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
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
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
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
Aquamarine and Diamond Day and Night Earrings
Located in New York, NY
Aquamarine and Diamond Earrings Day and night white gold earrings with 2 aquamarine drops accented with marquise and triangle-cut diamonds. Total Approximate Diamond Weight: 7.3 c...
Aquamarine, Diamond, 14k Gold
Diamond Day And Night Earrings
Located in New York, NY
Diamond Day And Night Earrings A pair of earrings featuring a pave movable drop suspended froma diamond floral motif earring. Measurements: 2.25" long Back Type: clip on with po...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
$8,500 / set
Mikimoto Black Pearl and Diamonds Earrings
By Mikimoto
Located in Darnestown, MD
Stunning Mikimoto black South Sea pearl earrings with a surround of pear shaped diamonds. The pearls measure 10.5 millimeters, There are 32 diamonds with a total weight of .66 cara...
Diamond, Black Pearl, Platinum
Marilyn Cooperman Fire Opal and Tsavorite Drop Earrings
By Marilyn F. Cooperman
Located in New York, NY
Marilyn's version of "Hot Peppers" served up in 18kt Yellow Gold with stupendous Fire Opals - Total weight 25.71cts and sprinkled with bezel and prong set Green Tsavorites. SignedM...
Opal, Tsavorite, 18k 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
$80,437Sale Price|25% Off
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 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...
$7,985 / set
H 1.18 in D 0.55 in L 1.18 in
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...
Keshi Pearl and Diamonds Hoop Earrings in 18 Karat Gold
By Dilys'
Located in Hong Kong, HK
Made up of pure nacre, keshi pearls are a true luxury. LIke nuggets of gold, these double-hoop earrings by Dilys’ exhibit a contemporary yet artful play on the classic golden pearl. Designed by renowned Hong Kong jewelry...
Diamond, White Diamond, Brown Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Sybarite Day & Night Earrings in Yellow Gold with White Diamonds
By Sybarite Jewellery
Located in London, GB
Sybarite Jewellery is a brand and ethos inspired by that single, creased rose petal. We create jewellery that is incomparable in both design and accomplishment. Our customers seek extravagance and excellence in equal measure. Moreover, the most beautiful jewellery in the world...
Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, 9k Gold...
Diamond Day & Night Pearl Earrings
Located in New York, NY
Diamond Day & Night Pearl Earrings A pair of platinum and 14 karat white gold earrings set with approximately 3.42 carats of round cut diamonds, and approximately 3.28 carats of...
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
Pearl and Diamond Day and Night Earrings
Located in New York, NY
Pearl and Diamond Day and Night Earrings A pair of diamond earrings set with two pearl drops. Set with marquise, pear and baguette cut diamonds. The pearls are detachable Diamond ...
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
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