Researching Costume Jewelry History, Companies, Signatures "B" - costumejewelrycollectors.com (2024)

Costume Jewelry Collectors Int’l
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RESEARCHING COSTUME JEWELRY
originally created and published by Dotty Stringfield on IllusionJewels.com

Jewelry History – Jewelry Research – Jewelry Marks – Jewelry Signatures – Jewelry Articles – Jewelry Galleries

COSTUME JEWELRY MARKS – B*

Information and images contained in Researching Costume Jewelry (RCJ) were created by Illusion Jewels and are currently maintained and updated by Costume Jewelry Collectors Int’l (CJCI). Written permission by CJCI is needed to use any information obtained from RCJ in any other publication whether written or electronic.

Due to the large volume of requests received, we are unable to answer individual questions about jewelry marks and signatures.

B

— See BUGBEE AND NILES

“B” — See BALLOU

“B” inside a star — See BALLOU, B. A.

“B” inside a crown

• Mark: “B” inside crown shape Photo courtesy Plenty O Jewels.
• This mark was seen in combination with DRGM on a piece of jewelry, which tells us it is a German mark.

B.A.B. — See BALLOU

B.B. Greenberg — See GREENBERG

— See BLISS BROS.

BB with image of a bee — See BLISS BROS.

— See BLISS BROS. Small “B” and “Co” within a large “B”

— See BLISS BROS.

— See BINDER BROS

— See BENNETT, E.A.

— See

— See

— See BASKIN BROTHERS

— See BASKIN BROTHERS

— See BASTIAN BROS.

— See BASTIAN BROS.

— See

— See

Two interlocked “b’s” in a triangle — See BERMAN BROTHERS

B B in an oval — See BIOREN BROS.

Vertical B over B under an inverted “V” — See BARNABUS BARNA

B & C — See BISHTON

B & N Co. — Bugbee and Niles Co. — 1896 — 1958 (updated 5/29/2022) Listed in WWD 5/2/1958 as still manufacturing.

B. DAVID — See DAVID, B.

— See

BADE, OTTO R. — NY — 1958

• Mark: ORB Courtesy Dana Ricci, ID: canam88
• Founded by Otto Bade who was plant foreman for Rebajes from 1941 to 1958. He purchased Rebajes in 1960; retired in 1981.

BAER, MARJORIE — San Francisco, CA — late 1960s to present (05)

• Mark: BAER SF
• Specializes in unique, hand-crafted jewelry.

BAER, WILDE COMPANY — Attleboro, MA

• Mark: Kum-A-Part Photo courtesy David Pritchett.
• Ads in JC & K from 1915 to 1931.

BAL-RON COMPANY, INC. — Providence, RI

• Mentioned in JC Keystone in 1950 & 1965
• An ad in 1959 mentions cultured pearls, onyx, scarabs,cameos set in 10k & 14k. (Rainwater)
• Mark: Photo courtesy Linda Lange.

BALENCIAGA — c. May 1963

BALFOUR, L.G. — Attleboro, MA; then Austin, TX in 1966 — 1913 to present

• Mark: LGB – 1944
• Mark: BALFOUR – 1913
• Products include: class rings, military insignia, achievement awards, fraternity & sorority jewelry.
• Founded by Lloyd Garfield Balfour.
• 1996 – Balfour combined with CJC Holdings, Inc. to form a new company, Commemorative Brands, Inc.

BALLET JEWELS, INC. — NY,NY — ? –present

• Mark: Ballet Photo courtesy Alison Gadberry.
• Owned by Harold Bass, and then his son Tommy Bass.

BALLON, HARRY — Harry Ballon & Company — Providence, RI

• Mentioned in JC Keystone in 1922 & 1931.
• Mark: Truli Fine 1944; used on men’s and women’s jewelry.

BALLOU, B. A. — Providence, RI — 1876-2009

• • Mark: “B” within a star — 1894; renewed 1989 Courtesy Stephanie Brawner
  • Mark: B.A.B. – 1908; renewed in 2004
  • Mark: “P” within a pyramid; original owner Pyramid Jewelry; last owner B.A. Ballou; renewed 2004.
  • Mark: “B” within a star, SterlingCourtesy RCJ
  • Mark: B — first used 1894; renewed in 1969; now dead
  • Mark: Ballou — 1919; renewed in 1989
  • Mark: B.A.B. & Co.
  • Mark: Small Wonders – 1990; renewed 2001
  • Mark: EZ Squeeze – 1996; cancelled in 2005
  • Mark: Guardian — 2000
  • Mark: Guardian II — 2004
  • Mark: Star with a “B” inside, and the words “Trade Mark” arched above the star.
  • Founded: by Barton A. Ballou
  • Largely a findings manufacturer but produced limited amounts of fine and costume jewelry as well. Known for inventing the modern safety clasp (rollover clasp) first used in the 1930s.
  • B.A. Ballou was acquired by W.R. Cobb, a findings manufacturer also located in Providence, in 2009 after entering into receivership. Source: JCK.

