Costume Jewelry Online

Eisenberg Costume Jewelry

Eisenberg is one of the costume jewelry giants. From Eisenberg Originals in the early 1900s all the way through to today's Eisenberg Ice, the jewelry dazzles the senses.

Let's learn a little about the history of Eisenberg, then find out how to get some of the glorious costume jewelry.

Brief History of Eisenberg Jewelry

Eisenberg Ice Christmas Tree Pin (Click for larger image)

It all started back in 1914, when Jonas Eisenberg founded the company in Chicago. And believe it or not, the company didn't make jewelry! Instead, they made women's clothing; the jewelry was just to use for the store displays.

Soon enough, as the story goes, ladies were clamoring not for the clothes but for the jewelry. That's when the folks at Eisenberg decided that there was something to this costume jewelry business, and Sam Eisenberg (Jonas's son) ran with it. The rest is history!

Since those humble beginnings, Eisenberg has spent many years making classic costume jewelry. When other companies like Coro and Hollycraft closed their doors due to changing consumer tastes, Eisenberg hung in there. And still produces wonderful jewelry today!

Eisenberg Jewelry Marks

You need to be aware of the marks and their approximate dates, because with so many years in business it's sometimes hard to keep up with them. The most important marks to know about are the marks for Eisenberg Ice. Why?

From about 1945 through 1958, much of the jewelry was signed Eisenberg Ice in block letters. Then fast-forward to 1985, and Eisenberg Ice was used again -- only this time in script letters and having a copyright symbol.

So just because the mark says Eisenberg Ice, don't assume it's the 1945-1958 mark. Know before you bid or buy!

The various Eisenberg marks include:

"Eisenberg Originals" 1935 through 1945.
"E" in block or script, 1943 through 1945. This is extremely rare.
"Eisenberg Sterling", "Eisenberg Original Sterling", 1941 through 1945.
"Eisenberg", "Eisenberg Ice" in block letters with no copyright symbol, 1945 through 1958. "Eisenberg Ice" was occasionally also used up into the 1970s, although most jewelry in that era was marked with a hangtag.
"Eisenberg Ice" in script letters with a copyright symbol, 1985 through to present.

This isn't all the marks, but they are the ones you will run across the most often.

What to Look for in Eisenberg Costume Jewelry

Eisenberg is famous for their "icing" -- the generous use of small rhinestones to create a cascade of shimmering light. Although Eisenberg made some relatively unadorned jewelry, it's their rhinestone costume jewelry that is so wonderful.

Also look for their Christmas tree pins, which are also lovely (and very popular). The company has re-released some of their older designs, so check the mark to see if you're getting a recent version or the original version.

If you can find them, as they are kind of rare, look for some of the fabulous enameled jewelry they made back in the 1970s. Painstakingly created, they are exquisite examples of what enameled jewelry should really look like. (Part of the reason it's rare is that Eisenberg didn't mark a lot of their jewelry in the 1970s.)

And finally, Eisenberg is also very well known for their glorious fur clips; if you find one in good condition at a reasonable price, grab it!

Well, now it's time to take a peek at the wonderful world of Eisenberg jewelry! As always, click on the link for more details and a larger picture. Have fun!