modemodern vintage and antique jewelry accessories and decorative arts
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1980 item #662517
modemodern
SOLD
Massive and fabulous vintage modernist cocktail ring by the Finnish designer Erik Granit. In sterling silver with a huge cut faceted rock crystal stone in a very dimensional setting with applied silver beads and an open frame. Dated 1970. Marked E GRANIT & CO, DESIGN JEWELLERY, 925H STERLING FINLAND, R7, which is the date code for 1970, and with Finnish silver town mark and maker's mark.

It weighs 17 grams. The stone is much more brilliant than the photos portray. A spectacular piece...

All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1980 item #663112
modemodern
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Fabulous and big vintage modernist 14KT gold ring with a huge roughly triangular sky blue turquoise stone. 1970's. Not marked but tests positive for 14KT gold using jeweler's acid. The setting is very ornate and heavy with a deep decorative border. The stone has a beautiful chocolate brown matrix. I believe the turquoise is Chinese. The photos do not capture the beautiful color of the stone -- it is much richer than the photos show. It weighs 7 grams. The stone is 13 mm long by 12 mm wide...
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1980 item #663116
modemodern
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Diva size vintage 1970s 14KT yellow gold and smoky quartz cocktail ring. Cocktail and statement rings are a very significant current fashion trend. Marked 14K. The stone is gemologist verified. It is a rhomboid shape and is a beautiful smoky yellow color. The stone is 20 mm wide by 40 mm long. The ring weighs 18 grams. With a ring guard which is needed to hold this heavy ring upright on the finger...
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1980 item #663181
modemodern
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Beautiful classic vintage 1970s cocktail or dinner ring in sculpted 14KT yellow gold with an ornately carved lapis lazuli stone, and three diamonds. Marked 14K. The lapis stone is carved and pierced in Chinese motifs. The diamonds are each 2 to 3 mm in diameter, about .03 to .1 carat each. A heavy piece at 15 grams. With fabulous modernist detail. Big statement rings are a very significant current fashion trend.

Ring size 4 1/2 or somewhat larger...

All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1900 item #663185
modemodern
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Exceptional antique 14KT yellow gold ring with a beautifully executed carved black onyx cameo. Victorian, circa 1860 - 1880. Possibly a mourning piece. Not marked but tests positive for 14KT gold with jeweler's acid. Engraved inside with three initials in script. From a Baltimore estate. The cameo has very fine detail; one of the best cameos I have ever had. A fabulous and very wearable antique ring and perfect for wearing with other black jewelry.

Ring size 6...

All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1970 item #666383
modemodern
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Stunning and very dimensional vintage articulated collar necklace in the form of branch coral, with many black glass stones, both cabochon and faceted. 1960's, unsigned, probably Italian, by Bijoux Elfe or Bijoux Cascio, both couture makers...
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1950 item #666392
modemodern
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Very rare vintage Ben Reig hinged bangle in goldtone with coral color thermoset stones and clear rhinestones. Late 1940s. Marked BEN REIG. The American design firm Ben Reig operated from the 1930s through the 1960s and I believe is known more for its clothing than its jewelry.

This piece has a beautiful openwork design made up of many small Maltese crosses studded with thermoset plastic faux coral cabochon stones, and clear rhinestones. Perfect any time of the year but especially for resort ...

All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1970 item #680307
modemodern
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Beautiful and rare demi parure consisting of a fringed bib necklace and matching clipback earrings, in carved translucent Bakelite simulating amber or jade, and goldtone metal. Circa 1960. Marked GM in a circle, and also with the original paper hang tag, which is marked IMITATION JEWELLERY, MADE IN (I)TALY (the I is missing). The Bakelite tests positive using Simichrome. With slide clasp. The Bakelite is glowingly translucent and has excellent marbling. A stunning and very chic set, substa...
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1970 item #680318
modemodern
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A beautiful vintage signed Italian necklace with a sun form pendant which is also a detachable brooch. Circa 1960s. Marked GM in a circle, which is an Italian mark. (Please see my other piece listed with this same mark, with its original Italy hang tag.) The black beads are lightweight celluloid "sugar beads" with tiny granules covering their surface. The pendant is a lightweight gold painted material, with inlaid glass stones. There are matching spacer beads with inlaid glass chips. With...
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1960 item #691437
modemodern
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Excellent vintage mid-century modern sterling cuff with a very distinctive design incorporating carved wood and turquoise. Circa 1960. Marked STERLING and also with a mark which looks like three animal claws or an animal track. Although I can't find this exact mark in "Hallmarks of the Southwest" I am guessing this piece is Native American.