Updated 1/18/2020 by Pamela Wiggins Siegel

BALLOU, CAROLINE

• Mark: CB — 1995
• Mark: Caroline Ballou – 1995
• Dates: present
• Founded: Caroline Ballou
• Location: Attleborough Falls, MA
• Notes: Design Director for B.A. Ballou.

BARCLAY — Providence, RI — 1947

• • Mark: Barclay Photo courtesy Jim Katz.
  • Mark: Barclay/Art In Jewelry on an artist palette — used since 1948.
  • Mark: Peltanium– first used Jan. 1953.
  • Barclay was in business until about 1957.
  • Barclay did not mark their jewelry the last few years.
  • Founded by Alvin & Robert Rice & Louis Mark in Providence, RI, in 1947 (some sources cite 1946) after a split with Rice-Weiner.
  • There is no connection between McClelland Barclay who died in 1943 and jewelry marked simply Barclay in script. McClelland Barclay pieces marked Barclay use the same typeface as the full McClelland Barclay mark.

Updated 1/16/20 by Pamela Wiggins Siegel

BARCLAY, MCCLELLAND — c.-1938-1943

• • Mark: McClelland Barclay Photo courtesy Beth Rowlands.
  • Mark: Photo courtesy Jim Katz.
  • Mark: Courtesy Patricia Gostick
  • Mark: Courtesy Patricia Gostick
  • Mark: Courtesy Patricia Gostick
  • Mark: Courtesy Patricia Gostick
  • Mark:
  • This is a rare use of “©” before 1955 to protect the brand, not the design.Photo and info courtesy Jim Katz.
  • Rice-Weiner produced McClelland Barclay’s designs.
  • Learn more about McClelland Barclay through an article by Patricia Gostick.

Updated 1/16/20 by Pamela Wiggins Siegel

BARGAS, ARMAND — c. 1900

• Mark: ABargas — “AB” are joined and “argas” is in cursive Photo & info courtesy Plenty O’Jewels.
• French artist who designed & engraved medallions in Art Nouveau style.

BARKER & BARKER — Providence, RI — at least 1920-1950

• Mark: B-B
• Mark: JO MAR
• Listed in a 1920 state of RI factory inspection report.

BARKIN, GRET

• Mark: Gret BarkinPhoto courtesy Jennie Smith
• Mark: Gret Barkin SterlingPhoto courtesy Jennie Smith
• Mark: Gret Barkin, New Hope, PA, Hand WroughtPhoto courtesy Jennie Smith
• Mark: GretPhoto courtesy Jennie Smith
• Dates: 1940’s — 1997
• Founded: Gret and Rube Barkin
• Location: New Hope, PA
• They owned a shop named “Gret Barkin”, which also stood for “Great Bargain”
• She continued making jewelry in her basem*nt workshop until the age of 90
• She died at age 99 on July 23, 2007
• Information from Dinah Taylor, Jennie Smith and the Bucks County Courier Times 8/3/07.

BARLOW

• Mark: Barlow -1980 Photo courtesy eclecticgramma
• Mark: Barlow Photo courtesy Linda Lange
• Owner: Barlow Designs, Inc.
• Location: Providence, RI

BARNABUS BARNA — Berverly Hills, CA — c. 1962

• Mark: Vertical B over B under an inverted “V”

BAR-ON — contemporary artist from Israel

• Mark: N.S. Bar-On Photo courtesy Roxy Richardson

BARRASSO & BLASI — Newark, NY — c. 1922

• Mark: B&B Founded in 1922

BARRERA, JOSE’ AND MARIA — New York, New York — Early 1980s — present

• • Mark: Barrera for Avon — 1989 – 1996
  • Mark: Barrera
  • José and María Barrera are a husband and wife team who started their jewelry business in the early 1980s.
  • Sold through Neiman Marcus and upscale boutiques as well as on their own website.
  • Designed lines of jewelry sold in Avon catalogs from 1989-1996.
  • Daughters Larissa, Alicia, and Mariel help with the family-owned business with José Barrera and Larissa overseeing jewelry design as of 2020.
  • Larissa Barrera designed a lined of jeweled handbags hand decorated in the New York workshop in 1997.

Updated 4/17/2020 by Pamela Wiggins Siegel

BARTEK — Wallingford, CT ? — c. 1953

• Mark: Bartek Photo courtesy Myrna Seale.
• No evidence has been found to support that Stephan R. Bartek worked for Napier prior to starting his own company. Read more about Bartek here.

