Couture Elegance - Vintage Signed 'Coro' Gold Plated Crystal Rhinestone Necklace (VN175)

Couture Elegance - Vintage Signed 'Coro' Gold Plated Crystal Rhinestone Necklace. This lovely necklace is crafted from gold plate over metal. The necklace features marquise, and round cut crystal rhinestones, vintage styling, Coro signature, and quality craftsmanship.  The gallery on this necklace is made up of gold ribbons, which are adorned by sparkling clear crystal rhinestones. The chain is a sturdy curb link style, which features a secure spring ring clasp, in perfect working order. The gold is a rich buttery gold color, which stands out against the skin and looks beautiful when worn. This vintage necklace would make a perfect bridal or special occasion piece.

History: 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.

Gold-plated jewelry is a type of metal jewelry covered with a very thin layer of real gold. The process was invented in 1805 by Italian chemist Luigi Brugnatelli who plated a very thin gold layer on top of silver.

History: Coro jewelry, Cohn & Rosenberger, was founded in New York by Emanuel Cohn and Carl Rosenberger in 1901/1902 and incorporated in 1913. A factory was established in Providence, Rhode Island in 1911. With offices or plants in New York and Providence, at times they had a presence in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Toronto, England and Mexico as well. Great Britain mechanical patents have been found in the name of Corocraft from 1961 until 1969, which documents actual production in England (courtesy Mary Walden-Till).

Cohn died in 1910, but the name remained Cohn & Rosenberger. The corporate name “Coro” was adopted in 1943. Rosenberger died in 1957, and his son Gerald, who succeeded him, died in 1967.

In 1969, the family sold 51 percent of the Coro stock to Richton, Intl. Corp., who bought the remaining stock in 1970. Richton also owned the Oscar de la Renta brand. By 1979 all the Coro companies, except the Canadian company, were bankrupt. It was sold to a South American company in 1992 and also went bankrupt.

Gene Verri, who died in 2012, was the head designer and personally responsible for many, many of Coro’s famous designs. Adolph Katz signed many of the patents only as a representative of the company, but he was not the designer of those pieces. Information confirmed by Ron Verri, Gene’s son, in September, 2005.

Measurements: Necklace 14 3/4"      Note: An extender can be added for additional length if needed. 

Stone Size: Crystal Rhinestones (Marquise) 10.00 mm x 5.00 mm   (Round) 3.00 mm - 2.00 mm - 1.50 mm 

Weight: 17.00 grams 

Condition: Very Good   Note: Very slight signs of wear. 

Origin: America, New York, Providence Rhode Island 

Date: Circa 1950