Vintage Jewelry Kenneth
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Gold Plate
Vintage 1980s Brooches
Late 20th Century American Classical Greek Retro Bracelets
1990s Clip-on Earrings
1990s Choker Necklaces
Vintage 1980s Brooches
1990s Cuff Bracelets
1990s American Cuff Bracelets
Vermeil
20th Century More Necklaces
Vintage 1970s Beaded Necklaces
Late 20th Century American Modernist Brooches
Crystal, Gold Plate, Enamel
1990s Clip-on Earrings
1990s Unknown Artisan Hoop Earrings
Vintage 1980s American Art Deco Clip-on Earrings
Gold Plate
Late 20th Century American Modernist Brooches
Crystal, Pearl
Vintage 1980s American Link Bracelets
21st Century and Contemporary Central American Art Nouveau Brooches
Vintage 1970s American Artisan Fashion Rings
Citrine, Gold Plate
Vintage 1970s American Artist Cocktail Rings
Crystal, Gold Plate
Vintage 1980s American Chain Necklaces
Late 20th Century American Art Deco Collectible Jewelry
Metal
1990s American Clip-on Earrings
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1980s American Edwardian Link Bracelets
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1980s American Link Bracelets
Silver Plate
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Vintage 1980s American Modern Multi-Strand Necklaces
Vintage 1980s American Modern Brooches
Vintage 1980s American Art Deco Clip-on Earrings
Gold Plate
Vintage 1980s American Link Necklaces
Gilt Metal
1990s American Modern Brooches
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Brooches
Gold Plate
Vintage 1980s Chain Necklaces
Vintage 1980s American Modern Drop Necklaces
Pearl, Gold Plate
Late 20th Century American Modernist Brooches
Vintage 1980s American Bangles
Gilt Metal
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Collectible Jewelry
Metal
Vintage 1970s American Modern Bangles
1990s American Multi-Strand Necklaces
Late 20th Century Collectible Jewelry
Plastic
20th Century American Drop Necklaces
Vintage 1980s German Baroque Pendant Necklaces
Gold Plate
Vintage 1970s American Modern Pendant Necklaces
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Collectible Jewelry
Enamel
1990s American Modern Clip-on Earrings
Late 20th Century American Modern Pendant Necklaces
Gold Plate
1990s French Pendant Necklaces
20th Century Brooches
20th Century More Jewelry
1990s American Modern Clamper Bracelets
Gold Plate, Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary American Brooches
Vintage 1980s American Art Deco Clip-on Earrings
Gold Plate
1990s Bangles
20th Century American Clip-on Earrings
20th Century Choker Necklaces
Late 20th Century American Modernist Cuff Bracelets
Enamel
Vintage 1980s Clip-on Earrings
20th Century Cocktail Rings
Gilt Metal
1990s Unknown Pendant Necklaces
Gold Plate
Vintage 1960s American Pendant Necklaces
Gold Plate
Mid-20th Century American Dangle Earrings
Crystal, Rhodium
- 1
Vintage Jewelry Kenneth For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Vintage Jewelry Kenneth?
Kenneth Jay Lane for sale on 1stDibs
The father of so-called “fabulous fakes,” Kenneth Jay Lane was a spirited innovator within the jewelry industry, designing elegant and luxurious pieces without the use of real jewels. And while Lane aspired to create classic designs for earrings, bracelets and necklaces intended for everyday wear, his pieces caught the attention of celebrities, royalty and socialites.
From a young age, the Detroit, Michigan-born Lane was a lover of fashion. He studied at the Rhode Island School of Design and the University of Michigan. He pursued a design career in New York City, and a failed start in the art department of Vogue magazine led to a decade of designing shoes for the likes of Delman and Christian Dior.
Lane would occasionally develop shoe designs for friends he had in the fashion world such as Bill Blass and Arnold Scaasi. A show for the latter afforded him the opportunity to beautify shoes with rhinestones and create bangles and earrings to pair with the footwear — he found plastic bracelets at discount variety store and had them embellished by craftspeople at a shoe factory.
A love for costume jewelry design emerged thereafter. Lane created his own collection and admirers such as Jackie Kennedy and Elizabeth Taylor showered him with praise. A pearl necklace he designed was worn by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. In the early 1960s, ready-to-wear pioneer Hattie Carnegie purchased Lane’s jewelry line. Lane was given the position of design director for Carnegie but he soon changed course, moving instead into a small studio and pursuing his own path.
Lane worked with milk glass, gilded silver hardware, faux coral and other materials, and sold pendant necklaces, dangle earrings and modern bracelets to private customers. He was fond of renowned fine jewelry houses Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels and designers such as Jean Schlumberger, and cited having found inspiration in Egyptian and Indian jewelry over the years as well as Art Deco jewelry. Lane’s designs, which he called “faque” and “junque,” became well-known for their distinctive color combinations and clever characteristics such as embroidery. By the time he purchased a small jewelry factory in Providence, Rhode Island, where his accessories would be made during the 1960s, Lane had secured relationships with top Manhattan boutiques and his work had caught the attention of fashion magazines.
Directed by the filmmaker Gisèle Roman, a 2018 documentary about Lane’s life and work called Fabulously Fake: The Real Life of Kenneth Jay Lane features interviews with legendary fashion designers Carolina Herrera, Tory Burch and Diane von Furstenberg.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage Kenneth Jay Lane brooches, rings and other accessories.