BASKIN BROTHERS — NY, NY — c. 1915 — 1931

• Mark: Back to back “B’s”
• Mark: Back to back “B’s” within a circle
• Mark: Historic Gems
• Mark: Lifetime
• Mark: Victoria Regina with back to back “B’s”
• Mark: Gardenia with back to back “B’s”

BASTIAN BROS. COMPANY — Rochester, NY — 1895 — present

• Mark: Courtesy Lyn Peightal
• Mark:
• Mark: Bastian 10K

BASTIN, MARJOLEIN — Netherlands — b 1943

• Mark: MB Courtesy Mary Nefzgere
• Mark: © M. Bastin (sometimes with the year)
• Had a 10 year association with Hallmark, designing paper goods and jewelry for them.

BATES & BACON — Attleboro, MA — 1856 — c. 1943

• Mark:
• Mark: Bates & Bacon
• Mark: Bates & Bacon on a shield
• Mark: Bates & BCourtesy Vera Battemarco
• Mark: Courtesy ID: eclecticgramma.

BAUER, DOROTHY — 1982 to mid — 2000s

• Originally named “A Piece of the Rainbow”, named was changed to Dorothy Bauer Designs.
• Mark: BAUER in block letters on an oval disk.
• The mark: “Bauer 88” is NOT hers.

BOYER

BAZOT, ANDREE — Late 1950s & early 1960s

• Mark: Andree Bazot Paris Photo courtesy Cathy Gordon. Photo courtesy Rene Colon.

BEADLITE — See

BEATRIX — Rhode Island — 1946 — 1983

• Mark:
• Mark: B.J.
• B.J. mark is found on lower end holiday jewelry and not related to better quality rhinestone jewelry associated with Suzanne Bjontegard.
• Beatrix founded in 1946 by Nat Sugarman, who named the company after his sister Beatrice. Sold the business to company manager Leonard Mandell in 1965.
• Manufactured holiday jewelry from 1969- 1983 for a business named Treasure Masters. This includes the “Chris Mouse” pin which was based on a drawing seen on a holiday greeting card.
• Mandell sold the company to Treasure Masters in 1977, but continued with the firm until he retired in 1982.
• Competition from low-priced imports led the company to close in 1983.
• Some information from “Costume Jewelry 101” by Julia C. Carroll.

Updated 2/27/2020 by Pamela Wiggins Siegel

BEAU — BEAUCRAFT, INC. — Providence, RI — 1947- Sept., 2004

• • Mark: Stylized “B-Ster”
  • Mark: Beaucraft {Sterling} Courtesy Jenny Wren.
  • Mark: Beau B Sterling Courtesy Pam Brooks.
  • Mark: “B” with “Ster” or “Sterling” Photo courtesy Pam Brooks.
  • Mark: Beau Sterling
  • Mark: Beau Sterling © Photo courtesy Ann Robinson ID: 9am
  • Mark: Beau tag Courtesy Karen – a friend of RCJ
  • Beaucraft also made 14 karat gold jewelry.
  • Founded by Luigi Russo and Ray Saccocchio.
  • Beaucraft closed shop and auctioned off their tools, molds and jewelry in 2004. Amsco, Ltd., now out of business, bought the majority of the remaining inventory. A company named Rembrandt Charms acquired the charm inventory. The manufacturing equipment and molds were sold to Eagle Tool, Inc. which owned the Beau and Beaucraft trademarks as of 2017. Thanks to Linda Jo D. Mitchell and ReplaysandThings.com blog for this update.

Updated 2/9/2020 by Pamela Wiggins Siegel

BEAUJEWELS — See BOWMAN FOSTER, INC.

BEGAY, KENNETH — 1940s – 1960s

• Mark: Courtesy Julie Levine
• Known as the father of modern Navajo jewelry.

BEL GEDDES — See RICE-WEINER

BELL — BELL TRADING POST — Albuquerque, NM — 1932 — c. late 1980s

• • Mark: Bell
  • Mark: NICKELSILVER EIL,encircling a bell Courtesy Linda Lange
  • Mark: Bell Jewelry with picture of a bell. Photo courtesy Glitz & Glitter Boutique.
  • Mark: An image of a bell
  • Mark: “Copper by Bell” with a bell hanging from a postRCJ
  • Mark: “Solid Copper” — A bell hanging from a post Photo courtesy BeeGee McBride.
  • Mark: “Solid Copper” — A bell hanging from a post Photo courtesy Jenny Wren.
  • Mark: Sterling with a bell on a post Courtesy Susan @ Eureka
  • Mark: A bell on a round plaque with “Copper” above and “Bell” belowRCJ
  • Mark: Sterling, wtih the word “BELL” inside the bellCourtesy RCJ
  • Mark: Karatclad by Bell Photo courtesy ID: justabunchawildflowers.
  • Mark: Ster. and a picture of a bell; this is a later Bell mark Courtesy Jennifer (wheat*from*the*chaff)
  • Bell Jewelry mark was first used in 1935. Mark with a bell and arrow on a post was first used in 1961.
  • Founded in 1932 by Jack Michelson and his wife Mildred at a second floor location at Third and Central in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Was named “Bell” because Jack’s wife Mildred Bell Michelson’s maiden name was Bell.
  • Purpose was to sell Indian Jewelry to tourist locations throughout the western United States in competition with Maisel’s Indian Trading Post.
  • Jack Michelson died in 1957 and his children Jack, Douglas, and Jaquelyn took over the company.
  • Sunbell was formed in 1969. Giftware and moccasin divisions were added and Bell jewelry was still sold with a new Sunbell logo (a bell with four lines on each side like rays of the sun).
  • Thank you to Barbara Talbott for her contribution to this information.

