Vintage Ciner Art Deco Crystal Statement Earrings 1980s
View Similar Items
Vintage Ciner Art Deco Crystal Statement Earrings 1980s
About the Item
- Creator:
- Dimensions:Length: 3.15 in (80 mm)
- Style:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1980s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Wilmslow, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1973213335481
Ciner
What defines “fine” jewelry? For many aficionados, there’s a clear line separating the golden wheat from the gilded chaff. But the handcrafted pieces made by Ciner, a 128-year-old costume jewelry house with a glittering past to rival some of the hautest high jewelers, call into question our notions of what constitutes preciousness.
Quality? Craftsmanship? Painstaking detail? Vintage Ciner earrings, brooches, necklaces and other accessories have them all in spades.
Much of the Ciner’s allure can be traced to its origins in fine jewelry. Emanuel Ciner, an Austrian immigrant, founded the firm in Manhattan in 1892, crafting pieces from the traditional precious gems, gold and platinum. But World War I and the Great Depression caused purse strings to tighten and materials to become scarce. Rather than try to weather the economic downturn, which shuttered many other American jewelers, Ciner made the risky transition from fine jewelry to costume (or fashion) jewelry — virtually uncharted territory.
Emanuel Ciner’s sons, Irwin and Charles, introduced an array of innovations — rubber casting molds, which are especially durable and produce higher quality results, and white metal alloys, which affordably mimic the look of more precious materials — that would become the standard for costume jewelry. During World War II, Ciner’s advanced molding technology was utilized by the U.S. military to produce munitions and tools. This arrangement gave the firm access to the heavily rationed metals it needed for its jewels, enabling it again to endure conditions that drove others into bankruptcy.
The company hit its stride in the 1960s, when its jewelry was sold at some of the country’s toniest stores, even garnering an Andy Warhol–illustrated ad for Bonwit Teller. Its pieces were worn by the era’s brightest stars. In the famous 1957 Joe Shere photo of Sophia Loren sneering at Jayne Mansfield’s décolletage, Mansfield is resplendent in shoulder-grazing Ciner earrings.
Ciner is unique among costume jewelers in that its pieces aren’t imitations — they are coveted in their own right. Elizabeth Taylor, a voracious jewelry collector with a taste for the very finest, was a longtime client. Several suites of Ciner jewels were included in the 2011 Christie’s sale of Taylor’s collection, with one group of rhinestone-studded ear clips and a bracelet fetching $15,600 — more than 100 times the auction estimate. It’s a reminder of a time, not so long ago, when women of great style wore fine and costume jewelry with equal aplomb, often at the same time.
Today, Ciner — now run by Emanuel Ciner’s granddaughter Pat Ciner Hill and great-granddaughter Jean Hill — continues to adhere to the same exacting production specifications. It is the only jewelry house in New York, and likely the United States, that manufactures all its pieces entirely in-house. Each begins with dozens of elements that are cast in rubber molds and then individually filed and polished, plated in a particularly thick layer of 18-karat gold or rhodium, assembled on the bench and painted with enamel or set with stones. Every step is performed by hand by craftsmen, many of whom have been with the company for more than 30 years.
Find vintage Ciner clip-on earrings, choker necklaces, bracelets and other jewelry on 1stDibs.
