Materials and Features:

• x66 prong set white milk glass cabochons

• Gold-tone cup chain necklace

• Simple yet elegant early Coro design

Type: Fold-over clasp

Age/Origin: 1940’s

Marks: Coro (earlier Coro script, to clasp)

The Story: The Coro Jewelry Company was established in 1901, by partners Emanuel Cohen and Gerald Rosenberg, and the company’s first name was Cohen and Rosenberg. In 1943, Cohen and Rosenberg incorporated and the company’s named changed to Coro (“Co” for the first two letters in Cohen’s name and “ro” for the first two in Rosenberg’s name.)

Coro produced jewelry in the United States until 1979, then the company operated in Canada until about 1998.

Coro was a successful company, in part because Cohen and Rosenberg worked with highly skilled designers to finesse the designs, and an army of workers who actually produced the jewelry. By the 1920s, Coro jewelry was sold in dime stores all over the country.

Unique pieces from this era include the Coro jelly belly pins, which were figural pins depicting many animals, all with a clear acrylic center stone (resembling a jelly bean) placed in the creature’s belly. (Trifari produced jelly bean pins first, Coro later.)

In 1937, the Coro company began producing jewelry signed Coro Craft and in 1944 the company started its Vendôme line (named after the city in France). These two lines were considered higher-end Coro lines. A designer named Helen Marion created beautiful Vendôme pieces featuring crystals, which were particularly popular. For the most part, Coro pieces that are in excellent condition and in the original box are the best investment for collectors. Also very collectible are the Coro Duettes and jelly belly pins (although not any pieces described as recast, as these are modern reproductions of jelly belly pins). All Coro figural pins, in general, are highly collectible.

Measurements:

• Weight: 17g

• Dimensions: Approx. 15” end to end, just under .25” wide

Condition: Good condition, some wear to gold