Kurt Wayne Emerald
Early 20th Century American Brooches
Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Modernist Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
2010s American Pendant Necklaces
Emerald, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s American Solitaire Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1980s American Contemporary More Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
20th Century American Contemporary Fashion Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, White Gold
20th Century American Modern Brooches
Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
2010s French Art Nouveau Charm Bracelets
Carnelian, 18k Gold
Vintage 1980s Retro Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Engagement Rings
Rose Gold
20th Century American Modern Brooches
Enamel
Vintage 1960s American Modernist Brooches
Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Fashion Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Australian Artisan Solitaire Rings
Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s Modern Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Vintage 1980s Retro Brooches
Emerald, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Tiger's Eye, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Aesthetic Movement Pendant Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Three-Stone Rings
White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Recent Sales
2010s Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s American More Rings
Emerald, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Band Rings
Diamond, Emerald, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Emerald, 18k Gold
20th Century Unknown Solitaire Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s American Retro Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s American Cocktail Rings
18k Gold
20th Century American Brooches
Emerald, Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Drop Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s Contemporary Fashion Rings
Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Artisan Fashion Rings
Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s American Modern Three-Stone Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
Vintage 1980s American Brooches
Emerald, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century American Artist Fashion Rings
Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
1990s American Cocktail Rings
Emerald, 18k Gold
1990s American Brooches
Emerald, 18k Gold
20th Century American Brooches
Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s American Cocktail Rings
Emerald, 18k Gold
Vintage 1980s American Brooches
Emerald, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s American More Rings
Emerald, 18k Gold
20th Century American Cufflinks
Emerald, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Cluster Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century American More Bracelets
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Fashion Rings
Emerald, 18k Gold
Diamond
20th Century American Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Brooches
Emerald, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Kurt Wayne for sale on 1stDibs
Kurt Wayne brought an optimistic and playful style to the art of making jewelry. Celebrated by those in the know for his alluring, offbeat creations that feature south sea pearls, emeralds and more, Wayne strayed from conventional jewelry design of the time, making such bold decisions as setting a square-cut diamond in the center of a polished orb of black onyx. The Austrian-born designer produced lively pendants, rings and brooches made to resemble frogs, canaries and owls, and with radiant starbursts and clustered stones, Wayne's style was meant to bedazzle as much as it was to stoke the imagination.
Not much is known about the life of Kurt Wayne. He is believed to have been born in 1909, in Vienna, and was reportedly fostered by a jeweler at the age of ten. Under the jeweler's tutelage, Wayne learned about watchmaking and how to work with gold, silver and precious stones.
At the time, the whiplash lines, vibrant materials and dramatic imagery that had characterized the Art Nouveau style — cemented in Viennese culture by artists such as those in the Wiener Werkstätte collective and others working in the Jugendstil style in Germany and Austria — had given way to Art Deco’s geometric diamond brooches and long pearl necklaces.
In 1937, Wayne emigrated to the United States and settled in New York City. He is said to have established his own business in 1945 and found great success in making jewelry. Throughout his career, he developed close ties to the Zale family of Zale jewelers and with Stanley Marcus of Neiman Marcus.
Wayne created imaginative modernist cocktail rings and other accessories during the 1970s and 1980s that are still widely collected today.
Find vintage Kurt Wayne necklaces, earrings and bracelets on 1stDibs.