FLATO Platinum and Diamond Travel Watch
By Paul Flato
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This unusual watch clock was created by Paul Flato in New York in the 1930s.
Category
Vintage 1930s American Pocket Watches
Materials
Diamond, Platinum
Paul Flato Watch
Paul Flato Imperio Gold Coin Pendant Brooch Watch
By Paul Flato
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1950 Paul Flato Iconic Gold Coin Watch, measuring 2 3/8 inches in length and 1 3/4 inches wide.
Category
Vintage 1940s Mexican Brooches
Materials
Gold, 18k Gold, 22k Gold
Rare Paul Flato Imperio Mexicano 1866 One Peso Solid 18k Gold Pendant Watch
By Paul Flato
Located in St. Louis, MO
This extraordinarily rare and highly important vintage Paul Flato convertible pendant-brooch watch is a spectacular relic from the legendary designer’s celebrated Mexican period, cir...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Hollywood Regency Collectible Jewelry
Materials
Crystal, Gold
Retro Flato gold, ruby, and diamond hand brooch watch
By Paul Flato
Located in New York, NY
Attributed to Paul Flato. 2 5/8" wide, 3 1/8" long; watch face 11mm wide.
Category
Vintage 1940s Retro Brooches
Materials
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
Recent Sales
PAUL FLATO Skeleton Pocket Watch
By Paul Flato
Located in Chicago, IL
Retailed by Paul Flato this 1940s pocket watch is Chromium steel with See Through Plexi Glass front and back, manual wind 15 jewel Marvin watch company Movement.
Category
Vintage 1940s American Pocket Watches
Materials
Stainless Steel
PAUL FLATO Gold Ribbed Case Wrist Watch
By Paul Flato
Located in Chicago, IL
Wonderful 14K Yellow Gold Ribbed case Wrist watch by Paul Flato, 17 Jewel Swiss Manual Wind Movement, Gold Dial with Raised Gold Markers, original brown Lizard strap.
Category
Vintage 1940s American Wrist Watches
Materials
14k Gold
Paul Flato Lady's Yellow Gold Peso Manual Wind Pendant Brooch Watch
By Paul Flato
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1970s Paul Flato 18K Yellow gold pendant brooch watch made from a Gold Mexican Peso.
Category
Vintage 1970s Mexican Pocket Watches
Materials
18k Gold
Paul Flato Yellow Gold Sterling Silver Brooch Pendant Manual wind Watch
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1950s Paul Flato Brooch Pendant watch, 14K Yellow Gold and Sterling silver and fashioned from an 1866 Mexican Peso Coin.
Category
Vintage 1950s Mexican Pocket Watches
Materials
14k Gold, Sterling Silver
PAUL FLATO Sterling Silver "Purse" Purse Watch
By Paul Flato
Located in New York, NY
Realistically designed as a lady's handbag (it stands upright as an object), the hinged purse opening to reveal a watch, signed Flato for Paul Flato, stamped Sterling and Pat.Pend., ...
Category
Vintage 1940s American Wrist Watches
Materials
Sterling Silver
1960s Paul Flato Imperio Mexicano Brooch Pendant Watch
By Paul Flato
Located in San Francisco, CA
From the distinguished and colorful "Jeweler To The Stars" Paul Flato -formerly of Hollywood, NYC and Mexico City - comes this coveted, signature jewel - a combination timepiece broo...
Category
Vintage 1960s Pocket Watches
Materials
18k Gold
Paul Flato Gold "Imperio Mexicano 1 Peso" Pendant Watch
By Paul Flato
Located in Greenwich, CT
Case signed Paul Flato, circa 1960s.
Category
Vintage 1960s American Pocket Watches
Materials
22k Gold, 18k Gold
Paul Flato Yellow Gold Mexican Peso Pocket Watch circa 1950s
By Paul Flato
Located in Miami, FL
Paul Flato 18k yellow gold pocket watch with openwork dial cut from an antique peso crested with the Mexican Imperial Coat of Arms, circa 1950s, locking pin back with pendant hook, s...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Pocket Watches
Materials
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
PAUL FLATO A Pair of Diamond 'Starburst' Ear Clips
Located in New York, NY
Paul Flato, A Pair of Diamond Ear Clips, each designed as a circular and baguette-cut diamond starburst, mounted in platinum, circa 1938, signed Paul Flato and a similar style is ill...
Category
American Wrist Watches
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Library of Antique Leatherbound Books
Located in Brønshøj, DK
This collection consists of 400 antique decorative books, mainly dating from 1850–1950, with most published before 1920. The books are bound in leather, many with fine gold leaf embo...
Category
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Patek Philippe 18Kt Solid Gold Dress Watch circa 1980's with Original Bracelet
By Patek Philippe
Located in Long Beach, CA
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Located in New York, NY
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Category
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Massive Estate 18K Yellow Gold Rigato Statement Bracelet, 1970's
Located in New York, NY
Fabulous, massive 18K yellow gold cuff statement bracelet in the Rigato technique, synonymous with fine Italian craftsmanship 1970's Weight: 93.8 grams Marks: 750, 18K, Italy The Rig...
