If you are a fan of old jewelry with rich history, then the Vintage Sarah Coventry Jewelry is your best choice. These jewelry pieces have been around for donkey years and are a staple among socialites.
In 1964, the Sarah Coventry Company sold 65 million pieces of jewelry worldwide and closed at $24 million. An average of 35,000 samples were sold per day, a truly remarkable period for the jewelry company.
Here answers are all you’ll find, ranging from questions like how to identify, purchase and even take care of your Vintage Sarah Coventry jewelry.
Table of Contents
Brief History of Vintage Sarah Coventry Jewelry
The Sarah Coventry jewelry line was established by Charles H Stuart of Emmons home fashion in November 1949. He christened the brand after his granddaughter Sarah and his ancestral hometown of Coventry, England.
The company operating headquarters was in New York City. Later, the brand expanded its offices and commenced sales in other cities like the United Kingdom, Australia, and Belgium in Europe.
Charles adopted a completely different trajectory from the usual retail outlet to sell his item. He got interested individuals to set up home parties and mini fashion shows where everyone could try on this jewelry and pick a favorite.
This idea increased interest in jewelry purchases and provided employment opportunities for women who lost most of their jobs to men who had just returned from WWII. It was an easier means of making money while still maintaining the home front and tending to their children.
Charles provided the hosts with free demo kits, a solid training process, and a limited edition of the latest jewelry collections to increase engagement. He marketed them at pageants and game shows, where he gave winners pieces from his collection.
The ripple effect of this move was more popularity, sales, and recognition for his brand from far and wide. Charles was indeed a true businessman, and he exhausted all his vast knowledge on promoting his products.
From 1970-1980, the company also made wristwatches for women. They were quartz-controlled and ranged from two-tone colors with wire handles to simple gold cast handles and a small diamond indicating the 12th
The company had an impressive run till it sold to a Chicago outfit in 1984 owing largely to threats of bankruptcy. However, the Sarah Coventry resumed production in 2003 and created contemporary versions of its vintage pieces.
Sarah Coventry sold these recreated pieces online, at home parties and in stores. A final decline happened circa 2008, the company could no longer hold the momentum it had in its early days, and the brand ended production for the last time.
How Were Sarah Coventry Jewelries Designed?
The company created a variety of jewelry from brooches to necklaces, bracelets, rings, pendants, and jewelry sets. These pieces had catchy names and characters to them. There’s a Sarah Coventry Jewelry for everybody, every mood and personality.
However, Sarah Coventry didn’t create these designs by themselves. Instead, they chose designs from budding designers and freelancers who understood what the brand represents. This idea made it easy for the company to make relatable pieces everyone could afford.
From simple to extravagant designs infused in a Baroque style, vintage Sarah Coventry jewelry imitates nature and ethnic forms. The company adopted a catchy phrase For the woman who dares to be different to buttress its purpose.
Materials such as metal, artificial and semi-precious gems, plastics, original cut rhinestones, and glass are major components used to produce these pieces rather than small clusters of stones used to make the typical costume jewelry at that time.
Sometimes, designers of Sarah Coventry’s pieces include famous artworks such as the Mona Lisa into their templates to fit into contemporary art requirements and reach a broader range of customers.
How to Identify Vintage Sarah Coventry Jewelry
The Sarah Coventry company created a vast range of jewelry. Here’s a list of some famous Sarah Coventry’s most popular collections with their prices and how to identify them.
The prices on these items are subject to change as they were sourced from different auction websites, online antique stores, and flea markets.
No. |
Name |
Release Date |
Price |
1 |
The Jade Garden Collection |
1966-1969 |
$21.00 |
2 |
The Folklore Collection |
1971-1973 |
$44.99 |
3 |
The Crusader Cross Collection |
1941-1975 |
$15.50 |
4 |
The Tropicana Collection |
1960-1964 |
$19.20 |
5 |
The Remembrance Collection |
1968 |
$30.00 |
6 |
The Promise Collection |
1968-1972 |
$14.00 |
7 |
The Ember Flower Collection |
1972 |
$23.99 |
8 |
The Black Beauty Collection |
1967 |
$15.00 |
9 |
The Imperial Collection |
1974 |
$29.51 |
10 |
The Royal Ballet Collection |
1960 |
$65.00 |
11 |
The Windfall Collection |
1958-1962 |
$12.99 |
12 |
The Strawberry Collection |
1968-1974 |
$20.00 |
13 |
The Pearl Bloom Collection |
1960-1962 |
$16.00 |
14 |
The Adam’s Delight Collection |
1960-1962 |
$20.00 |
15 |
THE SARAH’S A.B.B. S COLLECTION |
1959-1975 |
$4.95 |
16 |
The Golden Cherries Collection |
1970-1974 |
$29.00 |
17 |
The Whispering Leaf Collection |
1966-1968 |
$15.00 |
18 |
The Mountain Flower Collection |
1966-1969 |
$30.00 |
19 |
The Royal Hawaiin Collection |
1960-1964 |
$9.95 |
20 |
The Sultana Collection |
1958-1962 |
$30.00 |
21 |
The Galaxy Collection |
1962 |
$18.00 |
22 |
THE SARAH A.B.B. S COLLECTION |
1959-1975 |
$4.95 |
23 |
The Waltz Time Collection |
1960-1962 |
$13.68 |
24 |
The Evening Snowflake Collection |
1963 |
$29.99 |
1. The Jade Garden Collection
Release date: 1966-1969
Price: $21.00
The pin of this brooch is shaped like a gold relief circle and houses a small, curved branch that surrounds a pearl and a natural green jade stone, and it retails for $21.00.
