It didn’t matter that Marilyn F. Cooperman didn’t have any formal training when well-known American luxury jeweler Fred Leighton asked her to design jewelry. By then, she had written professionally about fashion, established her own clothing company, and built up so much New York City chutzpah that she could have made it anywhere.
When she was 20 years old, the Toronto-born Cooperman moved to New Zealand and wrote a newspaper column about fashion and beauty. In 1963, she relocated to New York City and opened her first clothing company, Max and Marilyn, where she sold Art Deco–inspired clothing to department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman and Bloomingdale’s.
Cooperman designed a collection of resort wear for Fred Leighton’s apparel store, but by the mid-1970s, she returned to writing and worked as a fashion director for Seventeen magazine and later held editing roles at Simplicity and Vogue Patterns.
In 1987, Leighton, an esteemed red carpet jeweler who has become known for bringing antique and 20th-century jewels to a discerning international clientele, asked Cooperman to design accessories for his store on Madison Avenue. She accepted his offer and took up studies on wax casting at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
After five years of designing for Leighton, Cooperman opened her own jewelry company, Marilyn F. Cooperman, Inc. Her earrings were brightly colored, eye-catching confections that featured opals, rubies and blue sapphires, and she created innovative, alluring bracelets that mixed patinated silver and 18-karat gold. Her accessories were a hit, especially among celebrities, political figures and royalty.
Cooperman’s jewelry is held in the collections of the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City, the Yale University Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. She was on the Board of the American Society of Jewelry Historians.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Marilyn F. Cooperman earrings, brooches and rings.
Marilyn Cooperman Keshi Pearl and Diamond Day to Night Earrings
By Marilyn Cooperman
Located in San Antonio, TX
18k gold and platinum ear pendants by Marilyn Cooperman, consisting of 5.00 carats of diamonds surrounding inlaid Keshi pearls of various sizes. Earring drops detach for day or night wear...
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum
$6,388Sale Price / set|20% Off
MARILYN COOPERMAN Earrings In 18Kt Gold Oxidized Sterling Sapphires & Pearls
By Marilyn Cooperman
Located in Miami, FL
Sculptural earrings designed by Marilyn Cooperman (1936-2020). This is a gorgeous pair of clips-on earrings, created in New York City by the artist jewelry designer Marilyn Cooperma...
Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Green Sapphire, Gold, Y...
Marilyn Cooperman Gem Set Earrings
By Marilyn Cooperman
Located in New York, NY
Marilyn Cooperman Gem Set Earrings 18k yellow gold. The earrings contains various cuts of amethysts, citrines, tourmalines, aquamarines, peridots and emeralds weighing approximatel...
$800Sale Price|20% Off
H 0.4 in W 0.4 in D 0.32 in
1 Carat Diamond Day Night Halo Earrings 14 Karat White Yellow Gold
Located in New York, NY
These are a beautiful and romantic pair of 1 Carat Diamond Earrings in a Day Night halo design. The halo of eight diamonds surrounding each c...
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Diamond Necklace & Earrings Set
Located in New York, NY
Diamond Necklace & Earrings Set A matching necklace and earring set with round & baguette cut diamonds set in 18k white gol...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Marilyn Cooperman Snowflake Diamond Earrings
By Marilyn F. Cooperman
Located in New York, NY
Pair of signed Marilyn Cooperman Yellow Diamond Snowflake Earrings set in 18kt Yellow Gold and Patinated Silver
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Sapphire Diamond Earrings Cocktail Large Floral Earrings 18kt White Gold Clips
Located in Jupiter, FL
Exquisite craftsmanship on these omega backing cocktail earrings, you can wear if you have pierced ears or not. These earrings are made in 18KT white gold with natural sapphires and ...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
$967Sale Price / item|25% Off
Bochic “Orient” Tahiti Pearls & Multi Sapphire Earrings Set In 18K Gold & Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Bochic “Orient” Tahiti Pearls & Multi Color Sapphire Earrings Set In 18K Gold & Silver Rose Cut Natural Multi Color Sapphires - 4 Carats Black South Sea Tahiti Pearls, Gray color...
Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Green Sa...
Pearl and Multi-Gem 18K Yellow Gold Earrings
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This bold and eye-catching pair of 18K yellow gold earrings features two lustrous white mabe pearls, each measuring 15 mm in diameter with a soft, rosy overtone. The chunky, close-to...
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Day & Night Sapphire Diamond Floral South Sea Pearl Drop Earrings 1.96 Carats
By Harbor Diamonds
Located in New York, NY
18K White Gold South Sea Pearl 12-13 mm Sapphire : 1.70 Carats Diamonds: 0.26 Carats Pearls can be taken off and worn as a stud.
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Cellini 18KT White Gold 19.54Ct Blue Sapphire Flower Earrings
By Cellini
Located in New York, NY
These uniquely stunning 18 karat white gold flower earrings are composed of 1.89 carats of round brilliant and rose-cut diamonds, and 16.72 carats of sapphire briolettes. The briolet...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
$967Sale Price|25% Off
Bochic “Orient” Ruby, Sapphire & Multi Gem Earrings Set 18K Gold & Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Bochic “Orient” Ruby, Sapphire & Multi Gem Earrings Set 18K Gold & Silver Natural Ruby - 2 carat Natural Multi Sapphires, Tourmaline, Amethyst, Peridot 4 carat Natural White Top...
Amethyst, Freshwater Pearl, Peridot, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink...
1980s Emilio Pucci Gem Earrings with Rhinestones
By Fiaschi
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Very rare and important piece created by Fiaschi for Emilio Pucci in the 1980's. These authentic vintage Pucci earrings made of plexi glass gem stones in Purple and Green with Emera...
$1,393Sale Price|30% Off
Bochic “Orient” Vintage Retro Multi Gem Burst Earrings Set 18K Gold & Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Bochic “Orient” Vintage Retro Multi Gem Burst Earrings Set 18K Gold & Silver Natural Center Ovals Blue Topaz 2 Carats Natural Multi Color Gems and Pearls Blue Topaz, Peridot, ...
Amethyst, Pearl, Peridot, Blue Sapphire, Topaz, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold, Si...
David Webb Platinum 9.92 Cttw Diamond and Pearl Day to Night Earrings
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
The David Webb Baroque Pearl and Diamond Drop Earrings in platinum exemplify the designer's mastery in creating breathtaking and unique pieces. This exquisite pair of earrings seamle...
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
Marilyn Cooperman Gold Silver White Sapphire Diamond Earrings
By Marilyn Cooperman
Located in New York, NY
A pair of 18 karat yellow gold, sterling silver, white sapphire and diamond earclips, Marilyn Cooperman. Each earclip designed as bombe tapered half hoop with approximately forty seven (47) white sapphires of various cuts and sizes and eight (8) brilliant cut diamonds set in yellow gold...
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, Silver, 18k Gold
M. Cooperman Enamel Yellow Gold Snail Earrings Clip-On
By Marilyn Cooperman
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Edgy yet elegant pair of earrings created by Marilyn Cooperman in the 1980s. Stylish, chic and wearable, the earrings are a great addition to your jewelry collection. The earrings ...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Marilyn Cooperman Multicolored Sapphire, Diamond and Pearl Starfish Earrings
By Marilyn Cooperman
Located in New York, NY
A pair of 18 karat yellow gold, multi colored sapphire, diamond, pearl and silver earrings. Marilyn Cooperman 2011. Set with 3.04 carats of diamonds 3.07 carats of fancy colored sa...
Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Marilyn Cooperman Diamond Emerald Bead Gold Leaf Earrings
By Marilyn Cooperman
Located in New York, NY
A pair of one-of-a-kind 18 karat gold, diamond and emerald bead leaf earrings, by late contemporary jeweler Marilyn Cooperman. One earring back stamped MFC.
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold