A fine and large 18K yellow gold and multi-stone Sputnik ring by H. Stern. This classic modernist design features a golden dome studded with various colored gemstones including green tourmaline, aquamarine, garnet, citrine and amethyst. Each piece of Sputnik jewelry has a unique appearance depending on the combination and arrangement of the gemstones...

An attractive vintage Venetian Etruscan Revival fob charm worked in 18K yellow gold. The charm is set along the edges with alternating round amethysts and citrines. The center of one face is set with an amethyst and the other with a citrine. Exposed gold surfaces are intricately enhanced with rosettes and twisted wire decoration. The combination of violet and golen-yellow gemstones is quite attractive. Teted and guaranteed 18K.

Origin: Italy, ca. 1960. Condition: excellent, all original...

A fine and large pair of 18K yellow gold and multi-stone Sputnik earrings by H Stern. This classic modernist design features goldn domes studded with various colored gemstones including green tourmaline, pink tourmaline, amethyst, aquamarine, citrine and garnet. Each piece of Sputnik jewelry has a unique appearance depending upon the combination and arrangement of the gemstones...

A handsome, inventive pair of modernist silver cufflinks with opaque black champleve enamel faces by Meka Reklamegaver (1951-89). The black enamel is pierced with overlapping elongated silver teardrops. The connectors are marked “Meka Sterling Denmark”.

Origin: Holte, Denmark, ca. 1960. Condition: excellent, no enamel damage. Size: 7/8” x 9/16”. Weight: 11.4 grams.

This is a superb modernist bird pin from Antonio Pineda. It's large, dimensional, and substantial, with tiny beading and an obsidian eye. A design which is seldom seen, and collector quality. Measures 2 3/4" wide. Weight is 39.8 grams. Signed and hallmarked with the Antonio Taxco Crown, Hecho en Mexico 970, with the eagle assay 17. In excellent vintage condition. Pin closes with a roller.

French long rope necklace with goldtone chain and glass beads in fabulous modern shapes. 1960s. The beads include a large saucer shaped vermilion bead, and oblong and round beads in pink, pale green, pale blue, opaque cream, and white, as well as faux baroque pearls. Colors are brighter than photos depict. Spring ring clasp. Long enough to wrap three tiers. Wearable length is 52 inches. The largest bead (vermilion) is 3/4 inch wide. Excellent condition. Display form is lifesize...

A lovely 18K yellow gold, diamond, and ruby love pendant (“medaille d’amour”) with a rebus spelling out “Plus qu’hier, moins que demain” (“More than yesterday, less than tomorrow”), a line from the love poem written by Rosemonde Gérard to her husband Edmond Rostand (author of “Cyrano de Bergerac”) in 1889. In 1907, the Lyonnais jewelry Alphonse Augis created a love token based on the poem. His designs changed over time and this piece is a classic example from the 1960s...

Circa mid-century, this modernist Mexican bib necklace is the work of "MGI". It's an Antonio Pineda design, and this piece matches the quality and construction perfectly. This necklace has seventeen polished onyx crescents, and it certainly makes a statement. A very substantial piece, weighing 131.3 grams. Very difficult to accurately measure the closed, wearable length, but I would say about 15"...

An outstanding Venetian Etruscan Revival 18K yellow gold fob charm in the form of a crown. The bottom of the charm is set with a 9-carat oval brilliant amethyst of nice color. The sides of the charm are set with small round glass gemstones imitating small amethysts. The upper scrolls of the crown enclose a round cultured pearl. The gold surfaces are heavily decorated with rosettes and wirework. Tested and guaranteed 18K.

Origin: Italy, ca. 1960. Condition: excellent...

A luxurious tassel, its sterling threads spilling out of a brushed silver bead, catches the eye instantly in this vintage Mexican charm bracelet. A classic rendition of the specific design, it has a thick twist rope chain that has acquired a soft, silky glow over the years. Striding the divide between Deco and Retro jewelry, this is a veritable statement bracelet and if you decide to add the matching earrings and lariat necklace you see in one of the photos to it, you will not be disappointed...

A very attractive vintage 14K yellow gold link bracelet, each link set with round brilliant cut diamonds. The gold surfaces are textured to resemble the tree bark. The diamonds are graded as I/SI1. The clasp is stamped with a French mark for imported 14K gold.

• Origin: America, ca. 1970.
• Condition: excellent.
• Dimensions: 13/16” x 7-5/8”.
• Weight: 57.3 grams.
• Approximate Total Diamond Weight: 2.14 carats.

Felipe Martinez opened his shop, "Piedra Y Plata" in 1950. A former sculptor who had worked with Hubert Harmon in the 1940's, Martinez was known for his work with beautiful stones which melded seamlessly into his silver designs. This bracelet features five chrysocolla stones with a trapezoidal shape alternating with concave silver panels. Closure is a tight and secure tongue in box, with a safety chain. The stones are absolutely gorgeous, with various shades of green and copper. The silver is...

