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Unicorn brooch with coral-coloured beads,
signed De Nicola with copyright,
a mythical creature from the 1960s by the well-known US manufacturer
DeNicola Jewelry 1957-1970
DeNicola jewelry began in 1957 in New York and was founded by Jerry DeNicola. The company became known for its high quality costume jewelry. Thanks to exquisite designs, the use of gold and semi-precious stones, DeNicola competed with high-end jewelry brands.
His early line called "The Real Look" was comprised of costume jewelry meant to look like fine jewelry. Some of their well known pieces are the poured glass styles, the zodiac line, and other mythical creatures.
Thanks to exquisite designs, the use of gold plating and semi-precious stones the company became known for its high-quality costume jewelry. Marine life, turtles, and angles were some of the themes they explored. The zodiac signs series is one of their most collectable lines.
Beautiful semi-precious stones, the brilliance of metal and extremely complex design made many connoisseurs give preference to the brand. In fact, DeNicola design has a certain similarity with Cassini, or Carnegie jewelry.
From the very beginning, in the 1950s, DeNicola collaborated closely with Vogue.
However, in 1970, DeNicola became part of the CAPRI jewelry company and in 1973 the brand ceased to exist.
According to a number of reference books on vintage costume jewelry, DeNicola pieces are highly collectible.
About Vintage Costume Jewelry:
Costume jewelry– also known as Fashion Jewelry– was especially made popular in the mid-20th century. While their materials were less precious than real gold and diamonds, using glass stones, semi-precicious stones and lead and brass, many big fashion houses and designers produced highly complex pieces of jewelry that stand for craftmanship that today can only be found in so-called Haute Joaillerie. Most famously, Coco Chanel popularized the use of “faux jewelry”, bringing costume jewelry to life with gold and faux pearls. Chanel's designs drew from various historical styles, including Byzantine and Renaissance influences, often featuring crosses and intricate metalwork. Her collaboration with glassmakers, such as the Gripoix family (Maison Gripoix), introduced richly colored glass beads and simulated gemstones, which added depth to her creations without the high cost of traditional precious stones.
Elsa Schiaparelli– Chanel’s lifelong rival– brought surrealist influences into costume jewelry design, famously collaborating with Salvador Dalí and Jean Cocteau. She created the House of Schiaparelli in Paris in 1927, celebrating Surrealism and eccentric fashions. Her collections were famous for unconventional and artistic themes like the human body, insects, or trompe-l'œil, and for the use of bright colors like her "shocking pink". While Schiaparelli had to close her avant-garde business in the late 1950s and was forgotten for decades, her designs have recently been rediscovered and are celebrated for their bold design.
In many instances, high-end custome jewelry has achieved a "collectible" status and increased value over time. Today, there is a substantial secondary market for vintage fashion jewelry. The main collecting market is for 'signed pieces', which have the maker's mark, usually stamped on the reverse. Amongst the most sought after are Miriam Haskell, Sherman, Coro, Butler and Wilson, Crown Trifari, and Sphinx.
The term signed however is an invention that only reached European production in the late 1950s- when American buyers started to ask for authentification to distinguish high class designers from mass-produced pieces, while in Europe all costume jewelry had been issued by the fashion houses themselves and hence remained somewhat exclusive from the start.
Unicorn brooch with coral-coloured beads,
signed De Nicola with copyright,
a mythical creature from the 1960s by the well-known US manufacturer
DeNicola Jewelry 1957-1970
DeNicola jewelry began in 1957 in New York and was founded by Jerry DeNicola. The company became known for its high quality costume jewelry. Thanks to exquisite designs, the use of gold and semi-precious stones, DeNicola competed with high-end jewelry brands.
His early line called "The Real Look" was comprised of costume jewelry meant to look like fine jewelry. Some of their well known pieces are the poured glass styles, the zodiac line, and other mythical creatures.
Thanks to exquisite designs, the use of gold plating and semi-precious stones the company became known for its high-quality costume jewelry. Marine life, turtles, and angles were some of the themes they explored. The zodiac signs series is one of their most collectable lines.
Beautiful semi-precious stones, the brilliance of metal and extremely complex design made many connoisseurs give preference to the brand. In fact, DeNicola design has a certain similarity with Cassini, or Carnegie jewelry.
From the very beginning, in the 1950s, DeNicola collaborated closely with Vogue.
However, in 1970, DeNicola became part of the CAPRI jewelry company and in 1973 the brand ceased to exist.
According to a number of reference books on vintage costume jewelry, DeNicola pieces are highly collectible.
About Vintage Costume Jewelry:
Costume jewelry– also known as Fashion Jewelry– was especially made popular in the mid-20th century. While their materials were less precious than real gold and diamonds, using glass stones, semi-precicious stones and lead and brass, many big fashion houses and designers produced highly complex pieces of jewelry that stand for craftmanship that today can only be found in so-called Haute Joaillerie. Most famously, Coco Chanel popularized the use of “faux jewelry”, bringing costume jewelry to life with gold and faux pearls. Chanel's designs drew from various historical styles, including Byzantine and Renaissance influences, often featuring crosses and intricate metalwork. Her collaboration with glassmakers, such as the Gripoix family (Maison Gripoix), introduced richly colored glass beads and simulated gemstones, which added depth to her creations without the high cost of traditional precious stones.
Elsa Schiaparelli– Chanel’s lifelong rival– brought surrealist influences into costume jewelry design, famously collaborating with Salvador Dalí and Jean Cocteau. She created the House of Schiaparelli in Paris in 1927, celebrating Surrealism and eccentric fashions. Her collections were famous for unconventional and artistic themes like the human body, insects, or trompe-l'œil, and for the use of bright colors like her "shocking pink". While Schiaparelli had to close her avant-garde business in the late 1950s and was forgotten for decades, her designs have recently been rediscovered and are celebrated for their bold design.
In many instances, high-end custome jewelry has achieved a "collectible" status and increased value over time. Today, there is a substantial secondary market for vintage fashion jewelry. The main collecting market is for 'signed pieces', which have the maker's mark, usually stamped on the reverse. Amongst the most sought after are Miriam Haskell, Sherman, Coro, Butler and Wilson, Crown Trifari, and Sphinx.
The term signed however is an invention that only reached European production in the late 1950s- when American buyers started to ask for authentification to distinguish high class designers from mass-produced pieces, while in Europe all costume jewelry had been issued by the fashion houses themselves and hence remained somewhat exclusive from the start.