2. The Folklore Collection
Release date: 1971-1973
Price: $44.99
This $44.99 collection contains a neck chain and a geometrically shaped pendant. The pendant is the Centre of attraction as it consists of three turquoise-colored rectangle faux stones placed individually inside a box formed by two plates.
3. The Crusader Cross Collection
Release date: 1941-1975
Price: $15.50
This piece is a chain and a solid pendant shaped like a cross. At the Centre of the plates lies a translucent purple cabochon stone surrounded by artificial pearls at the four cardinal points. You can buy it for $15.50.
4. The Tropicana Collection
Release date: 1960-1964
Price: $19.20
The brooch imitates the shape of a tropical fish and has a smooth gold metal body. The fish belly contains a three-colored stone in reflective glass. This stone switches between blue, green, and violet hues when turned. It retails for $19.20.
5. The Remembrance Collection
Release date: 1968
Price: $30.00
This $30.00 pin is made of antique gold metal and portrays a rich contemporary style.
Its Centre houses an almost turquoise-colored cabochon with four white pearls and eight teardrop-shaped plastic turquoise stones at the sides. A hook lies behind so the wearer can also use it as a pendant.
6. The Promise Collection
Release date: 1968-1972
Price: $14.00
This pin takes the shape of a gold relief circle, and it overlaps a petal with a white synthetic pearl in the middle. Just one leaf is attached to the ring, and it sells for $14.00.
7. The Ember Flower Collection
Release date: 1972
Price: $23.99
This pin looks like a flower. Arched petals from gold coated metal surround a sizeable tanned stone made from Chanton glass. Its leaves wore a radiant shade of green and goes for $23.99.
8. The Black Beauty Collection
Release date: 1967
Price: $15.00
The $15.00 pin imitates a flower with a long stem. A black chaton cut rhinestone sits beautifully at the center of five shimmery petals in silver made from smooth metal.
9. The Imperial Collection
Release date: 1974
Price: $29.51
This pin is in a rich oriental pattern from old silver metal. A big, bold turquoise teardrop stone sits at the center, and four purple stones with white faux pearls compliment this stone to create a perfect contrast. It doubles as a pendant and sells for $29.51.
10. The Royal Ballet Collection
Release date: 1960
Price: $65.00
The spectacular necklace has a slightly curved golden flowery shaped line. Two milky faux pearls surround each row, and four clear chaton cut rhinestones. The chain has a clasp and an adjunct to set the length. It retails for $65.00.
11. The Windfall Collection
Release date: 1958-1962
Price: $12.99
This pin imitates the shape of an oak leaf. It’s a combination of gold and silver tones on metal material. The crusty surface gives off the impression of an oak leaf brushed by the frosty wind in autumn. It retails for $12.99.
12. The Strawberry Ice Collection
Release date: 1968-1974
Price: $20.00
This jewelry reminds you of strawberry fruit with leaves on top when you see it. It has a silver brushed metal that creates an illusion of a strawberry covered in frost. You can get it for $20.00
13. The Pearl Bloom Collection
Release date: 1960-1962
Price: $16.00
The $16.00 pin gives off the look of white berry fruit with golden leaves on top. A big stone with unlikely patterns creates the berry and the three complimenting leaves from refined gold metal.
14. The Adam’s Delight
Release date: 1960-1962
Price: $20.00
Inspired by the famous ‘Adam’s Apple’ phrase, the shape of this $20.00 pin reminds you of the big apple with its silver leaves made from layered silver metal. It has a lined surface feel in front and a dotted effect at the rear.
15. The Sarah’s A.B.B.’s
Release date: 1959-1975
Price: $4.95
This pin is in the letter S from the English Alphabet. The beautiful piece is made from textured gold metal and has small leaves on its spirals. It retails for $4.95.
