JEWELCRAFT by CORO Champagne Goldtone Matching Necklace & Bracelet Set order with Faux Pearl Flowers, Vintage 1950s

Here is a gorgeous example of the work of the British arm of the highly successful US brand 'Coro' - a choker chain necklace with ornate leafy links embellished with little faux pearl flowers all the way along. The chains either side are the narrow bar and ring type with a short extender chain at the end for length choice. My last photo shows the longest length this can be worn at. It also carries one of the more common Jewelcraft hangtags - a little grooved peardrop, one of their earlier ones. This was used on many, many of their designs, and crops up regularly on Etsy and E-bay, although it's not the most recognisable shape.

This necklace measures up to 42cms (16 1/2") long due to the extender chain, and the central bib section of embellished links measures 18cms long (7") and fastens with the usual hook.

The matching bracelet to go with this, in the same design but with a double row of leaves going across diagonally. This measures 18cms long (7") and has a hinged clasp showing the Jewelcraft signature on the reverse. There is a little wear to the backs of the links in both the necklace and the bracelet, but this is pretty much normal for Jewelcraft pieces that are 50-60 years old. It's not visiible from the front and this set still looks fantastic !!

This is an absolutely fabulous little vintage set - it's SO pretty !! Just perfect for your order vintage 1950s themed wedding perhaps, and certainly good for any 1960s outfit, but also it looks just as good with modern outfits too as you can see from my photos.


CORO – COROCRAFT / JEWELCRAFT
Both Jewelcraft and Corocraft were the names used by US company Coro. In the sixties, they were the biggest selling company of costume jewellery in the UK.
Emanuel Cohn, a New York business man founded the Coro empire in around 1902 and called it E Cohn & Company. In 1904 Carl Rosenberger became a partner and the firm was renamed Cohn and Rosenberger.

The new company produced findings for several items including sautoirs and collar pins. In 1911 the original owner, Emanuel Cohn died, and his family sold their share to his partner Carl. Carl Rosenberger was responsible for the growth of the company, and by combining his and Cohn's name the new name of 'Coro' was born. Steady growth continued under his guidance. A factory was opened in New York and the line of items produced expanded. The name Coro was officially used for the first time in 1943. The company went on to become the largest costume jewellery manufacturer in the world.

From 1933, Coro planned to sell jewellery across Europe from Sussex, but firstly had to fight a famous court case with Ciro Pearls. Ciro (a UK company) did not want the US company to use the name 'Coro'. It was too similar, but eventually, after years of wrangling Coro agreed to use only the name 'Corocraft' & 'Jewelcraft' in the UK. So in 1948 production of Corocraft finally got started. Corocraft was Coro's high-end range. Many pieces were in sterling silver with a gold plate, particularly during WW2 and in the 1950s, when other metals were in short supply.
Surprisingly there are less signed Corocraft pieces here. Mostly because they were produced unsigned and distributed on cards or boxes with the logo on.

'Jewelcraft' branding by Coro had started in the 1920s in the US. By the 1950s, it was produced in England, and was sometimes signed "made in England". Jewelcraft jewellery was produced in matching ranges that were made to be worn together, and frequently the bracelets, brooches and earrings would be signed, but not the necklaces. It has to be said, the gold-coloured plating on the Jewelcraft pieces has not stood the test of time. Many of the pieces are showing rubbing to the plating, particularly on the back of the panels or on the chain fastening.