Monet Jewelry

The Evolutionary Monet Jewelry

The art deco movement reigned supreme during the 1920s until the 1930s. During this time, fashionistas were clamoring for geometric shaped accessories and adornments as a way of saying to the world that they were “modern” women who weren’t afraid to wear their opulent jewelry, like a badge of honor, in public. The more attention grabbing the jewelry was the better, thanks to the trend popularized by fashion designers from all over the world.

In 1927, siblings Michael and Jay Chernow began a small company called Monocraft Products Company in Providence, Rhode Island. Their first products were handbags with monogrammed appliqués made out of gold toned metal that utilized the then popular art deco designs. It wasn’t until two years later when they decided to branch out in costume jewelry-the niche that would make them household names-which they would market under the name Monet in 1937. One could say that it was a case of taking on a lucrative venture at the right time since costume jewelries were a hit in the market thanks to designers like Coco Chanel and other artists who started experimenting on making more wearable art.

To set themselves apart from the growing number of costume jewelry manufacturers, Monet jewelry focused on making their original designs as intricate as possible. Jewelry with open metalwork designs, in particular, was one of their fortes. As the company started to develop their trademark style, they also added a mark, which bore their company logo to each and every piece that came out of their label, increasing the value of their product further in the market because of its exclusivity.

The designs of the succeeding Monet pieces varied as the fashion trends shifted over time, yet they never veered away from their trademark fusion of intricate and elaborate designs. Depending on the prevailing fashion trend of an era, Monet would usually take on that trend but included their innovative spin to it to set it apart from the rest. One such example of their innovations was the development of earring clips that could be worn by both pierced and non-pierced ears without causing its wearers any discomfort. The barrel clasp/clutch and the friction ear clip solved the dilemmas of many women who only wanted to enjoy wearing beautiful earrings.

Today Monet continues to be a brand name that’s closely associated with high quality costume jewelry. Whether you’re looking for something simple or ornate, vintage or contemporary, Monet jewelry will definitely have a jewelry piece that’s perfect for you.