Cornelian, brown and grey paste cabuchon 'cluster' earrings, Ciner, USA, 1980s
About the Item
- Creator:
- Metal:
- Weight:18 g
- Dimensions:Height: 1 in (25.4 mm)Width: 1 in (25.4 mm)Depth: 0.4 in (10.16 mm)Diameter: 1 in (25.4 mm)Length: 1 in (25.4 mm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:late 1980s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Greyabbey, GB
- 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: Greyabbey, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 2 days of delivery.
- Unsigned smoke grey and soft brown cluster earrings, Schreiner of New York 1960sBy Schreiner of New YorkLocated in Greyabbey, County DownA classic design in a very elegant colour combination from Schreiner of New York - sadly these earrings are unsigned, but are a well known and popular design from the New York manufacturer of always striking and glamourous designs. The subtle combination of a soft, almost peachy, brown coupled with a smokey shade of grey make them immediately noticeable when worn, and highly wearable! Henry Schreiner started the Schreiner Jewellery Company in 1939 and was director until his death in 1954. His daughter and son in law continued with the business until 1977. In the 1950s he made jewellery for Christian Dior. His jewellery is very distinctive for its use of unusual mounts and subtle colour combinations, using the finest quality rhinestones and crystals. He made exceptionally glamorous belts, bib necklaces, unusually coloured baroque brooches (his signature ‘ruffle’ brooch...Category
Vintage 1960s American Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsGilt Metal
- Very large gilt and colored paste 'heart' earrings, Yves Saint Laurent, 1980s.By Robert Goossens for Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Greyabbey, County DownTruly magnificent, fabulous and over sized 'heart' earrings, in vibrant and dynamic shades of shocking pink and orange. Frosted, clear and foiled stones, o...Category
Vintage 1980s French Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsGilt Metal
- Stylised clear paste and metal 'flower' earrings, Ciro, London, c1950sLocated in Greyabbey, County DownA classic pair of clear paste earrings, with overtones of Georgian and Victorian real jewellery, these smart floral style earrings by Ciro Of London are easily wearable and adaptable to many occasions. CIRO was established in 1917 and continues its reputation for high quality imitation jewellery and pearls. Having started out as a mail order company selling costume jewellery, clip on earrings, and cultured pearls, with the launch of the imitation pearl in the 1920s CIRO became a much sought after brand with the elegant flapper girls and early film stars. In the 1950s they again were a byword for glamour, smart and high quality designs. CIRO's classic collections, embodying timeless and ladylike glamour, now sit alongside must-have fashion pieces with their pieces regularly featured on the pages of glossy magazines. Their flagship store is located on the prestigious Burlington Arcade...Category
Vintage 1950s British Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsRhodium, Base Metal
- Classic clear paste and pearl cluster earrings, Christian Dior, 1970s, with box.By Henkel and Grosse for Christian DiorLocated in Greyabbey, County DownSimple, classic Dior - beautiful wearable 'cluster' style earrings from Christian Dior, made with Austrian pastes and rich faux pearls, sitting comfortably in their box. Designed in Paris but made in Germany by renowned Henkel and Grosse for Dior, these are an assured vintage Dior look, flattering and feminine. Christian Dior was born into a wealthy family in 1905, being raised in the Normandy seaside town of Granville. Working first for Robert Piguet...Category
Vintage 1970s German Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsRhodium, Base Metal
- Cream pearl, gilt metal and grey paste 'flower' earrings, Trifari, USA, 1960s.By TrifariLocated in Greyabbey, County DownA beautiful pair of 'flower' or 'camellia' earrings made by Trifari, in the 1960s, with a subtle and chic combination of tones. Unusual grey coloured pastes sit side by side with cream paste pearls, all small. giving a finesse and wearablity to these charming earrings. The firm of Trifari was founded in 1925 by Gustavo Trifari, Leo F...Category
Vintage 1960s American Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsGilt Metal
- Hand beaded sea coloured crystal 'double ball' earrings, Coppola e Toppo, c1967By Coppola e ToppoLocated in Greyabbey, County DownThese earrings are everything we love about Lydia Coppola's work! Made from Swarovski 'Margarita' crystals mounted onto a weft of beads - incredible colour combinations, really inter...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsBrass
- Vintage 18 Karat Gold, Diamond, Vintage Coral & Lapis Lazuli EarringsLocated in London, GB18 Karat Yellow Gold, large statement clip-on earrings from the 1970s. Each earring features a central, pale pink 10mm x 15mm Coral stone, claw set in 18K Gold. Immediately surrounding each coral centrepiece are fifteen spherical, deep blue Lapis Lazuli gemstones. Layers of gold twisted wires spread from the centre, with each earring housing a further 4 blue Lapis stones, and 22 White Diamonds, ranging in size. Each earring measures 4.5cm x 2.7cm, and sits comfortably clipped to the lobe of the ear. 37.80gr each. They were bought in Spain in the 1970s from Luis Gil...Category
Vintage 1970s Spanish Retro Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsCoral, Diamond, White Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Giancarlo Montebello 18 Karat Yellow Gold "Tigre" Japanese Pearl and DiamondsBy Giancarlo MontebelloLocated in Bari, ITBeautiful earrings by the Italian designer Giancarlo Montebello. The earrings were designed directly for our Enrico Trizio 1868 jewelry. A very elegant pair of yellow gold earrings "Tigre" with Japanese pearl and Diamonds...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold
- Giancarlo Montebello 18 Karat Yellow Gold "Merlino" Adularia Stone and DiamondsBy Giancarlo MontebelloLocated in Bari, ITBeautiful earrings by the Italian designer Giancarlo Montebello. The earrings were designed directly for our Enrico Trizio 1868 jewelry. A very elegant pair of white gold earrings "M...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, Yellow Gold
- Giancarlo Montebello 18 Karat Grey Gold with Aquamarine and DiamondsBy Giancarlo MontebelloLocated in Bari, ITBeautiful earrings by the Italian designer Giancarlo Montebello. The earrings were designed directly for our Enrico Trizio 1868 jewelry. A very eleg...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, Aquamarine, Gold
- Giancarlo Montebello 18 Karat White Gold "Tigre" Japanese Pearl and DiamondsBy Giancarlo MontebelloLocated in Bari, ITBeautiful earrings by the Italian designer Giancarlo Montebello. The earrings were designed directly for our Enrico Trizio 1868 jewelry. A very elegant p...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, Pearl, White Gold
- Giancarlo Montebello 18 Karat Yellow Gold Leaf Design and DiamondsBy Giancarlo MontebelloLocated in Bari, ITBeautiful earrings by the Italian designer Giancarlo Montebello. The earrings were designed directly for our Enrico Trizio 1868 jewelry. A very eleg...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, Yellow Gold