Updated 3/25/2020 by Pamela Wiggins Siegel.

BELLINI — See FORMART CORP.

BEN AMUN

• Isaac Manevitz, a native of Egypt, began making fashion jewelry around 1983. Still in business in 2019.
• Mark: Ben Amun

BENEDIKT — Howard Benedikt — 389 5th Ave., NYC

• Mark: With copyright mark, after 1955
• Mentioned as late as Aug. 1963 in a Seventeen magazine.

BENGEL, JACOB (Jakob)

• Mark: Oval with a cannon and cannon balls.
• Dates: 1873 to present (2007)
• Founded: Jakob Bengel
• Location: Idar Oberstein, Germany
• Notes: Originally made watch chains, but known for Art Deco designs using galalith.
• Notes: Exported great quantities to US and Europe until start of WWII.
• Notes: Is currently producting jewelry from old designs, including galalith.

BENNARD — See VARGAS

BENNETT, DANIEL — Los Angeles, CA — c. 1950s

• Mark: Majorica — c. 1957 Photo courtesy eclecticgramma.

BENNETT, E.A. — Providence, RI — 1892

• Mark: B.B. Photo courtesy Jeri of Jeri’s Joolz at Ruby Lane.
• Mark: E.A.B. 10K
• Became Bennett & Bradford in 1898.

BENTLEE— Ben Felsenthal & Co. — NY, NY

• Mark: Bentlee — first used July 1917 Courtesy A friend of RCJ

BEREBI, EDGAR — Brooklyn, NY — 1981

• Mark: 1981-1983 — mark on jewelry–just gray card on mainly plastic and patinaed metals
• Mark: 1983 — epoxy marbling with stick-on labels marked c.Berebi [the first design was flowers]
• Mark: 1984 — produced mainly earrings on card with subtitle “Mes annee folle”[My crazy years] –still using c.Berebi on earrings
• Mark: 1992 — First use of white metal casting for earrings–c.Berebi on pieces–96% of product output was earrings
• Mark: 1993 — first use of lever back style and museum inspired earrings and pins
• Mark: 1993 — First television show on Value Vision–first Faberge inspired eggs
• Mark: 1995 — Licensed the Edgar Berebi jewelry trademark to the 1928 Company for them to manufacture the line
• Mark: 1997 — Obtained sublicense to design & manufacture “Edgar Berebi” jewelry for use on TV; also used his trademark to make first table top eggs and boxes
• Mark: 1999 — Relationship with TV ends
• Mark: 2001 — starts to manufacture frames & boxes that had been designed for TV in 1994, and does not intend to manufacture jewelry in the near future
• Information supplied by Edgar Berebi, April, 2003.

BERGE — See BERGERE

BERGERE — Herbert & Pohs, Incorporated

• Mark: Berjac — first used in 1940
• Mark: bergè — first used in 1946
• Mark: bergère – first used in 1948 Photo courtesy justabunchawildflowers
• Dates: 1940 -1979
• Founded: Jack Pohs
• Location: Herbert & Pohs, Incorporated — NYC; Bergere Inc. — Providence, RI
• Notes: Bergè jewelry was a line of Herbert & Pohs; Bergere Inc. was founded by Jack Pohs
• Notes: Purchased by Amtel in 1972

BERJAC — See BERGERE

BERMAN BROTHERS— Pittsburg, PA — 1962

• Mark: Interlocked “B’s” in a triangle

BERNARD, LES— See LES BERNARD

BEST

• Mark: Best in script – contemporary mark on jewelry imported from China.Courtesy RCJ

BETSY ROSS— See R.F. SIMMONS

BETTER RHINESTONE JEWELRY CORP.— NY, NY — c. 1940s -1950s

• Mark: BRJ
• Mark: Smart Set 5th Ave. by BRJ Photo courtesy Geri Makris — ID jamielee1.

BEX, PIERRE — See PIERRE BEX

BIAGI BY SWANK — See SWANK, INC.

BICK & SON, HARRY S. — NY, NY, from at least June 1947 until at least 1988

• Mark: HSB with a line going through the initials.(ad from a 1947 Vogue magazine) Courtesy Linda Lange
• Mark: Bickson – first used 1948
• They were still in business when Rainwater wrote her book in 1988.

