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Coro Sterling Vermeil Turtle Duette NWS 1-1488 ~ It just doesn't get any better than this. Jewelry at its most fun, most whimsical, it brings out the child in all of us. This diamond speckled pair of turtles will bring a smile to everyone who sees you wearing them. ~ During World War II, costume jewelry designers were obliged to use sterling silver for their jewelry, as all other metals had been restricted for the war effort. These adorable turtles have been plated with a soft gold vermeil. As I inspect this gold plating with a jeweler's loop, I can see no loss to the vermeil. There is minor wear in tiny spots on the reverse, proper for the age of this piece. ~ The necks and edges of the turtle shells have been set with dozens of faceted, faux diamonds. And both turtles have faux emerald eyes. ~ Their Lucite jelly belies are sprinkled with more faceted, faux diamonds. Just so adorable! ~ Of course, this is called a Duette. That means that the turtles are held together with a mechanism on the back, so the pair can be worn as one brooch. If you remove the mechanism, the turtles come apart, and can be worn separately. Each one has its own fur pin clip on the back. ~ This famous Turtle Duette measures just slightly under 2" wide and 1.85" high. ~ Signed on the reverse "Coro Duette"and also marked "Pat. No. 1798867". This is the patent for the Duette mechanism, filed May 31, 1930. Coro actually invented this Duette design concept. (Trifari copied the idea when they introduced their "Clip Mates" shortly after). Each turtle is marked "STERLING" on the fur clip. The actual design patent no. 141,073 for the Turtle Duette is shown above. c. 1945, in excellent condition, with almost no wear to the vermeil, a famous piece! Research: Featured in the book, American Costume Jewelry, by Brunialti & Brunialti, p. 169-170. Designer Adolph Katz, dated 1945. Fun Jewelry, by N. Schiffer, p. 20. Price = $655.00 q-z 3Safe Shopping Guarantee b5, jb, a-c2 Who was Trifari? |
