Ciner Faux Topaz Retro Earclips
About the Item
- Creator:
- Metal:
- Stone:
- Stone Cut:
- Dimensions:Width: 0.5 in (12.7 mm)Length: 0.75 in (19.05 mm)
- Style:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1940
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Unsigned Ciner.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU462441633
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: New York, NY
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- 1950's California Pottery Lime Motif EarringsLocated in New York, NYFun California Pottery Lime motif earrings from the 1950's. Hand made with vibrant limes hanging from deep green leaf pottery ear clips. 1950's USA. Clip back fittings. 2.5" x 1".Category
Vintage 1950s American Artisan Drop Earrings
Materials10k Gold, 15k Gold, Gilt Metal
- Miriam Haskell Victorian Revival Jet EarringsBy Miriam HaskellLocated in New York, NYLarge and attractive Miriam Haskell Victorian Revival Jet Earrings in signature Russian gilt finish. Gilt filigrees are mounted on black resin drops with ...Category
Vintage 1950s American Dangle Earrings
MaterialsGilt Metal
- Miriam Haskell Ruby Pate de Verre and Diamante EarclipsBy Miriam HaskellLocated in New York, NYMiriam Haskell signature Russian Gold filigree and french handmade pate de verre faux ruby bead earrings. Hand sewn with small crystal rondels, gilt...Category
Vintage 1950s American Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsGold Plate, Brass, Gilt Metal, Cut Steel
- Chanel Classic Nail Head EarclipsBy ChanelLocated in New York, NYClassic Chanel black resin disc and nail head round earclips, edged in signature gilt torsade metal braid. France 1980's. Excellent condition. 1.5"Category
Vintage 1980s French Clip-on Earrings
- Chanel Butterfly Earclips of Poured Glass. Maison GripoixBy Maison Gripoix for ChanelLocated in New York, NYChanel Maison Gripoix signature poured glass enamel butterfly ear clips of emerald and pale pink rose glass in hand made settings of gilt bronze metal. Clip back fittings. Excellent...Category
1990s French Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsGold Plate, Bronze
- Mazer Enamel Cherry EarclipsBy MazerLocated in New York, NYMazer crystal pave and metallic cold enamel cherries with pave bows earclips of rhodium plate base metal, with signature Mazer clip back fittings. Matching brooch available. Excelle...Category
Vintage 1940s American Retro Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsRhodium, Base Metal, Enamel
- Bakelite earrings from the 1920/30sLocated in Berlin, DEBakelite earrings from the 1920/30s Pair of earrings in bakelite and chrome with coral coloured elements; renewed clips Width: 5 cm Height: 1 cm De...Category
Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Clip-on Earrings
- Rare 1980 CLAUDE MONTANA gold tone earringsBy Claude MontanaLocated in Genève, CHFabulous Claude Montana 80s gold tone earrings -Gold-tone -Signature on the back -Made in France -100% Gilt metal -Circa 1980 - 1989 -Very good conditionsCategory
Vintage 1980s French Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsMixed Metal
- Long Bronze earrings with Murano glasses di Patrizia DalianaBy Patrizia DalianaLocated in Firenze, FILong Bronze earrings, with Murano glasses carved and cut by hand representing ancient Roman woman's head. To wear the ear is used a silver clip.To fix the stones to our jewels, accor...Category
2010s Italian Artisan Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsBronze
- Olong EarcuffLocated in EINDHOVEN, NBIntroducing THE OLONG COLLECTION. The idea of this collection came about when we started experimenting with residual materials and the use of a press machine. We love to experiment and think of ways to reuse materials that might not otherwise be reused. The materials we found for this collection are leftover products from a punching machine used...Category
2010s Dutch Modern Clip-on Earrings
Materials24k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass
- Chanel Logo Clip-on Chain pair of Earring Oversized Jumbo Logo CCBy ChanelLocated in 'S-HERTOGENBOSCH, NLThese exceptional vintage 1993 Chanel jumbo oversized clip-on earrings (pair) in gold with black and logo CC are a highly sought-after fashion accessory. These earrings were original...Category
1990s French Clip-on Earrings
- 1990's MOSCHINO Pearl Heart Shape Clip On EarringsBy MoschinoLocated in PUTNEY, NSWVintage Givenchy gold plated pearl earrings featuring shell design. Feature Material: Gold-tone Metal and Pearls Condition: Excellent Colour: White and Gold Dimension: W 2.5cm X H 2...Category
Vintage 1980s European Baroque Clip-on Earrings