BICKSON — See BICK

BIGNEY — S.O. Bigney Co. of Attleboro, Mass — at least 1896 to 1946

• Mark: S.O.B.
• Mark: S.O. Bigney & Co., Pat. Oct. 6, ’08 Photos courtesy Pat Seal
• Mark: Bigney, Lady Launton — on bracelet from 1946.
• Much of this information is courtesy of Jim Katz, who has patents to Sidney O. Bigney from 1897 to 1936.

BILL SMITH FOR RICHELIEU — See JOSEPH MEYER

BINDER BROS., INC. — NY, NY — c. 1920

• Mark: Courtesy Sandy Lisnak
• Mark: Two “B’s” inside interlocking circles Photo courtesy of Gail Gupton
• Mark: BB Sterling Photo courtesy Jennifer from Jennifer Lynn’s Timeless Jewelry.
• BIOREN BROS., Newark, NJ — c. 1887-1929 (info found in tax and other records)
• Mark: “B B” within an oval Courtesy Dawna St. Marie

BIRKS / BIRKS DINGWALL — Montreal, CA — 1879

• Mark: Birks Courtesy Robin Deutsch
• Some Birks jewelry was made by Knoll and Pregizer of Pforzheim, Germany.
• High end jewelry store founded by Henry Birks in 1879; acquired D.R. Dingwall in 1933.
• The Italian Regaluxe Investment group acquired Birks Dingwall in 1993.
• Thanks to Robin Deutsch for sharing her research on Birks Dingwall and Knoll & Pregizer.

BISHTON & COMPANY — Birmingham, England

• Mark:B & C Courtesy Carolyn Sunday :Frederick Bishton and Edwin Wilkes

B.J. — See Beatrix

BJONTEGARD, SUZANNE — San Diego, CA — c. 1985-?

• Mark: B.J. Bjontegard, Suzanne
• Mark: Suzanne Bjontegard — in all capital letters
• Mark: S.B. in block letters
• Mark: SB in script
• Founded: Suzanne Bjontegard
• Location: San Diego, CA
• Suzi B. seen on her later boxes
• Bjontegard was born in America.
• Mark B.J. on lower end holiday jewelry is by Beatrix rather than Suzanne Bjontegard.
• Some information from Inside the Jewelry Box by Ann Pitman

Updated 2/27/2020 by Pamela Wiggins Siegel

BJORN, WECKSTROM — See WECKSTROM, BJORN

BLACKER BROTHERS — Providence, RI — c. early 1900s — in business in 1981

• Mark: Blacher Photo courtesy eclectigramma.
• Founded by Harry Blacher.

BLACK MAGIC — See ELZAC

BLANK, HENRY — See

BLANCHARD, MARYSE — See MARYSE BLANCHARD

BLISS — The E.A. Bliss Co., NY, NY — est. 1878 — See NAPIER

• Mark: Photo courtesy Linda Lange.
• The E. A. Bliss Co. was founded in 1878 by Egerton A. Bliss and James Edgar Carpenter
• The E. A. Bliss Co. moved to Meriden, CT in 1890.
• The E. A. Bliss Co. became The Napier-Bliss Co. — July 27, 1920.
• Name changed to The Napier Co. — May 31, 1922.

Below information is NO longer accurate but widely used incorrectly

• Founded by E.A. Bliss & J.E. Carpenter when they acquired the Whitney & Rice Co.
• Name became E.A. Bliss in 1883.
• Bliss Co. became Bliss/Napier in 1915.

Information courtesy of Melinda Lewis author of, The Napier Co.: Defining 20th Century American Costume Jewelry.

BLISS BROTHERS CO. — Attleboro, MA — 1896 – c. 1950

• Mark: Small “B” and “Co” within a larger “B” Image couRtesy of Sheryl Hamilton.
• Mark: B.B. with image of a bee.
• Mark: Surefit
• Mark:
• Mark:

BLOCK, FRED A.

• Mark: Photo courtesy Cathy Gordon.
• Mark: Fred A. Block Photo courtesy Robin Deutsch.
• Opened a showroom in 1940; was still in business in 1949.
• Have ad from 1946

BLUMENTHAL, B. — 1877

• Mark: B. Blumenthal & Co., Inc.
• Mark: B. Blumenthal & Co., Inc.Courtesy Ronelle Willadsen
• A button manufacturer founded in 1877, who only made jewelry for a few years. Scarce and hard to find mark.
• Photo & info courtesy MJ DeCourley.

BLUWITE — See PROVIDENCE STOCK COMPANY

BOB-O-LINK — See EISENSTADT

BOBLEY JEWELRY, NY — 1955

• Mark: Bobley Courtesy eclecticgramma
• Founded by Joseph Bobley.

