It was in the twenties and thirties that the idea of novelty or “fun” jewelry began to catch on, and what better material to create this exciting new trend than plastic. It is was lightweight and inexpensive and very colorful. Prior to the 1920’s jewelry was made with celluloid which is an early semi-synthetic plastic that was used as Read the rest of this entry »

          What is a gem? A gem is a stone that is created by natural forces. Gems are traditionally categorized into “precious” or “semi-precious” groups. However, technically the term “semi-precious” is becoming obsolete because gems are viewed as precious depending on an individuals taste. However, Read the rest of this entry »

David Hall McConnell formed the Avon Company as a Perfume Company in New York in 1885. He was a successful door-to-door salesman and direct marketing was the key to his success.  By 1920, sales had topped $1,000,000.  It wasn’t until 1928 that McConnell named the company Avon after William Shakespeare’s home “Stratford-upon-Avon, England. Not until 1965 did Avon’s jewelry line emerge and it began with a stylish locket called Solid Perfume Jewel Pin. The jewelry caught on and soon rings, and more pendants were added to the collection.  Read the rest of this entry »

Miriam Haskell was born July 2, 1899 and came to be a gentle and soft spoken woman. At the same time, she was also a shrewd and talented business woman. During the 1930’s and 1940’s she was known throughout the world as the “First Lady of Fashion”. She was also known to many and especially to her nephew as “Miss Generosity”. She spent a great deal of money during Read the rest of this entry »