Pearl Elegance - Vintage Signed 'Sarah Coventry' Silver Tone Pearl Crystal Rhinestone Brooch (VBR314)

Pearl Elegance - Vintage Signed 'Sara Coventry' Silver Tone Pearl Crystal Rhinestone Brooch. This Vintage brooch is crafted from a silver toned metal, signed Sarah Cov, Canada. Featuring numerous pearls,(simulated), numerous crystal rhinestones, Vintage styling, and quality craftsmanship. The brooch is designed in a circular shape, which is adorned by lustrous white pearls, and sparkling crystal rhinestones. The back of the brooch features a pin, and rotary lock mechanism in perfect working order. This signed Vintage brooch is in superb condition, and would make a wonderful gift or addition to any Vintage collection.

History: Two forms of faux pearls were manufactured in Italy, the earliest, produced from at least the 13th century, and hailing from the ingenious glass workshops of Venice, were imitation glass pearls. Some of these pearls were apparently made from an intriguing mixture of powdered glass, snail slime and egg white.

Centuries ago, quartz pebbles with a high lead content were found sparkling on the banks of Europe's Rhine River. These beautiful, natural stones were highly coveted and were eventually depleted, inspiring jewelers to create an imitation, aptly named the "rhinestone."

Rhinestones aka Diamantes, Crystals, Flat Backs or Strass in many European countries, or even Paste as the original methods imply, go back to the 1200s where they were first made from Czechoslovakian or Bohemian hand blown glass.

Joseph Strasser could be credited with the precursor to our present-day Rhinestone, but it was really when Georg Freidrich Strass in 1760 invented the first ever rhinestone (artificial gemstone) from a special type of crystal found in the Rhine River that the stones we know today were born.

Sarah Coventry jewelry was named after the granddaughter of Lyman K. Stuart, the founder of the company. Established in 1949, thousands of women and some men were recruited to sell jewelry at Sarah Coventry home jewelry parties. It is recognized as the oldest direct selling jewelry company in the world.

Jewelry production stopped in the early 1980s, only to begin again in the early 2000s. Early Sarah Coventry jewelry was marked “Coventry”. Other marks used were “Sarah Coventry”, “SC”, “Sarah”, “Sarah Cov”, and “SAC”.

Measurements: Brooch 35.50 mm x 35.50 mm

Stone Size: Pearl (Simulated) 5.50 mm - 5.20 mm - 4.80 mm.  Crystal Rhinestones 2.00 mm each 

Weight: grams 19.50 grams 

Condition: Excellent 

Origin: America , New York , Rhode Island     Canada: This piece was made specifically for Canada. 

DateL Circa 1980