Category
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Bulgari Doppio Ring with Tourmaline and Peridot, c. 1980
By Bulgari
Located in Malmö, Skåne län
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Category
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Large Antique Diamond 14K Yellow Gold Secret Locket Bracelet
Located in New York, NY
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Category
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Chaumet 4 Rigid Bracelets in Yellow Gold and Precious Stones
By Chaumet
Located in Paris, FR
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Category
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Materials
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Estate 1930s Retro 50 Carat Emerald Cut Aquamarine Cocktail Ring
$14,000Sale Price|20% Off
Estate 1930s Retro 50 Carat Emerald Cut Aquamarine Cocktail Ring
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
This authentic late Art Deco cocktail ring showcases a monumental 50 carat emerald-cut aquamarine, boasting a deeply saturated and vibrant glacial blue color. This timeless, vintage ...
Category
Vintage 1930s Retro Cocktail Rings
Materials
Aquamarine, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Vintage Alhambra Lapis Lazuli Yellow Gold 5-Motif Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
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Category
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Materials
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IMPORTANT MUSEUM QUALITY ANTIQUE 1680 TO 1720 GERMAN SiLVER SAFE STRONGBOX
$133,572Sale Price|20% Off
H 33.86 in W 35.04 in D 20.48 in
IMPORTANT MUSEUM QUALITY ANTIQUE 1680 TO 1720 GERMAN SiLVER SAFE STRONGBOX
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
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Category
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Gilt Bronze and Sèvres Style Porcelain Louis XVI Style Casket on Stand
$389,587
H 52.37 in W 35.83 in D 24.41 in
Gilt Bronze and Sèvres Style Porcelain Louis XVI Style Casket on Stand
Located in London, GB
Gilt bronze and Sèvres style porcelain Louis XVI style casket on stand This magnificent Louis XVI style ormolu casket is supported by a mirror-topped table stand, which sits on fo...
Category
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CARTIER Paris 1970 Automatic Large Ceinture Wristwatch In 18 Kt Yellow Gold
$21,500
H 1.18 in W 1.22 in Dm 9 in L 9 in
CARTIER Paris 1970 Automatic Large Ceinture Wristwatch In 18 Kt Yellow Gold
By Cartier
Located in Miami, FL
An automatique Ceinture large wrist-watch designed by Cartier. This is the rare large model of the Ceinture automatique wristwatch, created in Paris France by the jewelry house of C...
Category
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Robe and night-gown in pink nylon and tulle with gold Polka dots Schiaparelli
By Schiaparelli
Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
Robe and night-gown in pink nylon and tulle with gold Polka dots. The Robe is draped on the shoulders and close with gold metal buttons. The dress is draped on the bust with tulle sh...
Category
1960s Unknown Loungewear
Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Company Ladies Platinum and Diamond Wrist Watch
By Patek Philippe
Located in Chicago, IL
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Category
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Diamond, Platinum
Fancy Vivid Yellow Diamond Dragonfly Brooch
By Fred Leighton
Located in New Orleans, LA
Enveloped in a sea of 60.26 carats of fancy vivid yellow diamonds is this tour de force of jewelry craftsmanship from the collaboration of jewelry legends Fred Leighton and Carvin Fr...
Category
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Materials
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Vivienne Westwood Velvet Blouson Jacket
By Vivienne Westwood
Located in Berlin, BE
Beautiful velvet Vivienne Westwood Jacket. Cut in a stunning velvet that seems to absorb and refract light like oil on water, the piece balances romance and rebellion with signature ...
Category
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Paul Flato for sale on 1stDibs
Paul Flato’s flamboyant style was matched by his larger-than-life personality. He created daring and theatrical jewelry that challenged the conservative conventions of adornment. Works like his Bird of Paradise and Feather Quill brooches and his Seashell pocket watch exemplify his audacious style while reflecting his meticulous craftsmanship. His clients included celebrities such as French-American opera singer Lily Pons, American artist and socialite Gloria Vanderbilt and American actresses Joan Crawford and Mae West.
Flato was born in 1900 into a ranching family in Shiner, Texas. He later attended the University of Texas at Austin as a pre-med student, but soon shifted focus and enrolled at Columbia University in New York City to study economics. With the help of some well-connected friends — including one at Tiffany & Co. — he opened a jewelry store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.
His business steadily grew, and he sold over $1 million worth of jewelry by the time he was 27. While he had a great mind for unique ideas, he enlisted the talents of more experienced jewelers for support in drafting the pieces. In 1938, Flato opened a second store in Hollywood, California. His pieces were large and eye-catching, making them perfect for the camera.
In 1943, Flato’s jewelry career came to an abrupt halt with larceny charges for consigning a 17-carat diamond that went missing. When he was unable to pay the consignors, they pressed charges. Flato spent 18 months in Sing Sing prison. After his release, Flato he eased back into the trade by producing pens and compact cases for makeup. Poor financial decisions led again to his falling on the wrong side of the law and he fled to South America. He ended up serving four years in a Mexican prison before being sent back to the United States to serve a five-year sentence for grand larceny.
In 1970, Flato returned to Mexico and opened a boutique in Zona Rosa, Mexico City. He spent the last 20 years of his career there, fashioning bold and bright jewelry, inspired by the indigenous culture of the country.
In 1990, Flato moved back to Texas where he died in 1999. His outlandishly imaginative pieces remain in demand with collectors today.
On 1stDibs, enjoy the wondrous imagination of Paul Flato through his brooches, watches, bracelets and more.
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