Monet Jewelry

Monet is the quiet achiever of American costume jewelry. Brothers Michael and Jay Chernow founded Monocraft in 1927 to make monogram pins and handbag initials, and in 1937 they introduced the Monet name for a line of jewelry built on one idea: heavy, well-finished metalwork that looked and felt like gold. While other houses chased rhinestones, Monet perfected plating, hinge mechanisms and the comfortable ear clip, patenting a friction back that many wearers still prefer to anything made today.

Dating Monet is mostly a matter of mark and construction. Wartime pieces are stamped Monet Sterling. The copyright symbol appears from 1955 onward. A registered trademark symbol and hang tags belong to later decades, and a foreign country of origin places a piece after the brand changed hands. Catalogues matter here, because Monet reused signature styles for many seasons and rarely patented designs.

Collectors look for bright, unworn plating, textured and brushed finishes from the 1960s and 1970s, chunky 1980s chains, and sleek silver tone pieces. Monet is an easy brand to wear every day, which is partly why it survives in such good condition. If you like Monet's polished metal, look at the charm bracelets and chains in our Napier collection, its closest rival in the goldsmith tradition.