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.
$7,400 / set
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...
Diamond, 18k Gold
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...
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
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...
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
$7,080Sale Price|20% Off
South Sea Golden Pearl 18k Gold Diamond White Yellow Cluster Earrings
Located in Great Neck, NY
An extraordinary pair of delightful Golden South Sea Pearl earrings, set in 18k Tri-color gold, this special piece is made with six large 10mm each High Luster Australian South Sea n...
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gol...
18K Yellow Gold and Diamond Scroll Top Earrings
Located in Palm Beach, FL
This striking pair of 18K yellow gold scroll top earrings are reminiscent of Ionic columns, in design. Set with sixty brilliant cut diamonds weighing an approximate 1.50ct total of o...
Diamond, Yellow Gold
$1,986Sale Price / item|20% Off
Impressive Amethyst Diamond Yellow Gold Earrings
By Natkina
Located in Genève, GE
Yellow Gold 14K Earrings (Matching Ring Available) Weight 3.48 gram Diamond 2-Кр57-0,03-4/6A Diamond 38-Round 57-0,11-4/6A Amerthys 2-4,08 2/1A With a heritage of ancient fine Swiss...
Amethyst, Diamond, 14k Gold
18k Yellow Gold Garnet & Diamonds Nest Pendant and Earrings
By Rebecca Noff
Located in Toronto, ON
The Nest Collection is an ever evolving design. It's the version two of the nest, an elegant reminder of how interconnected we are and features rhodolite garnet gemstone at the cente...
Garnet, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
$2,848Sale Price / item|20% Off
Rare Tsavorite Chrysolite Diamond Yellow Gold Earrings
By Natkina
Located in Genève, GE
Yellow Gold 14K Earrings (Matching Ring Available) Weight 5.44 gram Diamond 16-Round 57-0,06-4/6A Tsavorite 48-Round-0,39 2/2C Chrysolite 2--6,68 1/1A With a heritage of ancient fi...
Diamond, Tsavorite, 14k Gold
$1,480Sale Price|24% Off
Impressive Fancy Yellow / Orange Sapphire Diamond Yellow Gold Earrings
By Natkina
Located in Genève, GE
Earring Yellow Gold 14 K (Matching Ring Available) Diamond 2-RND-0,01-G/VS1A Orange Sapphire 8-1,82ct Yellow Sapphire 2-0,45ct Weight 2,52 grams With a heritage of ancient fine Sw...
Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
$2,990
H 0.51 in W 0.86 in L 1.02 in
Vintage 18k Yellow Gold Mabe Pearl and Diamond Statement Earrings
Located in New York, NY
Crafted in yellow gold, these earrings feature large, lustrous pearls at the center. The pearls are encircled by a graceful swirl of gold, accented with sparkling diamonds that add a...
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Floral White Gold Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Feasterville, PA
A incredible set of Van Cleef & Arpels diamond white gold earrings, the earrings showcase a floral motif crafted in 18k white gold and are set with 2.35ct of the finest round brillia...
Diamond, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 18K Gold Swirl Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Houston, TX
Van Cleef & Arpels earrings in 18K yellow gold with a swirl pattern. These are for pierced ears with a lever back. Measure 1 inch long and 3/4 inches wide. Serial No. NY3K750-10.
18k Gold
GIA Certified Natural Turquoise Floral Earrings with Diamonds, 18k
Located in New York, NY
A GIA Certified Natural Turquoise Floral Earrings with Diamonds made in 18k gold. The total weight of the earring is 28.29 grams. The length is 1.5 inches. The earring has a lever ba...
Diamond, Turquoise
$1,800
W 0.66 in D 0.31 in L 0.66 in
Interlocking Circles Swirl Yellow Gold and Ruby Clip-On Clip Earrings
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Beautifully made three dimensional Italian clip-on earrings featuring 3 interlocking round rings that swirl around a ruby center that resembles a flower. The earrings are 18k yellow...
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$3,819Sale Price / item|20% Off
Fashion Emerald Tsavorite Diamond Yellow Gold Earrings
By Natkina
Located in Genève, GE
Yellow Gold 14K Earrings Diamond 28-RND-0,09-G/VS1A Emerald 2-0,95ct Tsavorite 92-0,74ct Weight 4.33 grams With a heritage of ancient fine Swiss jewelry traditions, NATKINA is a G...
Diamond, Emerald, Tsavorite, 14k Gold
Kurt Wayne Sapphire, Diamond and 18K Gold Earrings
By Kurt Wayne
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Breathtaking Kurt Wayne Pear Shape Sapphire and Diamond Earrings. The sapphires are G.I.A certifed #6157973309 Sapphires Measure 11.50 x 8.10 x 6.76mm and approximately 9.0ct in we...
Blue Sapphire, White Diamond, 18k Gold
Kurt Wayne Mabe Pearl Diamond Yellow Gold Earrings
By Kurt Wayne
Located in Stamford, CT
Early 1990 top quality cultured Mabe pearl hinged clip back earrings from Kurt Wayne, one of the world’s finest jewelry manufacturers. Exceptional design, manufacturing and jewels. K...
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold