Vintage-Style Mid-Century Rhodium-Plated Costume Jewelry Brooch and Earring Set

This is a three-piece costume jewelry suite consisting of one large cluster brooch and two matching stud earrings. The set features an elaborate floral or starburst configuration crafted from multi-faceted glass or acrylic crystals in a vibrant color palette of emerald green, deep amethyst purple, and sapphire blue. The brooch is dominated by a central large emerald-cut green stone, surrounded by a tiered spray of marquise-cut purple stones, pear-cut green stones, and small round blue accents. The earrings mirror this design on a smaller scale, featuring a large emerald-cut purple stone offset by marquise and pear-shaped accents. The metal setting appears to be a bright silver-toned base, likely rhodium-plated brass or pot metal, with multi-prong claw settings securing each individual stone. The craftsmanship suggests a mid-20th-century aesthetic (circa 1950s-1960s), characteristic of high-end costume makers like Sherman or Weiss, though no maker's mark is visible from the frontal view. The stones show sharp faceting and high clarity, reflecting light well. Condition appears excellent with no visible missing stones, significant chips, or metal oxidation; however, the plastic backing on the earrings suggests they have been modernized or maintained with contemporary comfort backs. The overall construction is dense and multi-layered, indicating a quality piece of vintage fashion jewelry with significant visual appeal.

Based on my visual inspection of this three-piece costume jewelry suite, I am valuing the set between $125 and $175. The set exhibits several hallmarks of high-quality mid-century manufacture (circa 1955-1965), including tiered three-dimensional construction and 'fancy' cuts such as the large emerald-cut and marquise stones. The rhodium plating appears well-preserved, showing no signs of 'verdigris' or significant wear. While the lack of a visible maker's mark (common in unsigned higher-end pieces or boutique lines) prevents a premium valuation associated with firms like Sherman of Canada, the vibrant color palette and multi-stone claw settings suggest a sophisticated production level. The modern plastic earring backs indicate a later replacement for wearer comfort but do not detract from the value of the primary settings. Market demand for vibrant, oversized mid-century brooches remains steady among vintage collectors, though prices for unsigned sets are generally lower than their signed counterparts. Limitations of this photo-based appraisal include the inability to verify the weight/density of the base metal, the security of the prong settings, or the potential for 'dead' stones (foiling loss) not evident under studio lighting. To finalize this assessment, I would require an in-person inspection to look for micro-signatures on the pins or clips, and to use a loupe to check for chips or repairs. Provenance indicating a specific boutique origin would also increase the estimate.