The Weiss Jewelry Company was founded in New York in 1942 by a former Coro employee, Albert Weiss. The company flourished during the 1950s - 1960s period, offering high quality costume jewelry with Austrian rhinestones of exceptional quality and clarity. Vintage Weiss jewelry has somewhat traditional designs, including floral and figural jewelry. Weiss jewelry's beautiful rhinestone studded figural jewelry, such as Weiss butterflies and insects, is avidly sought by collectors. Also desirable is Weiss "black diamond" jewelry replicating the German smoky quartz, set in typical Weiss designs. Weiss jewelry, highly underrated and underpriced, is comparable to Eisenberg and Bogoff jewelry. Without a doubt, the Weiss jewelry company manufactured some of the most beautiful and appealing rhinestone jewelry of the post WWII era.
Tags may also be marked A.W. Co. with the large central letter W in shape of a crown. After Albert's retirement, his son Michael took over the company. The firm ceased operations in the early 1970s. ( 1 ), p. 156
Below are two fabulous vintage Weiss Black Diamond parures. The Black Diamond series was created by Albert Weiss in the 1950's. The ad that ran in Vogue reads "Especially created for the smart new smokey-toned fashions. Distinctive grey Austrian rhinestones accented with tiny shimmering crystals designed by the pace-setter of fine jewelry, Albert Weiss". Fine jewelry designers have revived this combination in genuine black and white diamonds.
[Click on the thumbnail for a larger, more detailed image.]
1950's Weiss Black Diamond Parure. This spectacular vintage Weiss jewelry parure consists of an adjustable length necklace, bracelet, brooch and earrings. All pieces signed WEISS. [The necklace has loss of rhodium-plating on the reverse, but not in the "design" area. This is not visible from the front and in no way detracts from the beauty or wearability of the piece. All other pieces are in like-new condition.] necklace: length (adjustable to): 17-1/2", width: 3/4", center design: width: 4-3/4", height: 1-3/8"; bracelet (safety chain): length: 7-1/8", width: 13/16"; brooch: diameter: 1-3/4"; earrings: width: 13/16", height: 1-1/4" [SOLD]
1950's Weiss Black Diamond Parure. Another spectacular vintage Weiss jewelry parure consisting of an adjustable length necklace, bracelet, brooch and earrings. All pieces signed WEISS. necklace: length (adjustable to): 17-1/2", width: 3/4", center design: width: 4-3/4", height: 1-3/8"; bracelet with safety chain (removed for photo): length: 7-1/8", width: 7/8"; brooch: length: 2", width: 1-1/4"; earrings: width: 3/4", height: 1-1/4" [set pictured on white] [set pictured with ad]
c. 1950's WEISS Flower Necklace and Clipback Earrings. Such a soft delicate shade of pale aqua glimmers in the iridescent cabochon ovals at the top of the flowers in this gold-plated flexible link necklace and in the drop of the pendant earrings. Pale faceted topaz ovals make up the balance of the flower petals. Emerald green navette accents for leaves and chaton cut rounds for flower centers. All stones pronged in. All pieces signed WEISS. necklace: adjustable to 15"; centerpiece: width: 5", length: 2-1/2"; earrings: width: 1", length: 2"
c. 1950's WEISS Butterfly Pin and Clipback Earrings. The dazzling light and dark sapphire blue, montana blue, and bright green rhinestones that color the wings of this gorgeous butterfly are outlined in sapphire blue round rhinestones and set in an antiqued gold-tone finish complimented with matching clipback earrings. All stones pronged in. earrings: width: 7/8", length: 1-1/4"; butterfly: wing span: 2-3/8", length: 2"
c. 1950's Weiss Scimitar/Sword Brooch. A dazzling rose rivoli glass stone is prong set at the base of the hilt on this awesome colorful gold-plated scimitar brooch made up of prong set oval, pear-shape, square, baguette and round rhinestones as well as paste set light sapphire blue rhinestones on the hilt. Signed WEISS on reverse. [Some wear to plating on reverse.] length: 3-7/8", width: 1-1/2"
c. 1960's WEISS Purple and Rose Diamond-Shaped Brooch from the "India Inspired" Collection. A central purple/blue round is accented by deep rose tear-drop shaped rhinestones criss-crossed with bands of paste set clear round rhinestones alternating with large purple round rhinestones and small deep rose round rhinestones in a Japanned setting, reverse of setting is gold- and silver-tone. [Barely discernable is a chip off one of the tear-drop shaped stones.] diameter: 1-3/4" [SOLD]
c. 1960's WEISS Rose and Puple Rhinestone Brooch from the "India Inspired" Collection. Brilliant purple navettes, tear-drop shaped and round rhinestones are set off with deep rose tear-drop and round rhinestones in this superb c. 1950's WEISS gold-tone pinwheel brooch. All stones pronged in. diameter: 2-11/16" [SOLD]
WEISS Double Strawberry Pin. Weiss double strawberry pin with pink aurora borealis bodies topped with emerald green rhinestone leaves on gun-metal grey stems. Signed WEISS on reverse on oval plaque. width: 1-5/8", height: 1-5/8" [SOLD]
c. 1950's Weiss Bracelet. Two rows of pronged-in round rhinestones in the palest lavender flank the center panel of this c. 1950's rhodium-plated silvertone Weiss bracelet. The center panel has altenating rows of lavender navettes and rounds and is flanked on the top and bottom by three curlicues pavéd with pale yellow round rhinestones. Fold over clasp. length: 7-1/4", width (center panel): 1"
c. 1950’s WEISS Gold-plated Pin and Clipback Earrings. Sparkly pronged-in topaz colored navette and round rhinestones accented with sprays of pave clear round rhinestones and a larger pronged-in clear round rhinestone define the design of this Weiss vintage gold-plated pin and clipback earring jewelry set. Signed WEISS on all pieces. earrings: diameter: 1-1/4“; pin: width: 1-3/4“, height: 2“ [SOLD]
c. 1950's WEISS Clamper Bracelet. This c. 1950's WEISS clamper bracelet has a wonderful striated wine colored celluloid studded with gold/topaz colored round and oval rhinestones. Signed WEISS on inside hinge. interior circumference: 6-1/2", width: 13/16" [SOLD]
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