BOGOFF — Chicago, IL — 1940 – early 1960s

• Mark: BogoffPhoto courtesy Victoria JamesPhoto courtesy Jenny Wren Courtesy Sam and Yvonne Mitchell.
• Mark: Jewelry by Bogoff
• Mark: Jewels by Bogoff Photo courtesy Beth Rowlands
• Henry & Yvette Bogoff founded Spear Novelty Co. in late 1920’s/early1930’s in Chicago.
• Bogoff founded by Henry Bogoff in 1940.
• Bogoff ads from 1946-1948 mention Gay-Bee Jewelry Co. of Chicago; ads from 1949 forward do not mention Gay-Bee.
• Jewels by Bogoff listed in a Jan. 1954 brochure of an accessories show in New York City.
  
• See an article on Bogoff for more information.

Bohlin, Edward H — 1895 — 1980

• Mark: Photo courtesy Sam & Yvonne Mitchell.
• Bohlin founded his leather and silver business in Hollywood in the early 1920s making saddles, etc. for the stars of Western movies.
• The company reached its peak 1930s-1950s.
• Bohlin died in 1980.
• The company is still in business, but no longer makes the fancy saddles for which Bohlin was famous.

BOHMER, WILLIAM — as early as 1954

• Mentioned in a 1954 accessories show flyer.

BOLITA — See FORSTNER–FORSTNER CHAIN CORP

BOLLES, JANE — c. 1967

• Have ad from 1967

BOND BOYD — 1944 — present

• Mark: Bond Boyd
• Mark: Bond Boyd Sterling Courtesy Roberta Peach
• Mark: Halbe — used in USA
• Mark: Latona
• Mark: Sterling Boyd Courtesy Roberta Peach
• Canadian jewelry company which currently does mostly corporate jewelry.

BOOTH, TULLA — c. 1980

• Mark: Tulla Booth Courtesy Judy Miller.
• American designer, who evidently no longer makes jewelry.

BOTTICELLI — Providence, RI — from at least 1969 until 1976

• Mark: Photo courtesy of Cynthia Fore Miller.

BOUCHER, MARCEL — 1937 — 1971/72 (Pronounced: Boo — shay)

• Mark: Marboux — Dolan found it registered in 1937; Brunialti found mark wasn’t used until 1955, for a new, less expensive line.
• Mark: Boucher — 1950 to 1955 Photo courtesy Linda Kent
• Mark: MB with the phrygian cap was used from 1937-1949 (and after when space was limited) Photo courtesy Laura Libio. Photo courtesy Beth Rowlands.
• Mark: “Marcel Boucher” 1938
• Mark: Parisina — Sterling made in Mexico during WWII Photo courtesy Lorrie Notter.
• Mark: Earrite 1950
• Mark: LeC with number — short for “Le Couturier” rare mark for high end line of Canadian made Marcel Boucher jewelry. Photos and information courtesy Sheryl Hamilton from research of Terri DeLany.
• Mark: Le Couturier — See information for LeC Courtesy Penny Mabrey
• See a LeCouturier set in original box
• Mark: Made in Canada, Boucher Courtesy Shirley Hanick
• Mark: “Boucher 3033” from 1950
• Mark: “Boucher” mark was used from 1950-1955
• Mark: “Boucher” with the copyright mark preceding it, used from 1955 on.Photo courtesy Erik Yang.
• Mark: Boucher, Gladiolas Courtesy justabunchawildflowers
• Notes: Boucher used Sterling from about 1942 until at least 1947 (Pat Seal).
• Boucher worked for Mazer in the early 1930’s.
• He did a series of flower pins that had his name, plus the name of the flower.
• Boucher Inventory Numbersdates are approximate, as designs could have been assigned numbers, but not produced until a future time.
• From A Tribute To America by Carla and Roberto Brunialti:
• 1945: 2300-2350
• 1946: 2351-2450
• 1947: 2451-2550
• 1948: 2551-2750
• 1949: 2751-3000
• 1950: 3001-4500
• After 1955, marks had the copyright © symbol.
• 1960: 7802
• 1962: 8291
• 1965: 9100 – pieces Sandra Boucher made after Marcel’s death
• Later pieces also may have “P” for pin or “E” for earring, in addition to the number.
• Boucher died in 1965.
• Sandra Boucher, Marcel’s wife, ran the company until 1972.
• Company became a part of Davorn Industries in 1972.
• In 1977, Davorn sold the name & designs to Stutz Fashion (from American Costume Jewelry 1935-1950 by Roberto Brunialti).

BOYER, GAY — NY

• Mark: Gay Boyer Photo courtesy justabunchofwildflowers.
• Contemporary designer.

BOWMAN FOSTER, INC. (?) — c 1950s — c. 1970s

• Bowman Foster possibly used the Beaujewels mark, and was not associated with Beaucraft according to Fred Rezazadeh.
• Mark: Beaujewels inside an oval frame
• Mark: BeaujewelsPhoto courtesy RCJ

BRANIA

• Mark: Brania Photo courtesy Myrna Seale.
• Notes: It was a famous bead house in NYC. Mimi Di’N designed for them in the mid 1960s.
• Have ads from 1959 and 1965.