This great sterling silver ring has an oval, central blue gem turquoise gem: petit point bezel-set. The stone sits with the decorative stamped outline. It is a size 9; but, has an adjuster. The front measures 1 1/4" x 1". It has good heft, weighing over 1 ounce. The back is marked TG.

Unsigned Italian necklace, probably by Baroness Luciana Aloisi de Reutern, who designed for Gucci and Elizabeth Arden and also exported directly to the United States. Circa 1965. It has dimensional "molten" looking articulated sections with a hook and chain at the back, and brilliant very large glass stones in aqua, chartreuse, and yellow. The emerald cut stones are unfoiled and openbacked. The photos do not capture the brilliance and quality of the stones. Several of the emerald cu...

Produced by Enrique Ledesma, this bracelet features four large golden sheen obsidian stones which seem to glow from within. The alternating repoussé silver panels have oxidized recesses, and the tongue in box closure is tight and perfect. Original safety chain is attached. This will fit up to a 6 1/4" wrist. The width is 15/16". Weight is 54.6 grams. Signed and hallmarked "Ledesma Plateria Cortes 925 Taxco Hecho en Mexico", with the eagle assay 6 and design # 401. In excellent vintage co...

A fine pair of modernist 18K yellow gold cufflinks designed by Georges Lenfant for Mauboussin. The faces are designed as four interlocking squares decorated with three types of surface treatment--high polish, florentine engraving, and wood-textured engraving. The hinged backs are finished with florentine engraving. The connectors are signed "Mauboussin Paris" and have serial numbers, French 18K marks and the master goldsmith's mark for Georges Lenfant.

Georges Lenfant was one of the most im...

An unusually large 18K yellow gold, diamond and ruby love pendant (“medaille d’amour”) with a rebus spelling out Plus qu’hier, moins que demain,” (“More than yesterday, less than tomorrow.”) a line from the love poem written by Rosemonde Gérard to her husband Edmond Rostand (author of “Cyrano”) in 1889. The word “plus” is symbolized by a plus sign set with a rose cut diamond and the word “moins” by a minus sign set with rectangular cut synthetic rubies. In 1907, the Ly...

A lovely and heavy vintage Venetian Etruscan 18K yellow gold charm in the form of a treasure chest. The surfaces are heavily decorated with beading and ropetwist tracery surrounding collet-set pearls. The chest's lid is hinged and operational. Fully hallmarked for 18K.

Origin: Italy, ca. 1960. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: 1-3/16" x 1" x 1" (excluding bail). Weight: 17.1 grams.

Fabulous very wearable and versatile long sautoir necklace of very large turquoise poured glass beads and baroque glass based pearls, all wired with dark goldtone metal. Circa 1950 or 1960 or possibly earlier; the clasp is an early spring ring without the thumb tab. Probably French. 44 inches long and 1/2 inch wide at turquoise beads. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail. Display form is life size.

Beautiful unusual sautoir long necklace with glass based faux baroque pearls and two sided stations, one side with prong set large oval multi color glass stones and the other side with alternating fuschia and colorless strass stones. Also with very ornate chain links. Hook clasp with colorless stones in ruffled "piecrust" settings. The dogtooth settings of the large stones, the piecrust settings, and the double sided form of the glass stones suggests this piece is French, although th...

Big statement vintage 1960s mixed metals copper with brass appliques and green onyx stones hinged bangle bracelet by Mexican maker Casa Maya. Marked MAYA MEXICO. With pin closure. The copper has a darkened decorative finish. The green cylindrical stones are held with bolts. 2 1/8 inches wide and 7 inches inside circumference. The inside diameters are 2 3/8 and 2 1/8 inches. The outside is in excellent condition; the inside has wear and scratching but this does not show when the piece...

A heavy, beautifully-detailed 14K yellow gold brooch in the form of a pine branch complete with needles and fully three-dimensional pinecones attributed to Laykin et Cie. The workmanship of the brooch is very fine. Each spray of needles is accented with a prong-set round brilliant diamonds of fine quality (I/VS). The back is marked “14K” and has an illegible maker’s mark. We have seen this exact brooch with a clear signature for Laykin et Cie, the leading Hollywood jeweler of the mid-...

I am very partial to hinged bangle bracelets - you get the best of both worlds with them! - and I am very attracted to the Portuguese repousse examples. Signed by Topazio, the country’s foremost manufacturer of silver holloware and decorative items, there is something quite “regal” about this piece. Surrounded by scrolls and foliate motifs the dominant design here is a royal crown. It is repeated in all eight facets in high relief and looks even more sculptural thanks to the patina that ha...

The art of "metales casados" (mixed or married metals) was practiced by several Taxco workshops yet I think Victoria was its queen. Ana Maria Nunez de Brilanti combined copper, silver and brass not only to design exquisite jewelry but also hollowware of various kinds and decorative objects. In the necklace presented here she seems to be inspired by Egyptian Revival motifs which is not unusual for her - there are at least a couple of other parures she created that tread that same path. Distinctly...