The centerpiece is a piece of carved grained wood which is layered between silver pieces which follow the outlines of the wood. There is a biomorphic sh...

All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1920 item #731745
modemodern
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Beautiful antique gold ring in the form of a coiled snake, with a ruby in the top of its head, and diamonds as eyes. Marked with an antique hallmark with 14 just visible. Also tests positive for 14KT gold. Circa 1900 - 1920. Snakes were a popular motif in the Victorian era, signifying eternity and love, and were also a popular motif in the Art Nouveau and Art Deco eras. Substantial at 12 grams. The ruby is 5 mm in diameter, or about .65 carat, and the diamonds are 2 mm, or about ...
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1900 item #732339
modemodern
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Beautiful antique high relief lava cameo bracelet in 9KT gold with six cameos, two on each end in creamy greens, tans, and gray, and one black and one white cameo in the center. Circa 1900. Not marked but tests positive for 9KT gold. With a slide clasp. It weighs 30 grams. 1 inch wide by 3/8 inch deep and 6 1/2 inches wearable length. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1910 item #738898
modemodern
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Outstandingly wearable antique garnet earrings. Circa 1900. The metal tests positive for 9KT gold with jeweler's acid. The shepherd's hook backs are probably replacements and they test positive for 14KT gold. The large oval stones are 7 mm by 5 mm and the round stones are 5 mm in diameter. The tiny stones are 1 - 2 mm in diameter. Great size -- 2 1/4 inches long and 5/8 inch wide. They weigh 11 grams. Excellent condition. There is tarnishing on the back; it doesn't show from the ...
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1980 item #741516
modemodern
SOLD
Early Robert Lee Morris sterling silver crescent shaped pendant on a black fabric cord. 1970s, from a Baltimore estate and I am also listing a heart shaped pendant necklace from this same estate. Robert Lee Morris began designing jewelry in 1970 and has collaborated with Karl Lagerfeld, Michael Kors, and Donna Karan. With a slightly matte finish. It weighs 29 grams. 1 5/8 inches long. The cord is 38 inches long. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1980 item #741519
modemodern
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Early Robert Lee Morris sterling heart shaped pendant on a black fabric cord. Marked RLM in script. 1970s, from a Baltimore estate and I am also listing a crescent shaped pendant necklace from this same estate. Robert Lee Morris began designing jewelry in 1970 and has collaborated with Karl Lagerfeld, Michael Kors, and Donna Karan. This piece is yellow gold over sterling silver, with a matte finish. It is solid, and very heavy for its size at 62 grams. 1 3/8inches long. The cord...
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1990 item #741841
modemodern
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Fabulous 1980s clip earrings by Deanna Hamro, an American designer who is no longer making costume jewelry but has moved to fine jewelry. Stunning in matte goldtone with incredible aqua and chartreuse poured glass stones in the Byzantine/barbaric style first made popular by Chanel. The colors are more beautiful and richer than the photos depict. Marked DEANNA HAMRO. Nice size -- 2 1/2 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1950 item #744430
modemodern
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Beautiful bib necklace made from soft green silk cord, small shells, and one centered cross sectioned shell, in the style of the Miriam Haskell jewelry made during the 1930s and 1940s from natural materials. The silk cord is knotted in an intricate and dramatic fringed design. The length can be adjusted by "buttoning" one of several end strands through the loop at the clasp. A perfect resort or summer look. I am also listing a similar necklace, from the same estate, in coral pink....
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1950 item #744437
modemodern
SOLD
Beautiful drop necklace made from soft coral pink silk cord, cross sectioned shells, and small shells, in the style of the Miriam Haskell jewelry made during the 1930s and 1940s from natural materials. The silk cord is knotted in an intricate and dramatic draped design. The length can be adjusted by "buttoning" one of several end strands through the loop at the clasp. A perfect resort or summer look. I am also listing a similar necklace, from the same estate, in green. Wearable le...