Ciner Enameled Clip on Earrings New, Never Worn 1980s
About the Item
- Creator:
- Metal:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1980s
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Wallkill, NY
- Reference Number:
Ciner
What defines “fine” jewelry? For many aficionados, there’s a clear line separating the golden wheat from the gilded chaff. But the handcrafted pieces made by Ciner, a 128-year-old costume jewelry house with a glittering past to rival some of the hautest high jewelers, call into question our notions of what constitutes preciousness.
Quality? Craftsmanship? Painstaking detail? Vintage Ciner earrings, brooches, necklaces and other accessories have them all in spades.
Much of the Ciner’s allure can be traced to its origins in fine jewelry. Emanuel Ciner, an Austrian immigrant, founded the firm in Manhattan in 1892, crafting pieces from the traditional precious gems, gold and platinum. But World War I and the Great Depression caused purse strings to tighten and materials to become scarce. Rather than try to weather the economic downturn, which shuttered many other American jewelers, Ciner made the risky transition from fine jewelry to costume (or fashion) jewelry — virtually uncharted territory.
Emanuel Ciner’s sons, Irwin and Charles, introduced an array of innovations — rubber casting molds, which are especially durable and produce higher quality results, and white metal alloys, which affordably mimic the look of more precious materials — that would become the standard for costume jewelry. During World War II, Ciner’s advanced molding technology was utilized by the U.S. military to produce munitions and tools. This arrangement gave the firm access to the heavily rationed metals it needed for its jewels, enabling it again to endure conditions that drove others into bankruptcy.
The company hit its stride in the 1960s, when its jewelry was sold at some of the country’s toniest stores, even garnering an Andy Warhol–illustrated ad for Bonwit Teller. Its pieces were worn by the era’s brightest stars. In the famous 1957 Joe Shere photo of Sophia Loren sneering at Jayne Mansfield’s décolletage, Mansfield is resplendent in shoulder-grazing Ciner earrings.
Ciner is unique among costume jewelers in that its pieces aren’t imitations — they are coveted in their own right. Elizabeth Taylor, a voracious jewelry collector with a taste for the very finest, was a longtime client. Several suites of Ciner jewels were included in the 2011 Christie’s sale of Taylor’s collection, with one group of rhinestone-studded ear clips and a bracelet fetching $15,600 — more than 100 times the auction estimate. It’s a reminder of a time, not so long ago, when women of great style wore fine and costume jewelry with equal aplomb, often at the same time.
Today, Ciner — now run by Emanuel Ciner’s granddaughter Pat Ciner Hill and great-granddaughter Jean Hill — continues to adhere to the same exacting production specifications. It is the only jewelry house in New York, and likely the United States, that manufactures all its pieces entirely in-house. Each begins with dozens of elements that are cast in rubber molds and then individually filed and polished, plated in a particularly thick layer of 18-karat gold or rhodium, assembled on the bench and painted with enamel or set with stones. Every step is performed by hand by craftsmen, many of whom have been with the company for more than 30 years.