A vintage modernist pendant necklace by noted mid century jeweler, Winifred Mason Chenet from her highly collectible Voodoo line. Pendant measures 3" long and 1 1/8" at the widest. Possibly pewter. Intricate chain is made up of silver colored squiggled links connected with brass rings and silver colored curved in links. Measures 32" long. No clasp, meant to go over the head. There is a little tarnish. Signed chenet on the back of the pendant. Interesting rare example.

The combination of fine, high purity silver and moonstone is one of my favorite and was equally favored, it seems, by Antonio Pineda, Taxco's renowned modernist. Set in three-dimensional 970 silver settings the stones at hand have a luminous pearlescence that draws the eye into their magical depths, and perfectly reflect the warm glow of the precious metal surrounding them. Antonio's jewelry is characterized by an unfailing sense of easy luxury and that feeling is present here as well. Substanti...

This is from a Virginia, USA Estate. A RETRO ERA 1950 - 1975 DIAMOND wSAPPHIRES RING. Center Dimaond is .55 CARAT, SI1 VS2 Clarity, GH Color, Modern Brilliant Cut. Beautifully Chased on the Sides and there are another 6 Accent Diamonds mounted at the shoulders. Beautiful Genuine Sapphires.

An important, rare modernist bracelet by the renowned African American jeweler, Art Smith. Made of woven, riveted and patinated copper.

Measures 5 3/4" around with an opening of 1 1/4" and 1 3/4" wide. Marked with the 'Art Smith' script signature in at least two places. Looks like there is also a third partial strike. Very good condition with some minor surface scratches and areas of tarnish.

A wonderful example of Mid Century Modernist design.

A 10k vintage yellow gold ring c1950s-60, set with a natural rock crystal. This size 6 ring measures 5/16" across the stone and it weighs 2.1 grams. This ring is stamped TJF and 10K and it is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, dents, bends, corrosion, losses, damage or repairs. All items are thoroughly and conservatively graded and all condition issues are noted; all items are vintage or antique and may have slight signs of gentle use. Expedited tracked and insured parcel shippin...

A fine pair of modernist 18K yellow gold earclips by Burle Marx set with intricately carved amethysts in the “forma livre” (free form) style. Haroldo Burle Marx was particularly known for his use of large gemstones, often fashioned by carving or tumbling rather than faceting, a technique he invented in 1948. The color of the amethyst is deep purple and is nicely even throughout the stones. The gold surfaces are decorated with the fine florentined engraving typical of Marx’s pieces. The...

An elegant pair of 18K yellow gold earclips by Haroldo Burle Marx set with intricately carved jelly tourmalines in the “forma livre” (free form) style. Burle Marx was particularly known for his use of stones fashioned by carving or tumbling rather than faceting, a technique he invented in 1948. The tourmalines have greenish blueish overtones. The elongated shape of the stones, mirrored by the shape of the settings looks very good on the ear. The gold surfaces are worked in both the stippled...

A stylized geometric openwork design characterizes this handmade bronze ring, made around 1965-1970. The band is adjustable, and bears the unidentified maker’s mark of P.N., in addition to the Finland mark. The tiny bumps of metal on the edges are from the casting process. The top measures 1 ¼ inches long by 1 inch wide; the band is currently sized at approximately a 7.

This mid-century pendant/pin/necklace can be worn several different ways. Pin on its own, necklace with pendant, and pin and necklace separately.

It's a very rarely seen design, and it is most certainly collector quality.

The shadowbox design has a darkened background which is absolutely flawless.

Pendant/pin measures 1 7/8" x 1 3/8". Closed, wearable length is 17".

Weight is 79.7 grams.

Signed and hallmarked "Sigi Tasco Sterling Hecho e...

A pair of 18K yellow gold cufflinks with a classic 1960's brushed gold texture. The texture is worked in short sections oriented in random directions, giving the effect of leopard spots in racking light. The toggle backs are worked in a simple ribbed design. The connectors are signed "Cartier" and are also marked "Swiss Made/18K/750." The "Swiss Made" stamp is more often seen on watch cases and indicates that the cufflinks were made by one of Cartier's watchmakers, likely to match a watch di...

Circa mid-century, this ring was produced by Antonio Pineda. It's a thick and substantial ring, with a superb modernist twist design. Hand-wrought with 970 silver, the center design appears to be gold plating over brass, providing a gorgeous contrast. Measures a size 7 3/4, but a jeweler can easily adjust the size slightly smaller or larger. Weight is 11.8 grams. Signed and hallmarked with the Antonio Taxco crown, the eagle assay 17, 970, and Hecho en Mexico Silver. In excellent v...

Attributions are a difficult issue in the world of vintage Mexican silver jewelry - they are almost never accepted. If a piece is not signed, it’s just not signed! In this case, however, I will put my years of experience behind my suggestion that the necklace I am presenting here is the work of Reveriano Castillo. When I acquired it, it had no clasp and since the specific Reveri design is usually marked exactly there, the connection to its maker was lost. I had my jeweler craft a fold-over cla...