The father of so-called “fabulous fakes,” Kenneth Jay Lane was a spirited innovator within the jewelry industry, designing elegant and luxurious pieces without the use of real jewels. And while Lane aspired to create classic designs for earrings, bracelets and necklaces intended for everyday wear, his pieces caught the attention of celebrities, royalty and socialites.
From a young age, the Detroit, Michigan-born Lane was a lover of fashion. He studied at the Rhode Island School of Design and the University of Michigan. He pursued a design career in New York City, and a failed start in the art department of Vogue magazine led to a decade of designing shoes for the likes of Delman and Christian Dior.
Lane would occasionally develop shoe designs for friends he had in the fashion world such as Bill Blass and Arnold Scaasi. A show for the latter afforded him the opportunity to beautify shoes with rhinestones and create bangles and earrings to pair with the footwear — he found plastic bracelets at discount variety store and had them embellished by craftspeople at a shoe factory.
A love for costume jewelry design emerged thereafter. Lane created his own collection and admirers such as Jackie Kennedy and Elizabeth Taylor showered him with praise. A pearl necklace he designed was worn by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. In the early 1960s, ready-to-wear pioneer Hattie Carnegie purchased Lane’s jewelry line. Lane was given the position of design director for Carnegie but he soon changed course, moving instead into a small studio and pursuing his own path.
Lane worked with milk glass, gilded silver hardware, faux coral and other materials, and sold pendant necklaces, dangle earrings and modern bracelets to private customers. He was fond of renowned fine jewelry houses Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels and designers such as Jean Schlumberger, and cited having found inspiration in Egyptian and Indian jewelry over the years as well as Art Deco jewelry. Lane’s designs, which he called “faque” and “junque,” became well-known for their distinctive color combinations and clever characteristics such as embroidery. By the time he purchased a small jewelry factory in Providence, Rhode Island, where his accessories would be made during the 1960s, Lane had secured relationships with top Manhattan boutiques and his work had caught the attention of fashion magazines.
Directed by the filmmaker Gisèle Roman, a 2018 documentary about Lane’s life and work called Fabulously Fake: The Real Life of Kenneth Jay Lane features interviews with legendary fashion designers Carolina Herrera, Tory Burch and Diane von Furstenberg.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage Kenneth Jay Lane brooches, rings and other accessories.
KJL Kenneth Jay Lane Chain Link Five Charm Bracelet, with Toggle Clasp, in Gold
By Kenneth Jay Lane
Located in Milford, DE
A gold-plated chain bracelet with five charms - a pair of lucky dice, cherub, an angel, a pair of shoes, and a swan. Accented with crystals and enamel, fastened with a toggle clasp. ...
Crystal, Gold Plate
KJL Kenneth Jay Lane Chain Link Five Charm Bracelet, with Toggle Clasp, in Gold
By Kenneth Jay Lane
Located in Milford, DE
A gold-plated chain bracelet with five charms - a ladybug, a hand fan, a clock, a pair of shoes, and an angel. Accented with crystals and enamel, fastened with a toggle clasp. By Ken...
Crystal, Gold Plate
Kenneth Jay Lane "Limited Edition" Green Enamel Multi-Frogs Link Bracelet
By Kenneth Jay Lane
Located in New York, NY
Kenneth Jay Lane's "Limited Edition", wonderfully huge and impressive whimsical multi-frogs set with multi-hues of greens accented with polished gilded gold vermei...
KJL Kenneth Jay Lane Chain Link Five Charm Bracelet, with Toggle Clasp, in Gold
By Kenneth Jay Lane
Located in Milford, DE
A gold-plated chain bracelet with five charms - a pair of lucky dice, shoes, a cuckoo clock, a dumbbell, and MO' $ motif. Accented with crystals and enamel, fastened with a toggle cl...
Crystal, Gold Plate
KJL Kenneth Jay Lane Chain Link Five Charm Bracelet, with Toggle Clasp, in Gold
By Kenneth Jay Lane
Located in Milford, DE
A gold-plated chain bracelet with five charms - a pair of lucky dice, shoes, a cuckoo clock, an angel, and flashlight. Accented with crystals and enamel, fastened with a toggle clasp...
Crystal, Gold Plate
Vintage Kenneth Jay Lane Two Tone Bracelet
By Kenneth Jay Lane
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This Vintage Kenneth Jay Lane Two-Tone Bracelet is a stunning piece of jewelry that blends sophistication with timeless design. Kenneth Jay Lane, known for creating bold and glamorou...
Gold Plate, Silver
Kenneth Jay Lane Multi-Textured & Gilded Gold Vermeil Hardware Bracelet
By Kenneth Jay Lane
Located in New York, NY
Kenneth Jay Lane wonderful combination of multi-textured as well as glide gold vermeil finish hardware chain-link bracelet measures 8 inches in length and 6/8 inch in width. M...
