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Kurt Wayne Lever-Back Earrings

Austrian, American

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.

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Creator: Kurt Wayne
Kurt Wayne Floral Diamond Earrings
Kurt Wayne Floral Diamond Earrings

Kurt Wayne Floral Diamond Earrings

By Kurt Wayne

Located in Darnestown, MD

Stunning diamond earrings by Kurt Wayne in the shape of a flower. Each earring has 33 round brilliant diamonds for a total weight of 2.5 carats. Twisted gold frames each of the three...

Category

1980s American Modern Vintage Kurt Wayne Lever-Back Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Kurt Wayne 18K Yellow Gold Pearl and Diamond Statement Earrings
Kurt Wayne 18K Yellow Gold Pearl and Diamond Statement Earrings

Kurt Wayne 18K Yellow Gold Pearl and Diamond Statement Earrings

By Kurt Wayne

Located in New York, NY

Elegant and impeccably crafted, these Kurt Wayne pearl and diamond earrings are a beautiful study in balance and refinement. Set in rich 18K yellow gold, each earring features a lumi...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Kurt Wayne Lever-Back Earrings

Materials

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Kurt Wayne Diamond Swirl Yellow Gold Clip Post Earrings
Kurt Wayne Diamond Swirl Yellow Gold Clip Post Earrings

Kurt Wayne Diamond Swirl Yellow Gold Clip Post Earrings

By Kurt Wayne

Located in Stamford, CT

Diamond clip post earrings. 36 Round brilliant cut diamonds set in 14k yellow gold. 36 round brilliant cut diamonds, approx. total weight .45ct F, VS clarity Top to bottom 19.7mm...

Category

Late 20th Century Kurt Wayne Lever-Back Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

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Kurt Wayne lever-back earrings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a range of Kurt Wayne lever-back earrings available on 1stDibs. Each of these unique items was designed with extraordinary care, often using yellow gold. While looking for the most stylish antique or vintage Kurt Wayne jewelry to pair with your ensemble, you’ll find that Kurt Wayne diamond lever-back earrings, from our inventory of 1, can add a particularly distinctive touch to your look. We have 1 pieces in this collection as well as a number of other designs by this jeweler.