- Vintage Art Deco ’89 Tutti Frutti Earrings 1980sLocated in Wilmslow, GBVintage Art Deco '89 Tutti Frutti Earrings. Striking, vibrant art deco style earrings in the style of Cartier Tutti Frutti jewels of the 1930s. Rhodium plated metal set with a myriad...Category
20th Century Clip-on Earrings
- Vintage Christian Dior Oval Aqua Crystal Earrings 1980sBy Christian DiorLocated in Wilmslow, GBA pair of ultra feminine and very pretty Vintage Dior Aqua Earrings. Crafted in weighty gold plated metal and set with glass crystals. In very good vintage condition. Signed. Approx. 2.2cms. A magical pair of clip on earrings from the House of Dior with large mesmerising aqua crystals...Category
Vintage 1980s Clip-on Earrings
- Vintage Gold Door Knocker Earrings 1990sLocated in Wilmslow, GBA fabulous example of the forever classic Vintage Door Knocker Earring. In very good vintage condition. Crafted in gold plated metal. App...Category
1990s Clip-on Earrings
- Vintage Christian Dior Ice Grey Speckle Glass Clips 1958By Christian DiorLocated in Wilmslow, GBA beautiful and very feminine pair of Vintage Dior Ice Blue Clips from 1958. Crafted with speckled glass cabochon stones in a most fabulous blue grey to...Category
Vintage 1950s Clip-on Earrings
- Vintage Ciner NYC Crystal Flower Statement Earrings 1980sBy Ciner NYLocated in Wilmslow, GBVintage Ciner Flower Earrings. Crafted in gold plated metal and featuring a sumptuous display of large emerald cut crystals in dark green, deep blue and turquoise. Finished with a ce...Category
Vintage 1980s Clip-on Earrings
- Vintage Christian Dior Crystal Wing Earrings 1974By Christian DiorLocated in Wilmslow, GBA pair of exquisite and super stylish Vintage Dior Wing Earrings. Featuring claw set paste chatons in a wing or apostrophe style design. Crafted in rhodium plated metal. Very good vi...Category
Vintage 1970s Clip-on Earrings
- Christian Lacroix Black and Gold-Toned Hardware Clover Clip On EarringsBy Christian LacroixLocated in Sheung Wan, HK- Vintage 90s Christian Lacroix black and gold-toned hardware clover clip-on earrings. - Featuring drop black and gold-toned hardware round shape. - Height: 2.5 inches. (6.4cm). ...Category
1990s French Clip-on Earrings
- Monies Daffodil EarringsBy Monies Gerda LynggaardLocated in Virginia Beach, VAKamagong and Goldfoil clip earrings . Oversized , yet very light , you will enjoy wearing these all day.Category
2010s Danish Modern Clip-on Earrings
- Gossens Rock Crystal Triple Drop In YellowBy Goossens ParisLocated in Virginia Beach, VACabochons Clip 3 cabochons earrings in yellow A timeless theme that sees its colors change with the seasons. Each rock crystal stone is hand-dyed with beautiful shades. As each sto...Category
2010s French Modern Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsRock Crystal
- Philippe Ferrandis Galactica Drop EarringsBy Philippe FerrandisLocated in Virginia Beach, VAClip earrings with blue and green resin. 24-carat gilded brass. Signature on the back Philippe Ferrandis, French luxury designer. His jewels are hand-made in his workshops in Paris, ...Category
2010s French Modern Clip-on Earrings
- Goossens Paris Triple Cabochons Clip EarringsBy Goossens ParisLocated in Virginia Beach, VACabochons Clip 3 cabochons earrings, Green, red and orange A timeless theme that sees its colors change with the seasons. Each rock crystal stone is hand-dyed with beautiful shades....Category
2010s French Modern Clip-on Earrings
$540 / item - Françoise Montague Multicolor Stones Lolita EarringsBy Francoise MontagueLocated in Virginia Beach, VAThe iconic earring style from Francoise Montague in gold , stonesand Swarovski crystals. These clip earrings dance as you move and are universally flattering. A must have addition to...Category
2010s French Artist Drop Earrings
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
Lifestyle Doyenne Carolyne Roehm Teams Up with Famed Costume Jeweler Ciner
Together, the designer and tastemaker and the 128-year-old company have created a nature-inspired collection whose proceeds will benefit animal shelters.
From Chanel to YSL, Jennifer Gibson’s Trove of Fashion Jewelry Is a Collector’s Dream
The expert curator and collector specializes in decadent costume jewelry fantasies with help from high-fashion favorites.