18k Yellow Gold Charm Bracelet Charm Numb 13 Bag of dollars Horseshoe Detachable
Located in Paris, FR
Charms bracelet in 18 carat yellow gold Double chain alternating with double chiseled circles retaining 3 groups of detachable charms, on each group: a number 13, a hand, a bag of 10...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Diamond Heart Chain Link Bracelet 14k White Gold
Located in Honolulu, HI
Bracelet Specifications: Metal: 14k White Gold Diamond Count: 72 brilliant cut diamonds Diamond Carat Weight: 0.35 Diamond Color: G-J Diamond Clarity: SI1-I1 Bracelet Length: ~...
Diamond, White Gold, 14k Gold
Boucheron very rare rose gold and diamond Froufrou bracelet
By Boucheron
Located in Addlestone, GB
Boucheron Rose gold Frofrou diamond bracelet. This Boucheron High Jewellery Masterpiece piece is very rare, with an estimated of 10 pieces ever ma...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Betony Vernon "Mantra Bracelet" Sterling Silver 925 Bracelet
By Betony Vernon
Located in Rome, IT
The "Mantra Bracelet" is an original design by Betony Vernon made in 2018 and handcrafted in lost wax elements and a rolo chain. The "Mantra Bracelet" chain follows a pendant that can contain your most valuable wishes. The jewel is accompanied with a miniature booklet composed of 50 tear-off sheets for your personal mantras. The "Mantra Bracelet" is designed to help make your dreams come to fruition. The act of writing down your desires is proven to reinforce the likelihood of their manifestation. Imagine what happens if you carry them with you in all actions! Available as a kit, the "Mantra Bracelet" can be combined with the "Mantra Necklace...
Sterling Silver
Cartier Charm Bracelet
By Cartier
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 2000s, 18k, by Cartier, France. Timeless and tailored, this Cartier charm bracelet is the perfect everyday gold bracelet. Dressed for cocktai...
White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Dog Chain Link Bracelet & Heart Pendant
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine Tiffany & Co. sterling silver bracelet. With slightly oval links and a heart-shaped pendant charm. The charm is not engraved. Great Tiffany design! Date: 20th Century Ove...
Sterling Silver
Alex Jona 18 Karat Yellow Gold Multiple Coin Chain Bracelet
By Alex Jona
Located in Lugano, TI
Alex Jona design collection, hand crafted in Italy, 18 karat yellow gold chain bracelet suspending 22 coin pendants. Total length: 7.2 in - 18.5 cm. Signed Jona. Can be sized to any ...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$2,960Sale Price|20% Off
Ruby and Diamond Bracelet in 18 Karat Gold
Located in Jaipur, IN
A classic bracelet with Rubies and Diamonds set together in 18K Gold. The bracelet hugs the wrist perfectly and looks delicate and at the same time chic. Its light weight and is per...
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Louis Vuitton Black Large Articulated Bracelet
By Louis Vuitton
Located in Paris, FR
Louis Vuitton Black large articulated bracelet featuring a gold-tone base, strass at sides, a leather adjustable length. Delivered in original box In good vintage condition. Made in ...
$7,800
W 0.5 in L 6.5 in
Vintage Estate 1.78 Carat Diamond 4 Strand Heavy 14k Gold Rope Chain ID Bracelet
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
A fetching vintage 1980s find, this estate 4-strand solid 14-karat gold rope chain diamond bracelet will have people asking, "Where did you get that?" The 1/2" wide ID style bracelet...
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mikimoto Diamond Faceted White Yellow Gold Charm Bracelet
By Mikimoto
Located in Feasterville, PA
A unique bracelet by Mikimoto showcasing a faceted heart and cross adorned with round brilliant cut diamonds (.90ct) in 18k white and yellow gold. The bracelet measures 7.4" in lengt...
Diamond, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Chanel Multicolour Embellished Bracelet
By Chanel
Located in Paris, FR
Chanel gold-tone and multicolour rhinestone-embellished bracelet featuring signature interlocking CC logo, multicolour rhinestone embellishment, small CC logo charm, adjustable fit, ...
Kenneth Jay Lane Gold Tone Link Chain Bracelet with Golden Ball Beads 1990s
By Kenneth Jay Lane
Located in London, GB
Kenneth Jay Lane gold tone textured and shiny link chain bracelet, featuring satin golden ball beads, and with a toggle clasp. Length 19.7cm / 7.75 inches by width 1.9cm / .75 inch. ...
CZ By Kenneth Jay Lane Fresh Water Pearl Tassel Charm Cubic Zirconia Bracelet
By Kenneth Jay Lane
Located in Milford, DE
Extravagant bracelet by Kenneth Jay Lane, featuring clear cubic zirconia links and a charm pendant with strands of genuine pearls. Silvertone. Cubic Zirconia line by KJL Hallmarks:...
Crystal, Pearl