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TRIFARI STAR Pin~1959 Etoile Series~Lava Nugget Vintage Brooch ~ Aurora Borealis
What fabulous stones in this sensational vintage Star brooch by Trifari from their 1959 Etoile Collection! And what's more, it is in Excellent Condition. Etoile, of course, is the French word for Star and this Star brooch must have been the, well, Star of that collection.
Trifari debuted the Etoile Series in 1959 and in 1961 (the year they were granted trademark protection for the name) they featured it in their "Etoile...obviously by Trifari" advertising campaign. The ad is reproduced in the third photo from the last, where you will see this star brooch on the lower left, and it proclaimed, "Breath-taking magnificence in a startlingly beautiful jewel series by Trifari. Nuggets of pure light caught amidst the rainbowing facets of fabulous fake gems! Sheer wizardry for fashion's elegant simplicity." (Interestingly, another magazine ad for Etoile Pins, but from 1959, also featuring this Star brooch, is running on eBay, item 290991129092.) The Etoile collection was a Stellar performer for Trifari and the pieces continue to be most desirable to today's collectors.
Made with the superior quality of workmanship, materials and design we expect from vintage Trifari, the brooch is shaped like a bulging Twinkling Star, a perfect form for such a luminous, sparkling piece.
Combining the gorgeous glow of lava-like Art Glass cabochon stones with the sparkle of faceted rhinestones, this pin features small aurora borealis (AB) chatons and fancy-cut teardrop or pear-shaped rhinestones, both in two sizes, setting off a center mound of the "nuggets of light" - glistening glass orbs with nubbly surfaces and an internal iridescence that makes me think of Superman's Kryptonite.
The delicate, shimmering colors were impossible for me to capture in a photo - they are ethereally beautiful and absolutely mesmerizing in person! The stones are like yellow sapphires, golden citrines or canary diamonds but because of the AB coating, the look is pumped up a few notches with a spectrum of complementary iridescent shades. In the photos, you can see some of the iridescence in the faceted stones, but for some reason, it doesn't show in the nugget cabs. Wish you could see the pin in person!
If I can stop staring at the brooch as I turn it this way and that in the light, watching the color changes and ethereal shimmer, I will try to describe it. The fantastic art glass stones are a variation on "lava rocks" or "moon rocks" with an other worldly iridescent glow that flashes through gold, pink, purple, blue and green and all the shades in between, with movement in the play of light. Set in smooth yellow gold-tone metal that is most harmonious with the colors of the stones, the brooch is simply stunning and the iridescence is utterly transfixing. MUCH nicer than it appears in the inadequate photos.
Measuring just over 2" square by about 1/2" deep, this dimensional brooch will set off your outfit perfectly and light up your eyes like magic.
It is signed "Trifari" with a crown over the "T" followed by a "c" in a circle on the back. (Last photo.)
It is in Excellent vintage condition. Peering deep into the stones with my jeweler's loupe, the only imperfection I see, apart from expected light dirt and surface scratches, is a little foil flecking in one pear shaped stone. Absolutely nothing of consequence and the brooch is dazzlingly sparkly!
Beautifully eye catching, it is really riveting with the mesmerizing shimmer and glow of the fascinating stones. This brooch is so becoming, it will add an unusual sparkle to any outfit and is a superb addition to a collection. Pieces from the Etoile Series, with their wonderful art glass stones, are highly sought and this is a stellar example. This dazzlingly luminous Twinkling Star will bring you glowing compliments anytime you wear it. A fabulous Trifari brooch from their starring Etoile collection to add to yours!
Please see our other listings for more great vintage jewelry.
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