16. The Golden Cherries Collection
Release date: 1970-1974
Price: $29.00
The shape of this piece instantly reminds you of a cherry. The golden cherry fruits adjoin by a golden stem and two leaves in the same tone. This piece sells for $29.00
17. The Whispering Leaf Collection
Release date: 1966-1968
Price: $15.00
This jewelry set contains a pin and a pair of gold earrings. The buckle bears the shape of the maple leaf from textured gold metal. On the leaf’s surface lies tiny plastic pearls that give it a crusty feel when touched. It retails for $15.00
18. The Mountain Flower Collection
Release date: 1966-1969
Price: $30.00
This piece is designed to look like a flower, has green colored aurora borealis rhinestones right at the center, and silver-studded petals on a stem in the same tone surrounding it. You can get it for $30.00
19. The Royal Hawaiian Collection
Release date: 1960-1964
Price: $9.95
This piece is a $9.95 brooch made from gold-coated metal and decorated with red nestled patterned coral beads with a mother-of-pearl disk. It has a unique busy shape, a perfect accessory to any dress.
20. The Sultana Collection
Release date: 1958-1962
Price: $30.00
This ornament has a round chain with significant links and drop-shaped pendants. They come from textured gold metal. On the charm, colorful rhinestones in geometric shapes beautifully weave together. It has a spring-ring at the clasp for easy wear and goes for $30.00
21. The Galaxy Collection
Release date: 1962
Price: $18.00
This golden brooch contains four synthetic pearls on each facet and a big, plastic pearl in the middle. Multicolored stones shaped like teardrops in blue, green, red, and purple compliments the pearls and give them an extravagant appearance. It retails for $18.00
22. The Sarah’s A.B.B.’ S’ Collection
Release date: 1959-1975
Price: $4.95
This $4.95 pin looks like the letter N from the English Alphabet. It’s made from gold-coated metal and has small leaves on its body.
23. The Waltz Time Collection
Release date: 1960-1962
Price: $13.68
This $13.68 brooch is a gold-coated bar furnished with white artificial pearls. At the center, two heart rings intersect and surround aurora borealis rhinestones.
24. The Evening Snowflake Collection
Release date: 1963
Price: $29.99
This pin carries the shape of a snowflake. At the center lies a big grey glass stone surrounded by branches covered in tiny glass chaton cut rhinestones. This piece sells for $29.99
Sarah Coventry Jewelry Marks
Each piece from the Sarah Coventry vintage collection has distinct marks you can use to identify their year of production. The varying designs rose from numerous trials to develop a valid means of identification for products from the Sarah Coventry company.
The five signs below are the most common that we are most familiar with and which the brand launched most of its vintage collections up until its sale in 1958.
- Coventry- first used in 1949
- Sarah Coventry- First used in 1949
- C.- first used in 1950
- Sarah- first used in 1951
- Sarah Cov- First used in 1953
How to Determine the Value of Sarah Coventry Jewelry
The vintage Sarah Coventry Jewelry collection has high quality compared to the modern pieces. They are also scarce since the company is no longer in the business of producing jewelry. In this section, you’ll find the correct information you need to know the actual value of your piece.
Color
Sarah Coventry pieces that are color-based are highly priced and sought after by collectors. The Blue lagoon pieces from the 1960s collection had aurora borealis rhinestones with smaller blue and purple stones.
The strawberry ice piece has a silver tone with strawberry-shaped pins and earrings. The gold-colored set (necklace and earrings) called Golden Avocado embodies the popular kitchen color of the 1970s.
Asymmetrical Mosaic pieces combine solid color and tinted cabochons on a gold-toned background. These pieces are costly, rare, and valuable.
Sets
Although rare and almost impossible to find these days, a complete Sarah Coventry vintage set costs a lot of money and is on every collector’s hotlist.
If you have an incomplete set in your hands, we advise that you keep them and check flea markets or antique stores around you for the missing pieces.
Age
Sarah Coventry pieces from the 60s and 70s are every collector’s sweetheart.
If you have a gem from this year in your possession, you’ll most definitely get your rewards in wads of cool cash.
FAQs
How old is Sarah Coventry Jewelry?
Sarah Coventry jewelry is over 70 years old. Lyman K. Stuart established the company in 1949 to create a range of jewelry for the people of Europe and England at that time.
How much is Sarah Coventry Jewelry Worth?
Sarah Coventry pieces range between $10- $100.
How is Sarah Coventry Jewelry Marked?
There are hallmarks on individual Sarah Coventry pieces. These marks vary according to their production years, and the company added some as the years went by.
Where can I find Sarah Coventry’s pieces?
You can find your vintage Sarah Coventry jewelry on antique websites such as Etsy, Ruby Lane, and Collector’s Weekly. Check estate sales, flea market and antique stores near you for more items.
Parting Words
Sarah Coventry jewelry pieces are fun, simple, and affordable. However, you must keep the following points in mind when collecting them.
- Spray cleaning liquid on your jewelry, leave to sit for a minute then wipe with a dry cloth. This lifts away oils and dirt without messing up the color of your piece.
- Jewelry sets costs more than single pieces. If you find a complete set of Sarah Coventry jewelry, guard it jealously.
- Color-based Sarah Coventry pieces are pricey and collectible.
- You’ll find different marks on Sarah Coventry jewelry. Remember that the company changed its identity marks at different times.
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