glass Etched Flowers Silver Tone Necklace

Compliments of Lil Roberts

Love Old Stuff Costume Jewelry


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Monet enamel Parure

Compliments of Yolanda Dewijk

YosFinds


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Monet faux Pearl Necklace

Courtesy of Yolanda Dewijk


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Early Monet pin

Courtesy of Yolanda Dewijk


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Beautiful Monet necklace

Compliments of Kathy Small

Small Treasures on Etsy


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Monet demi

Courtesy of Kathy Small


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Monet necklace

Courtesy of Kathy Small


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Chunky Monet Necklace

Compliments of Merry Becker

Vintage Merry on eBay


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Lovely Monet Bracelet

Compliments of Jan Gaughan

Eclectic Vintage Jewelry and Collectibles


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Monet Parure

Compliments of Judi Bollan

VintageTreasures 4U


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Monet Set

Courtesy of Judi Bollan


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Patent for Monet set

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Monet peapod Pin

Courtesy of Judi Bollan


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MONET FLY FURCLIP

Compliments of Pat Seal

Treasures From Yesterday Vintage Jewelry


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MONET PANSY FUR CLIP

Courtesy of Pat Seal


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Monet red rhinestone Earrings

Courtesy of Pat Seal


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Monet Earrings

Courtesy of Pat Seal


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Monet bib

Compliments of Erin Buffaline


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Monet fringe Necklace

Courtesy of Erin Buffaline


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Beautiful Monet set

Courtesy of Erin Buffaline


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Gorgeous Monet Necklace

Compliments of Erin Buffaline


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Lovely Monet omega Necklace

Compliments of Linda Chapple

Grammas-Funky-Stuff


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Monet parure

Courtesy of Linda Chapple


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Monet Brooch

Compliments of Leila Huhman

Yesterday's Rock Stars


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Monet Ad 1963

Courtesy of Cheri Van Hoover


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Monet coin style demi with red enamel

Courtesy of Nicole St-Pierre


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Monet modernist enamel parure

Courtesy of Nicole St-Pierre


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Necklace from Monet's 1974 "Mandira" Collection

Compliments of the Carole Lung Collection


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1970s Monet Necklace

Courtesy of Carole Lung


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1960s Charm bracelet.  Bracelet and all charms are signed Monet.

Courtesy of Carole Lung


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1970s Monet Cream Colored Resin Flower

Courtesy of Carole Lung


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1965 Monet Starfish Brooch and Earring Set

Courtesy of Carole Lung


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Monet Earrings

Courtesy of Marisa Richardson


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Monet dangle Earrings

Compliments of Marisa Richardson


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Monet Charm bracelet

Courtesy of Marisa Richardson


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Monet parure

Compliments of Tracie Nice


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Monet Demi

Compliments of Tracie Nice


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Monet necklace & earrings

Compliments of Tracie Nice


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Monet black and goldtone set

Compliments of Tracie Nice


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Monet figural pin

Courtesy of Tracie Nice


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Monet pin

Courtesy of Susan Corwin


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Monet goldtone set

Courtesy of Susan Corwin


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Chunky Monet bracelet

Courtesy of Susan Corwin


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Monet goldtone necklace

Courtesy of Susan Corwin


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Monet enamel set

Compliments of Debi Reed


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Monet bow brooch

Courtesy of Debi Reed


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Monet Rhinestone pin


Courtesy of Debi Reed


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Monet black glass brooch

Courtesy of Debi Reed


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Monet rope necklace

Courtesy of Carrie Huot

Carrie's Couture


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Monet flower brooch

Courtesy of Carrie Huot


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Monet drop Necklace

Courtesy of Carrie Huot


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Massive Monet Necklace

Courtesy of Carrie Huot


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Monet starfish Brooch Courtesy of Cheri Van Hoover
Check out Cheri's Monet Pinterest page
Monet Pinterest


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Monet pendant Necklace

Courtesy of Cheri Van Hoover


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Monet goldtone bracelet

Courtesy of Cheri Van Hoover


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Monet charm bracelet

Courtesy of Yvonne Campbell


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Monet flower Brooch

Compliments of Yvonne Campbell


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Monet gold tone brooch

Courtesy of Yvonne Campbell


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Monet cabochon pin

Courtesy of Yvonne Campbell


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Monet chain demi

Courtesy of Kathy Small


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Monet multi chain Necklace

Courtesy of Kathy Small


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Monet yellow & rose gold vermeil fur clip from the 40s.

Courtesy of Mary Schwartz

Art Deco Chic


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Monet chain Necklace

Compliments of Jane Haley Clarke

MORNING GLORY ANTIQUES & JEWELRY


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Monet Fish Bracelet

Compliment of Julie Levine

Jool Bait Vintage


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Monet round Brooch

Compliments of Kathy Small


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Monet Directive Bangle Bracelet

Compliments of Linda Kent

Hampton Estates on eBay

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Monet Enamel RS Pearl Necklace Earrings

Courtesy of Linda Kent