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 18k Yellow Gold Multicolor Gemstones Earrings 22.85 ctw
By Marilyn Cooperman
Located in Sherman Oaks, CA
Marilyn Cooperman Design Clip on Earrings featuring a beautiful combination of Aquamarine, Sapphire, Emerald, Ruby, Tourmaline and Peridot Stones Shape(s) Round, Oval, Fancy and Emer...
Multi-gemstone, 18k Gold, Yellow 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
Designer 18k Gold Interchangeable Multi-Gemstone Dangle Earrings
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
The most chic and versatile gemstone earrings we've come across in our 50 years of treasure hunting. These sleek and stylish earrings start with concave cubes of 18 karat white gold....
Agate, Amethyst, Multi-gemstone, Onyx, Black Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold,...
$22,100 / set
W 0.32 in D 0.25 in L 2.5 in
18K Yellow Gold Multicolor Sapphire, Peridot, Aquamarine and Diamond Earrings
By Valentin Magro
Located in New York, NY
Glistering peridot, sapphire, aquamarine, and diamonds cascade in a single row in these drop earrings. A round peridot begins the design with four brilliant cut diamonds dispersed at...
Yellow Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Peridot, Diamond, Aquamarine, ...
$5,263
H 0.08 in W 0.6 in L 1.74 in
18K Yellow Gold 2/3 Cttw Diamond and Yellow Citrine Gemstone Dangle Stud Earring
Located in New York, NY
These 18k yellow gold dangle earrings possess a great movement that twinkles in the light as you move about and flash your style. Stationed at the top of the upper dangle and at the ...
Diamond, White Diamond, Citrine, Brown Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Multicolor Tourmaline Dangle Earrings Diamonds 18K Yellow Gold Plated Silver
Located in Bonita Springs, FL
It comes with the Gemological Appraisal by GIA GG/AJP All gemstones are natural 6 Green Tourmalines = 2.00 Carats 6 Orange Tourmalines = 2.30 Carats 8 Brown Tourmalines = 2.40 Carats...
Diamond, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Yellow Gold, Silver, St...
$6,807Sale Price|20% Off
W 0.67 in L 2.56 in
Multi Gemstone Rainbow Dangle Earrings Made In 18K Yellow Gold
By Artisan NYC
Located in New York, NY
18KT:10.700g, Tanzanite:3.47ct, Tourmaline:33.71ct,
Tanzanite, Tourmaline, Multi-gemstone, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$2,680Sale Price|20% Off
W 0.67 in L 2.56 in
Multi Gemstone Rainbow Dangle Earrings Made In 18K Yellow Gold
By Artisan NYC
Located in New York, NY
18KT:10.696g, Amet:4.81ct,Chro:1.17ct,Citr:10.72ct,Gar
Multi-gemstone, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$6,900 / item
W 26 in L 54 in
22.85 Carat Mother of Pearl Malachite Diamond 14K Gold Earrings by Meghna Jewels
By Meghna Jewels
Located in Hoffman Estate, IL
Handcrafted from 14-karat gold, these earrings are set with 5.2 carats Malachite, 22.85 carats mother of pearl and .85 carats of glimmering diamonds. FOLLOW MEGHNA JEWELS storefro...
Diamond, Malachite, Gold, 14k Gold
$354Sale Price|40% Off
Multicolor Blue Gemstone Dangle Earrings 10K Yellow Gold 1.75ctw New
Located in West Hempstead, NY
These stunning multicolor blue gemstone dangle earrings in 10kt yellow gold feature approximately 1.75 carats total weight of natural iolite and blue topaz stones. The combination of...
Iolite, Blue Topaz, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
Marilyn Cooperman Diamond Gold Platinum Earrings
By Marilyn F. Cooperman
Located in New York, NY
Signed Marilyn Cooperman Clip on Shell Earrings evocative of the Sea in a very sultry manner. Each Shell has a pierced center section, pave s...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Multicolor Tourmaline Dangle Earrings Diamonds 18K Yellow Gold Plated Silver
Located in Bonita Springs, FL
It comes with the Gemological Appraisal by GIA GG/AJP All gemstones are natural 6 Green Tourmalines = 2.00 Carats 6 Orange Tourmalines = 2.30 Carats 8 Brown Tourmalines = 2.40 Carats...
Diamond, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Yellow Gold, Silver, St...
David Yurman Tweejoux Multicolor Gemstone Bead 18k Yellow Gold Dangle Earrings
By David Yurman
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Brand: David Yurman Collection: Tweejoux Style: Multicolor Gemstone Bead Dangle Earrings Material: 18k Yellow Gold Gems: Mixed gemstone beads Measurements: Approximately 69.9 mm long...
Multi-gemstone, Yellow Gold
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...
Multicolor Tourmaline Dangle Earrings Diamonds 18K Yellow Gold Plated Silver
Located in Bonita Springs, FL
It comes with the Gemological Appraisal by GIA GG/AJP All gemstones are natural 6 Green Tourmalines = 2.00 Carats 6 Orange Tourmalines = 2.30 Carats 8 Brown Tourmalines = 2.40 Carats...
Diamond, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Yellow Gold, Silver, St...
$1,196Sale Price|20% Off
W 0.6 in L 1.7 in
Multi Gemstone Carving Flower Dangle Earrings Made In 18k Yellow Gold
By Artisan NYC
Located in New York, NY
18KT:3.038g, Amethyst:3.48ct, Garnet:4.64ct, Quartz:10.77ct, Ruby:0.34ct Sapphire:0.2 ct Topaz:0.18ct
Amethyst, Garnet, Multi-gemstone, Quartz, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yell...