1977 JUDITH RIPKA OPENS HEADQUARTERS AND MANUFACTURING IN NYC

1982 JUDITH RIPKA RECEIVES THE DE BEERS AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING JEWELRY DESIGN

1996 JUDITH ESTABLISHES A WHOLESALE DIVISION

2007 JUDITH RIPKA IS GIVEN THE HONOR OF CREATING JEWELRY FOR NEIMAN MARCUS 100TH ANNIVERSARY

2011 JUDITH RIPKA PUBLISHES COFFEE TABLE BOOK “JUDITH RIPKA BY JUDITH”

2014 XCEL BRANDS AQUIRES JUDITH RIPKA

2016 JUDITH RIPKA LAUNCHES E-COMMERCE PLATFORM AT JUDITHRIPKA.COM

2020 JUDITH RIPKA LAUNCHES 6 NEW COLLECTIONS

Wall pockets first became popular in Victorian times because the Victorians had such a love for flowers, they wanted them everywhere. Hence, wall pockets allowed them to have flowers or ivy on the walls, also the use of flower bud pins for lapels, and even naming their children Daisy, Ivy, Iris, Rose, and so on

Juliana Jewelry - The Last Generation Delizza & Elster 1970-80's Identification & Values by Paula Knutson & Karla Wacker focuses on the little known jewelry of the last 20 years DeLizza & Elster Inc. This 328 page book presents their high style designs of the 70's & 80's like a magazine fashion spread - on models with fronts & backs. Theme lines for Asian/Oriental, Egyptian Revival, Etruscan, Fox Hunting, Fraternal and Western. Rare slave bracelets, rings, duettes, ear wraps, hair jewelry, and belts beyond imagination. Over 60 pages of front & back figurals. Not to disappoint, some of the most rare and desirable rhinestone sets are included, as well as many never before published pieces. The book will delight and surprise seasoned collectors and provide a thorough variety of examples for those new to the fabulous five decades of DeLizza & Elster, Inc. with over 1500 color pictures. This book is a paper back.

With the decline in popularity of rhinestone costume jewelry in the late 60’s, DeLizza & Elster had positioned itself in new areas of fashion accessories.  Primarily, belts and buckles, shoe buckles and boot chains, metal and large plastic cabochon lines and big cast pendant necklaces.

Their regular jewelry customers had little interest in their belt & shoe accessories, but they sourced new customers who did well in these venues and various wholesalers soon found them.

As many jewelry manufacturing companies closed their doors or sold their companies, D&E changed with the times to meet the demands in new trends.  So for the next twenty years of the 70’s and 80’s, the company continued making jewelry with lines that were more youth oriented, chunky and bold. They incorporated ball chain, beading, plastics, epoxy and many cast pieces using minimal stoning.  Themed and charm jewelry had a good market.  We call these years “The Last Generation.”

Our information is based on the text of “DeLizza and Elster Inc. Memoirs of a Fashion Jewelry Manufacturer” by Frank R. DeLizza

More on freelance Designer for Trifari
Joseph Wuyts
and David Mir

Hollywood Jewelry a/k/a Hollycraft

Dear JR Members:
I am truly delighted that JR elected to feature COW as Hollycraft this week. If my father were alive, he would be absolutely tickled to know that so many people appreciate his jewelry. I regret that my participation has not been what I would have liked, but my computer had a complete melt down and my email was not cooperating.
In honor of my father, along with his two partners and other family members, I hope and plan is to be able to donate my collection of Hollycraft to a museum sometime in the future. A number of costume jewelry collectors have already been kind enough to donate Hollycraft either as an outright gift or heavily discounted. As life has been so hectic, my plan to create my own website for Hollycraft has been delayed. I finally targeted this fall as my launch. Of course, it will be going up in segments as my collection of jewelry, artwork and photographs is rather large.

My father, Joseph Chorbajian began Hollywood Jewelry in 1936. As good fortune, determination and talent were in his favor, his company began to grow so he encouraged his cousins, Jack Hazard (formerly Hazardabedian) and Arshag “Archie” Chorbajian, to join him, thus in 1939 they became part of the Hollywood family. Through the years many members of the family worked at Hollywood either full time, part time or summer time—myself included.

I began going with my father to work when I was really young, probably 8 or 9 when the factory was located at 902 Broadway. My first paying job was in the summer of 1959 while I was in high school. I continued through the years working at the factory until I finally went out into the world on my own. My only true regret is that none of us ever thought about the future so all the beautiful sets that were created never got saved, particularly the beauties that were manufactured and unsigned in the 1940’s. In addition, I had access to all the big names in costume jewelry manufacturing and could have collected any number of pieces of jewelry that we are all seeking out today. Hindsight was never more 20-20 then this.

My father, mother, and all the senior members of the business were survivors of the Genocide of 1915-1917 in Turkey. They came to the United States poor, but determined to make a great life for themselves. I am happy and proud to say that all of these wonderful people lived their dreams to the fullest. They not only lived good lives, but made many major contributions to both their newly adopted country and their community. My father, for one, was the first campaign chairman for the building and development of St. Vartan’s Armenian Cathedral Complex that graces Second Avenue between 34th and 35th Streets in New York City.

One question that comes up quite often in costume jewelry circles is the Hollywood-Hollycraft name. As I noted, Hollywood Jewelry Manufacturing Company was the original name of the company. Along the way, confusion developed between Joseph of Hollywood (East Coast) and Josef of Hollywood (West Coast). It was therefore decided that Hollywood East would use Hollycraft as its logo. The official name of the company remained Hollywood Jewelry until it was sold in the 1978-1979 period. It lasted approximately 10 more years and closed.

