Vintage Ciner Grey Pearl Crystal Crescent Earrings 1980s
About the Item
- Creator:
- Dimensions:Width: 1.38 in (35 mm)
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1980s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Wilmslow, GB
- Reference Number:
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Wilmslow, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
- Vintage Givenchy Statement Pearl Logo Earrings 1980sBy GivenchyLocated in Wilmslow, GBA fabulous pair of Vintage Givenchy Pearl Logo Earrings. A double couture classic, pearls and logo feature boldly in the design of these cool yet elegant earrings from the House. Gua...Category
Vintage 1980s Clip-on Earrings
- Vintage Butler & Wilson Statement Checkerboard Earrings 1980sBy Butler & WilsonLocated in Wilmslow, GBA striking pair of Vintage Butler & Wilson Checkerboard Earrings. Featuring square cut crystals in black and white. A striking style statement that is effortlessly glam. Butler and ...Category
Vintage 1980s Clip-on Earrings
- Vintage Kenneth Jay Lane Mabe Pearl Earrings 1990sBy Kenneth Jay LaneLocated in Wilmslow, GBA pair of eternally chic Vintage Kenneth Jay Lane Mabe Pearl Earrings. Inspired by the fine jewels of the Art Deco era the earrings ooze style and class and cleverly emulate the ulti...Category
1990s Clip-on Earrings
- Vintage Statement Cabochon Heart Earrings 1980sLocated in Wilmslow, GBA pair of Vintage Cabochon Heart Earrings. A large cabochon heart is perfectly framed by a gallery of on end baguette crystals. An adorable statement earring that will transcend time...Category
Vintage 1980s Clip-on Earrings
- Vintage Grand Amethyst Crystal Galleried Earrings 1960sLocated in Wilmslow, GBA pair of Vintage Grand Amethyst Crystal Earrings. Lavishly large, the earrings are a stone rich design. A large amethyst crystal is galleried by pale pink and pale amethyst beads in...Category
Vintage 1960s Clip-on Earrings
- Vintage Ikarami Leopard Print Statement Earrings 1980sLocated in Wilmslow, GBA pair of Vintage Ikarami Leopard Print Statement Earrings. Exotic golds and animal print browns and bronzes adorn these statement hand made earrings by Ikarami. The perfect accessor...Category
Vintage 1980s Clip-on Earrings
- Loulou de la Falaise 1980s Couture EarringsBy Loulou de la FalaiseLocated in Boston, MAThese 1980’s couture earrings are a swinging floral bouquet that reflects the electric charm of Loulou de la Falaise and the extraordinary craftsmanship ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
- Cluster Earring, with Diamonds Total Carat 8.98 Ct, Emeralds Total Carat Ct 4.90Located in Rome, ITThe cluster model earrings with pear-cut diamonds and emeralds, with two brilliant-cut diamonds in the center. N ° 10 pear cut diamonds total weight 8.50 ct N ° 2 brilliant cut diam...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Retro Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, Emerald, White Gold
- Earrings with 1.50 Ct of Navette and Brilliant Cut Diamonds Made in ItalyLocated in Rome, ITThe are earrings are formed by a rectangle of diamonds with 6 navette cut diamonds in the center. The total weight of the diamonds is: ct 1.50. The earrings have a clip and pin clo...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Clip-on Earrings
Materials18k Gold, White Gold
- Openwork Drop Earrings with Diamonds and Emeralds 18 Kt Burnished White GoldLocated in Rome, ITDrop-shaped pendant earrings, entirely pierced with emerald pave with a total weight of 16.74 ct and diamonds with a total weight of 1.63 ct. The earrings are in burnished 18 Kt whi...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Drop Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, Emerald, White Gold
- Earrings with 2.60 Ct of Baguette and Diamond Cut Diamonds, 18 Kt GoldLocated in Rome, ITThe earrings are each made up of 2 rows of baguette-cut diamonds and 2 diamond-cut files, the total weight of the diamonds is ct 2.60. Their shape is semi-circle. The closure is wit...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
- Pederzani Signed Earrings for about 10.00 Ct of Diamonds and PearlsBy PederzaniLocated in Rome, ITThe earrings signed by Pederzani, are composed of a flower and a cap set with brilliant-cut and navette-cut diamonds, for about 9.50 ct., With two round pendant pearls measuring abou...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Romantic Drop Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
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.