BRAUDE, EMIL — Chicago, Ill. — c.1929 — at least 1985

• Mark: Ebson -1929; reg. 1963
• Mark: Guildhall – 1961; reg. 1962
• Mark: L’Amour
• Mark: L’Amour Sterling – 1929; reg. 1963

BRAZILIA FIRE — See VARGAS

BRENDA — See R.F. SIMMONS

BRENDA JEWELRY CO. — was Located in Providence, R.I. c. 1956 (updated 1-17-2020-mml)

BREVETE’

• • Photo courtesy Linda Lange.
  • Brevete’ is French term that means “patented.”
  • Sometimes truncated (as shown here) due to findings on French jewelry pieces that combine a dress clip and brooch with pin back mechanism, and misinterpreted as brevet.

Updated by Pamela Wiggins Siegel on 11/8/21.

BREV (BREVETTO)

• Italian term for licensed or patented Courtesy a friend of RCJ

BRIER MFG. CO. — Providence, RI — 1913 — 1978

• Mark: Little Nemo inside the shape of a ring – seen in a 1934 Keystone Jewelry trade mark book.
• Mark: Venus — 1958
• Mark: Nemo with a line from the top of the “O” and back under “Nemo” — jan. 1913 (Dolan)
• Mark: Nemo Courtesy Linda Heberling
• Mark: NEMO in block letters — See pictures below:
• Mark: Used before 1955 Photo courtesy ID: mew_to_you .Photo courtesy Susan Williams.
• Mark: Used after 1955Photo courtesy Randie — ID antique-lacey.
• Mark: Used after 1955Photo courtesy Randie — ID antique-lacey.
• Notes: Much of their jewelry was not marked.
• Founded by Benjamin Brier and Sam Magid in 1913.
• Declared bankrupt in 1978 according to Rainwater.
• Brier was the parent company of Little Nemo Mfg. Co., according to Fortune Magazine, Dec. 1946 — research by Cheri Van Hoover.

BRIGGS, BATES, & BACON — 1922 — c. 1950?

• Mark: Carmen – in block letters (named for D.F. Briggs daughter)
• Mark: Carmen – in script with the “C” having a “tail” under the other letters.
• Mark: D.F.B. CO
• Mark: Carmelita – 1950 Courtesy Carolyn Sunday
• Mark: B & B
• Mark: Bates & B
• Mark: D.F.B.
• Founded around 1892 by D. F. Briggs, became Briggs, Bates & Bacon in 1922.

BRIGHTON

• Mark: Brighton — 1973 Photo courtesy Carol Hearn
• Dates: At least 1973
• Owner: Brighton Collectibles, Inc.
• Location: City of Industry, CA

BROOKCRAFT

• Mark: Brookcraft Photo courtesy David Pritchett .
• Mark: Brookcraft Courtesy Linda King
• Mentioned in Vogue in 1945

BROOKS, NATACHA CO. — started in 1944

• 1st collection in Sept. 1944, inspired by the “Scheherazade Ballet”.
• Mark: Sterling with Natacha curved above and Brooks curved below Courtesy Julie Carroll.
• Mark: Natacha Sterling Courtesy Debra Greeson

B.S.K. — Steinberg, Slovitt, Kaslo, NY — c.1948 to early 1980s

• Mark: B.S.K. Photo courtesy ID: justabunchawildflowers.
• Mark: Courtesy Ronelle Willadsen.
• BSK made a series of pins based on the movie “My Fair Lady”
• The B. Steinberg-Kaslo Co. was composed of partners Julius Steinberg, Morris Kimmelman, Hyman Slovitt, Abraham J. Slovitt, Samuel Friedman and another entity called Arke, Inc.*Information is from text of 1956 copyright infringement lawsuit between Trifari and B.S.K.—from Mid-Century Plastic Jewelry by Susan Klein.
• Another source says it closed in 1983.

BUBBLEITE — See GALL NOVELTY CO.

BUCK, FRANK

• Mark: “Bring ‘me Back Alive” Frank Buck
• In 1930 author and animal collector Frank Buck published his book “Bring ’em Back Alive”.
• He appeared in several movies about his adventures.A series of animal pins followed.
• Photo and information courtesy Cathy Corday.

BUCKLEY, NADJA — c. 1940 — 1979

• Designed for George. Jensen in 1948 — Vogue ad introducing her.
• Ads have been seen for the years 1954 (Glamour) through 1979 (Vogue).

BUGBEE & NILES CO. — Providence, RI — 1859 — 2009

• Mark: B & N first used in 1913
• Mark: Amber Gem
• Mark: Cerulean Gem
• Bugbee & Niles presentation box photo courtesy Vanessa OsbornLarger viewThe earrings have the “BN” mark.
• Mark: BN Courtesy Kathryn of the-vintage-jewelry-advisor.com
• Mark: Diamonglo — 1981 — cancelled 1989
• Mark: Diamonray — 1981 — cancelled 2003
• Mark: Converta-Gems — 1982 — cancelled 2002
• Mark: Diamonart — 1982 — cancelled 2003
• Mark: Tee Topper — 1996 — cancelled 2004
• Mark: — 1984 until cancelled in 1992 — US Trademark site.

BUNNY — See UNCAS

BURCH, LAUREL — CA — 1960s — present

• Mark: Laurel — 1960s
• Mark: Laurel Burch in script — 1970s Photo courtesy Victoria James
• Mark: “Laurel Burch” with the name of the design underneath it (more recent designs)
• Laurel Burch died 9/13/07 at age 60 of a rare bone disease.

BURR, PATTERSON & CO. — Detroit, Michigan — c. 1909 — c. 1965

• Mark: Backwards “B” co-joined with “P” Photo courtesy Julie Levine
• Mark: “Script “B” sitting slightly a-top script “P”
• Ads in trade journals 1909, 1915, 1922. under Burr, Patterson & Co.
• Ads in trade journals 1931, 1943, 1965 under Burr, Patterson & Auld Co.
• Thanks to Jenny Stephens for calling our attention to this info from Rainwater.

BURROWS, SANDRA MILLER

• Mark: SMB Photo courtesy Pat Hamm.
• Contemporary designer who designed for Monet.
• Info courtesty Carol Spigner

BURT CASSELL, INC. — See CASSELL, BURT

B&W — See

BUTLER — See FIFTH AVENUE COLLECTION

BUTLER, NICKY

• • Mark: “NB”
  • Mark: Photo courtesy Lyn Peightal.
  • Handset stones in vintage-look jewelry. Sold independently and on HSN.
  • Partnered with Simon Wilson to form Butler & Wilson before branching out on his own.

Updated 3/25/2020 by Pamela Wiggins Siegel

BUTLER & WILSON — 1972 — present

• • Mark: Oblong cartouche with B&W, 1970 seen on early Sterling lizard.Info courtesy Suzanna Croshaw.
  • Mark: Butler & Wilson Photo courtesy Suzanna Croshaw.
  • Mark: Butler & Wilson Photo courtesy Suzanna Croshaw.
  • Mark: B&W, Made in England Photo courtesy Suzanna Croshaw.
  • Sphinx made jewelry for Butler & Wilson marked with both company names along with Sphinx internal inventory numbers.
  • Notes: Nicky Butler & Simon Wilson started making jewelry in 1972 when they opened their first store in London. Beginning in 1969, they sold antique and vintage jewelry at the Antiquarius market in Chelsea.
  • Partnership broke up in the 1980s, with Wilson continuing to run Butler & Wilson in England while Nicky Butler moved the the United States to open his own business.

Updated 3/25/2020 by Pamela Wiggins Siegel.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

PAT SEAL: research files
DOTTY STRINGFIELD: research files
BOBYE SYVERSON: research files.
A TRIBUTE TO AMERICA by Carla and Roberto Brunialti
AMERICAN COSTUME JEWELRY by Carla and Roberto Brunialti
AMERICAN JEWELRY MANUFACTURERS by Dorothy T. Rainwater
COLLECTIBLE COSTUME JEWELRY by Cherri Simonds
COLLECTING COSTUME JEWELRY 101 By Julia Carroll
COLLECTING COSTUME JEWELRY 202 By Julia Carroll
COLLECTING RHINESTONE COLORED JEWELRY by Maryanne Dolan
COPPER ART JEWELRY by Burkholz and Kaplan
COSTUME JEWELRY A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK AND GUIDE by Fred Rezazadeh
COSTUME JEWELRY (2nd Ed.) by Harrice Simons Miller
EUROPEAN DESIGNER JEWELRY by Ginger Moro
INSIDE THE JEWELRY BOX By Ann Pitman
LUCILLE TEMPESTA: owner-publisher of the Vintage Fashion & Costume Jewelry Magazine
MASTERPIECES OF COSTUME JEWELRY by Ball and Torem
MID-CENTURY PLASTIC JEWELRY By Susan Klein
MIRIAM HASKELL JEWELRY by Cathy Gordon and Sheila Pamfiloff
OLD JEWELRY by Jeanenne Bell
WARMAN’S JEWELRY 2nd Ed. by Christie Romero
WARMAN’S JEWELRY 3rd Ed. by Christie Romero
1922 TradeMarks of Jewelry & Kindred Trades
1934 Keystone Jewelry Trade Mark Book

*DISCLAIMER: As in the past, we make every effort to ensure all information contained in the RCJ pages is accurate. However, errors can occur. Neither the prior owner of RCJ, CJCI or its representatives are responsible for your use of these resources.

Copyright 1997 to present — www.costumejewelrycollectors.com — All Rights Reserved.
All RCJ publications and pages were created
by Dotty Stringfield with the assistance of research contributor Pat Seal
and other valued members of the costume jewelry collecting community.