I hope all of you who are interested in Hollycraft will continue to acquire and enjoy it. I know that every time I receive a new piece my first reaction is to hear the sounds of the factory and sense the smell of the glue. How fortunate I am to have such wonderful memories.
I have posted quite a number of pieces to Judi Bollan’s ImageEvent—thank you Judi. I apologize that the pictures are not what I would like them to be—something that will be changing this fall. These pictures are from eBay wins, internet sites and sent to me by thoughtful collectors. Again, thank you one and all. Joyce, The Hollycraft Lady
To See Some of Joyce the Hollycraft Lady's Collection Please click on this Link

NAPIER was founded in 1875 and through some names changes finally became NAPIER in 1922. They shifted emphasis to jewelry after WW1 and stayed in business until 1999. During the 1950's & 60's NAPIER produced a wide variety of chunky charm bracelets which became very popular and are sought after today. Enormous cuff bracelets,smashing bibs and "over the ear" clips were some of their best sellers. NAPIER was the oldest fashion jewelry house in the US.

CAT JEWELRY

This album will contain many examples of Eisenberg jewelry from Bobye Syverson's personal collection, and also from other members of the Jewelry Ring..Please read Bobye's very informative five page interview where she discloses a wealth of Eisenberg facts and shares more of her collection.

Bobye would also like to give special recognition to Pat Seal for her diligent efforts in helping Bobye out with securing the Vintage Eisenberg Ads.

*Bobye's Interview*

Approx. Dates for signatures:

Eisenberg Original 1935-1945

Eisenberg Sterling 1943-1948

Eisenberg E in Block 1942-1945

Eisenberg Block 1945-1958

Eisenberg Ice in Caps & Block 1945-1950

Eisenberg Ice in Script 1970-Present

Eisenberg © 1955 & after

Unsigned Eisenberg 1958-1970

Interview with Karl Eisenberg:
*Collectors Weekly*

Welcome to The Jewelry Ring Mall.

The shops featured in our Mall offer an excellent variety of vintage and vintage costume jewelry from Victorian to Glitz.

You will find Art Deco, Miriam Haskell, Mexican Silver, Native American, Eisenberg, Trifari, Coro, Weiss, Florenza, Juliana, Bakelite, etc., and much more.

Shop owners are members of the Jewelry Ring, an online group that discusses and studies vintage and vintage costume jewelry.

Marcel Boucher was born in Paris in 1899. He worked for Cartier first in Paris then in New York in 1925. Five years later he joined Mazer Bros. where he worked until 1937 in which year he founded his own company,Marcel Boucher Ltd. Novelty Jewelry in New York. Then in 1944 it became known as Marcel Boucher & Cie.

January 22, 1965 Marcel Boucher died at the age of 66.

Sandra Boucher, his wife, ran the company until 1972. In 1972 the company is sold to Davorn Industries and later to others. D'Orlan is a Montreal based company that legitimately reproduces many of Boucher's jewels. Their jewels are marked D'Orlan with Boucher's design inventory number.

Numbering system:

c.1945 2300-2350

c.1946 2351-2450

c.1947 2451-2550

c.1948 2551-2750

c.1949 2751-3000

c.1950 3001-3500

c.1951 3501-4500

1960: 7802

1962: 8291

1965: 9100

Marks with the copyright symbol © are after 1955

Signatures used: MB with or without the Phrygian cap,Boucher and Marcel Boucher.

The Marboux mark,written in cursive and preceded by one star, was recorded in 1955 as the name of a new line, at a low cost of $1-$5, for tailored jewelry.

Parisina mark on Sterling made in Mexico during WW2.

Some of the later pieces that are parts of sets have the number and "P" for Pin, "E" for Earring or "N" for Necklace.

AVON of BELLEVILLE: Much of AVON of BELLEVILLE jewelry was designed by Boucher and although having the AVON of BELLEVILLE signature also has Boucher's signature 4-digit design numbers. For a more in depth discussion of AVON of BELLEVILLE please visit Luda Tovey's Imageevent site:
AVON of BELLEVILLE

The Jewelry Ring proudly presents to you these amazing works of art from our talented Jewelry Artisans.. Please stop by their shops to see some of the most gorgeous Artisan jewelry you will have the pleasure of not only viewing but purchasing..

"There are two that I see (99% of the time that is). Made in England- probably the most typical and usually set in sterling silver. These are the ones that seem to be the most desirable, at least for me anyway. and Hoffman- an American company. is what their Hallmark looks like. They are Frederick S. Hoffman and Company, and out of New York, NY right around 1930-40. I have seen these set in sterling silver, and in white metal with rhodium (stay-bright) finish. I also see the ones that have scenes of Rio on them- and they always seem to be marked 800 or 900 silver." Carolyn Sunday

According to Warman's Jewelry: "A unique type of collectible jewelry, which appears to be attracting to a growing number of collectors, originated in England.However, its primary component, the wings of the Morpho butterly, came from South America. Several British firms made these pieces, which usually consist of a reverse-painted scene or a white sulphide bas-relief(reminiscent of Wedgewood jasperware) backed with an iridescent blue butterfly wing ground, a domed glass cover, and usually a sterling silver frame and back. The backs are often marked with a British patent number, granted to Shipton & Co. of Brinmingham, England in 1923." That is found on page 137 and there is an unusual yellow butterfly wing pin pictured on the same page." Lilly Vittetow.

"Unfortunately, the delicate material of the butterfly wing is subject to deterioration and many of the old pieces have spots of deterioration or are completely deteriorated.The giveaway is dead spots in the lovely irridescense, a rusty or dirty appearance. Under magnification these areas of scales will appear "ruffled" in comparison to the undamaged areas." Jan Gaughan