Vintage Ribbon Swirl Flower Brooch with Aurora Borealis Rhinestone

This is a vintage costume jewelry brooch featuring a circular stylized floral design crafted from folded and swirled metal ribbons. The brooch is composed of two primary tiers: a wider outer ring of sculpted metal loops and an inner layer of tighter, curved petals that converge toward the center. At the heart of the piece is a single, large Aurora Borealis (AB) coated crystal rhinestone, which displays an iridescent shimmer with reflections of blue, green, and pink. The metal appears to be a silver-toned base metal with a light gold-tone or brassy wash, which shows significant signs of age and patina. There is visible surface wear, particularly along the edges where the plating has thinned, and darkening in the crevices suggestive of oxidation or accumulated dust. The construction uses a layered metal stamping technique common in Mid-Century costume jewelry. Based on the style and the use of the AB rhinestone, which was popularized in the mid-1950s by Swarovski and Christian Dior, this piece likely dates from the late 1950s to the 1960s. The craftsmanship is typical of high-quality mass-produced boutique jewelry of that era, utilizing a prong setting for the central stone and a pin-back mechanism (unseen in this view).

I have conducted a visual examination of the Vintage Ribbon Swirl Flower Brooch. The item features a layered metal-stamped construction with a central iridescent Aurora Borealis (AB) rhinestone, characteristic of mid-century costume jewelry produced between 1955 and 1965. My assessment reveals significant surface wear, including thinning of the gold-tone wash and oxidation in the metal crevices, which suggests a 'fair' to 'good' vintage condition rather than 'excellent' or 'mint.' While the central stone retains its prismatic flash, the visible patina on the base metal indicates it was likely a mid-market boutique piece rather than a high-end designer like Dior or Trifari, which would typically feature higher-quality plating or signatures. The market for unsigned mid-century floral brooches is currently stable but saturated; comparable items sell frequently in the $20 to $50 range depending on the luster of the stone. Rarity is low, as these were mass-produced for department stores. This appraisal is limited by the digital nature of the inspection. I cannot verify the security of the prong settings, the functionality of the pin-back, or the presence of hidden maker's marks without a physical inspection. A full authentication would require high-magnification loupe examination to check for metal fatigue and chemical testing to determine the base metal composition. Consequently, this valuation reflects an estimated fair market value based on visual aesthetic and historical context alone.