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Kenneth Jay Lane Stud Earrings

American, 1932-2017

The father of so-called “fabulous fakes,” Kenneth Jay Lane was a spirited innovator within the jewelry industry, designing elegant and luxurious pieces without the use of real jewels. And while Lane aspired to create classic designs for earrings, bracelets and necklaces intended for everyday wear, his pieces caught the attention of celebrities, royalty and socialites.

From a young age, the Detroit, Michigan-born Lane was a lover of fashion. He studied at the Rhode Island School of Design and the University of Michigan. He pursued a design career in New York City, and a failed start in the art department of Vogue magazine led to a decade of designing shoes for the likes of Delman and Christian Dior.

Lane would occasionally develop shoe designs for friends he had in the fashion world such as Bill Blass and Arnold Scaasi. A show for the latter afforded him the opportunity to beautify shoes with rhinestones and create bangles and earrings to pair with the footwear — he found plastic bracelets at discount variety store and had them embellished by craftspeople at a shoe factory.

A love for costume jewelry design emerged thereafter. Lane created his own collection and admirers such as Jackie Kennedy and Elizabeth Taylor showered him with praise. A pearl necklace he designed was worn by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. In the early 1960s, ready-to-wear pioneer Hattie Carnegie purchased Lane’s jewelry line. Lane was given the position of design director for Carnegie but he soon changed course, moving instead into a small studio and pursuing his own path.

Lane worked with milk glass, gilded silver hardware, faux coral and other materials, and sold pendant necklaces, dangle earrings and modern bracelets to private customers. He was fond of renowned fine jewelry houses Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels and designers such as Jean Schlumberger, and cited having found inspiration in Egyptian and Indian jewelry over the years as well as Art Deco jewelry. Lane’s designs, which he called “faque” and “junque,” became well-known for their distinctive color combinations and clever characteristics such as embroidery. By the time he purchased a small jewelry factory in Providence, Rhode Island, where his accessories would be made during the 1960s, Lane had secured relationships with top Manhattan boutiques and his work had caught the attention of fashion magazines.

Directed by the filmmaker Gisèle Roman, a 2018 documentary about Lane’s life and work called Fabulously Fake: The Real Life of Kenneth Jay Lane features interviews with legendary fashion designers Carolina Herrera, Tory Burch and Diane von Furstenberg.

On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage Kenneth Jay Lane brooches, rings and other accessories.

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Jewelry Type: Fashion Jewelry
Creator: Kenneth Jay Lane
Kenneth Jay Lane Gold CZ Crystal Butterfly Flower Earrings, Contemporary
By Kenneth Jay Lane
Located in Milford, DE
Add a little natural beauty to your outfit with these sparkling flower and butterfly earrings! Gold plated button earrings by Kenneth Jay Lane. Light rose, amethyst, and peridot cub...
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21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Kenneth Jay Lane Stud Earrings

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Kenneth Jay Lane Whimsical Multi-Color "Starfish" Earrings
By Kenneth Jay Lane
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Kenneth Jay Lane wonderfully whimsical multi-color "Starfish" earrings of faux pearls, faux rubies, and faux emerald, surrounded with turquoise-hue enamel and set i...
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1970s American Baroque Revival Vintage Kenneth Jay Lane Stud Earrings

Kenneth Jay Lane Etched Gilded Gold Vermeil Hardware "Studded Pretzel" Earrings
By Kenneth Jay Lane
Located in New York, NY
Kenneth Jay Lane wonderfully elegant etched gilded gold vermeil hardware "studded Pretzel" earrings measures 1 1/4 inches in length. Width measures 7/8 inch, with a depth of 6...
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1980s American Baroque Vintage Kenneth Jay Lane Stud Earrings

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Kenneth Jay Lane stud earrings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a range of Kenneth Jay Lane stud earrings available on 1stDibs. Each of these unique items was designed with extraordinary care, often using yellow gold. While looking for the most stylish antique or vintage Kenneth Jay Lane jewelry to pair with your ensemble, you’ll find that Kenneth Jay Lane zircon stud earrings, from our inventory of 1, can add a particularly distinctive touch to your look. We have 3 pieces in this collection as well as a number of other designs by this jeweler. While this collection reflects work that originated over various time periods, most of these items were designed during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider stud earrings by AB Jewelry NYC, Lili Jewelry, and Leon Mege. Prices for Kenneth Jay Lane stud earrings can differ depending upon gemstone, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $265 and tops out at $585, while pieces like these, on average, can sell for $585.
Questions About Kenneth Jay Lane Stud Earrings
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    The impeccable costume jewelry by designer Kenneth Jay Lane, known as the “Master of Faking It,” has been made in the USA and abroad. During Lane’s early years, much of his domestic-made jewelry was produced in New York and Rhode Island, while other designs were made in factories in Asia. Some of Lane’s imported jewelry pieces are stamped with Thailand or China as the country of origin. Shop a selection of Kenneth Jay Lane jewelry from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

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