Find vintage Ciner clip-on earrings, choker necklaces, bracelets and other jewelry on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Wallkill, NY
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Philippe Ferrandis Chandelier Earrings Baroque Pearl New Old stock 1990sBy Philippe FerrandisLocated in Wallkill, NYMassive Philippe Ferrandis Chandelier Baroque Pearl Earrings. Measuring 4.8 inches / 122.1 mm long---1.4 inches / 36.5 mm wide.. Coral Reef/ Seashell Motif..Philippe Ferrandis is a...Category
1990s French Chandelier Earrings
MaterialsGilt Metal
- Dominique Aurientis Gold Gilt Sea shell Earrings New, Never Worn 1980sLocated in Wallkill, NYDominique Aurientis Gold Gilt Seashell Earrings New old stock. Earrings are clip-ons. Matching Necklace and Brooch listed as well. Measuring 1.76 inches x 1.76 inches. More Aurientis listed on our storefront. We have a Vast inventory of New, Never worn Jewelry...Category
Vintage 1980s French Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsGilt Metal
- Dominique Aurientis Gold Gilt Star Massive Earrings New, Never worn 1980'sLocated in Wallkill, NYDominique Aurientis Gold Gilt Crystal Star Clip on earrings, what a dynamic design. Circa 1980s Created by famed Parisian designer Aurientis. Measuring 1.9 in diameter. This French j...Category
Vintage 1980s French Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsGilt Metal
- Dominique Aurientis Rhinestone Earrings 1980sLocated in Wallkill, NYIt an explosion of crystals from partisan artisan Dominique Aurientis. set in a gilt metal with crystals that have a host of colors, sizes and shapes. The earrings have marquise set...Category
Vintage 1980s French Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsGilt Metal
- Bob House Gold Speckle Glass Bracelet & Earrings set 1990sBy Bob HouseLocated in Wallkill, NYStunning colors make up the center of the gold sparkles on both the bracelet and earrings. So Mystical Bracelet has large gold tone links Measures 1.39 in x 1.16 in on both the earr...Category
Vintage 1980s American Link Bracelets
MaterialsGold, Gilt Metal
- Swarovski EARRINGS Rainbow Crystal - New Old Stock -1980sBy Daniel SwarovskiLocated in Wallkill, NYMassive round clip-on crystal earrings, these have a wonderful mix of colors with a huge clear crystal in the center. Measuring 1.5 in. Unsigned, however, they came with a matching b...Category
Vintage 1980s French Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsGilt Metal
- 18 Karat Yellow Gold Multicolored Sapphire Diamonds Flower EarringsBy FRALEONILocated in Rome, IT18 kt. yellow gold earrings with 2.63 ct. of round cut diamonds and 16.30 ct. of round cut multicolored sapphires. This classic earrings are hand-made in Italy. In the bottom there i...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsSapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- 18kt. White Gold Blue Sapphire Diamond Baroque Pearls EarringsBy FRALEONILocated in Rome, IT18 kt. gold earrings with 6.10 ct. of round-cut diamonds ( H-I color - VVS1-VVS2 ), 13.80 ct. of blue double rose-cut sapphires, 2 baroque pearls. This one of a kind earrings are han...Category
2010s Italian Modern Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
- 1987 Marina B. Yellow Gold Stell Heart Shaped Clip-on EarringsBy Marina BLocated in Rome, ITOrecchini in oro giallo 18 kt. e acciaio firmati Marina B. Questi iconici orecchini disegnati a forma di cuore sono perfetti per ogni occasione. 1987 Peso: gr. 45.70 Orecchini clip-...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Modern Clip-on Earrings
Materials18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Steel
- 18 Karat White Gold Blue Sapphire Australian Pearls Diamonds EarringsBy FRALEONILocated in Rome, IT18 Kt. white gold earrings with round-cut diamonds, double rose-cut blue sapphires, Australian pearls. This modern pair of earrings is one of a kind piece. Hand-made in Italy. 2016 c...Category
2010s Italian Modern Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, South Sea Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
- Fraleoni 18 Karat White Gold Diamonds Rubies Emeralds Sapphires EarringsLocated in Rome, IT18 kt. white gold clip-on earrings with 6.20 carats of round-cut diamonds, 2.10 carats of brown round-cut diamonds, 3.90 carats of old mine cut diamonds and 20.10 carats of rubies, e...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Modern Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
- 1980 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamonds South Sea Pearls EarringsLocated in Rome, IT18 Karat yellow gold pair of clip-on earrings with 4.50 carat of round-cut diamonds ( H-I color / VVS1-VVS2 ) and South Sea pearls 14 mm. each. These classic pair of earrings are hand-made in Italy. Weight gr. 26.50 Diameter cm. 2.70 Pin and clip.Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Modern Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold