Vintage Monet jewellery

 Vintage Monet Jewelry information and Monocraft history

Just vintage Monet jewellery or Monocraft accessories information and photographs. Part of our research on the many jewellery companies across the world. This US company started out in the 1920s and although has changed ownership several times in its long history, it is still in production today.  It is famous for its high quality, fashionable and well made finishes. Ideal to collect and wear.

First established by two brothers - Michael and Joseph Chernow under the name Monocraft. They originally produced monogrammed car emblems. Now rare to find and of course very collectible. Monocraft originally capitalized on the monogram craze by having monogrammed keyrings, bag labels and ultimately jewellery. They then continued after the great depression in the 1930s, to not only produced jewellery but other accessories that could be monogrammed. Continuing its tradition of producing good quality and classical pieces that have stood the test of time. Monet is still a brand that is ideal to wear on many occasions.

All the Monet jewellery pieces that we have showcased here are sourced here in the UK by us. Then photograph each piece of jewellery ourselves. This makes our blog post unique as many blogs we have seen just take photographs from on the web. 

Monet stamped vintage jewellery box with logo

Signature Monet on the reverse of a brooch. Complete with their copyright  

A Monet brooch in bright polished gold-tone. Circa 1990s

Another Monet signature stamped in the back of an earring

Monet with copyright in block capitals on the back of a clipped earring.

Copyright sign with Monet in capitals on the back of a brooch

Monet vintage earrings complete in a Perspex jewellery box. Note the Monet logo on the front.

Nickel free earrings and allergy reactions explained

Nickel-free earrings & allergic reactions explained.

Many people nowadays have a reaction to nickel and wish to buy nickel-free earrings. Allergy and allergic reactions seem to have increased. An allergic reaction happens when a certain chemical comes into contact with your skin or is ingested and causes an inflammatory negative process it may happen on your skin, internally or systematic. Unfortunately, because most of our components for earrings comes from China and Asian countries - we no longer have any control over what metals or chemicals are being used.

Some gold, silver (silverplate or sterling silver, 925 silver) and platinum can also contain nickel.
Vintage and pre-owned from the 1990s may also contain nickel.

Nickel, nickel, nickel seems to be in many things.

Unfortunately, even if the jewellery makers strive to have nickel-free stuff - the Chinese or Asian supplier will use whatever is the cheapest and swear its nickel free. What are the jewellery makers going to do? If enough people complain they will stop buying from that supplier. But the Chinese/Asians will find someone else unbeknown to sell to as nickel free. Maybe if we brought the manufacturing industry back to the UK with our stricter controls that would be more useful?

Hypo-allergenic earrings. Well that's okay but they still may contain nickel and what are the allergens these earrings aimed at? Some people are allergic to enamel, silver, gold, even the nail varnish some use to coat the earring backs to make them less irritating.

Myself  I am allergic to many things. I have a gold ring that I can only wear for a short while as it makes my finger red and itchy. I am also allergic to cucumber which I can eat. But put on my face and red wheels appear. Not that cucumber has anything to do with nickel free earrings. That is life my friends....

Here are some photographs of our earring unfortunately not guaranteed nickel free, because of their age.

Blue plastic earrings with post backs

Monet made earrings that are nickel free

Genuine jewellery we have in our collection

Recently added genuine jewellery we have in our collection. We have pretty sparkling vintage brooches ready for the party season and more demure vintage necklaces. Just have a look at some of the gorgeous antique and vintage jewellery pieces we now have available.

Amber, citrine and clear aurora borealis coloured rhinestones used in this sparkling vintage brooch by Jewel Craft.

Not vintage but an antique brooch with fabulous sparkling Austrian faceted stones. Crescent moon shaped with a brass setting.

Superb large Monet green diamante brooch. Love this one as its so bold with its Maltese Cross design.

Looking for something special? Then this vintage necklace from Castlecliff and Larry Vrba is just perfect. Large and very striking. Vintage jewellery that deserves to be worn.

A multi bead necklace that is so vintage in style. 1950s jewellery that has some great unique vintage plastic beads from Hong Kong.

How about a 1970s medallion necklace with Atlas holding up the earth on it. Greek inspired by the ancient Gods of old.

1970s blue and green abalone shell pendant necklace by Exquisite. Long chain with a diamond shaped pendant. This is just a little that we have added to Jewels & Finery recently. Our aim is for between 30 and 50 unique pieces of vintage jewellery each week. Not forgetting that we have new and previously owned jewellery as well.

A Barcs brooch from Australia and links to Monet

This morning we were adding a very stylish vintage enamel brooch from the Australian company Barcs. This brooch is inspired by the Art Deco period but was produced in the 1980s. Enameled in black with a blue center onto a gold tone setting. This nice quality brooch however is very similar to a Monet brooch that was made and is part of a jewellery set release during the 80s.
Many vintage brooches and even some of today's jewellery are made by what are called "jobber companies", who then sell the product to other companies who then add their signature to them. Also some well known companies will sell their designs or even the actual jewellery to other well known companies who then sell it under their own name. Just interesting to spot the different brooches and jewellery that are essentially the same design but have a different signature on.

Barcs vintage enamel brooch circa 1980s.

This is a scan of the page number 267 of "Monet the master jewellers" by Alice Vega (A must buy for any vintage jewellery addict) The similar brooch  is in cream, black and red enamel where as the Barcs brooch is in black and blue enamel. Now just wondering is there a whole set by Barcs in black and blue?

Monet The Master Jewelers by Alice Vega

A new book is just out on Monet jewellery. Monet The Master Jewelers by Alice Vega was first published a couple of weeks ago and is not one to miss. A large and heavy book filled with the history of Monet or previously Monocraft jewellery. Adverts that date Monet jewellery and plenty of pieces arranged in decades until the eighties.

The company may have started in 1927 as an initials business, producing the monograms that were a popular trend of the 1920s & 1930s for initially cars. The Great Depression, saw them move to handbags as few could afford cars. Expanding their business into jewellery, the company went from Monocraft to Monet in 1937. They produced a YSL line in the 1980s and in the 1990s manufactured the Christian Lacroix line. In 1996 saving the company from bankruptcy, Liz Clairebourne company took over. Still having a name for quality and style Monet continues to expand  today
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Great book on jewellery, well written and researched and contains page after page of jewellery, definitely one to buy and keep in your reference library.

Here are just a few of the Monet jewellery pieces that are available on Jewels and Finery at the moment.
 

Monet jewellery set of a swirl brooch and matching earrings

We do have many other pieces in stock that we add every week onto the website.