Monet Jewelry is one of the favorite collectibles for antique jewelry freaks like me. But trust me, with all the new reproduced Monet pieces I’ve seen in the market, identifying the real Monet jewelry is a task!
But it could be a piece of cake if you recognize its unique brand, designer, and patent marks. That’s right! Monet Jewelry comes with some specific marks that can help you not only identify but also date it.
So, make sure you have your Monet Jewelry piece with you, as we’ll examine its marks, hallmarks, designs, and much more!
Key Takeaways
- The early 1920s Monet jewelry had a simple, textual logo, which evolved to licensed copyright and patent marks in the 1950s.
- Old and REAL Monet jewelry had an etched material mark (for the metal’s composition and purity) on the clasps and hangtags.
- Different patent numbers, designer signs, location marks and triple plating sections will tell you if your Monet jewelry is real or not!
- Vintage Monet brooches are valued at $20 – 300, with higher values of up to $500 or even more for hefty jewelry sets!
A Brief History of Monet Jewelry
Monet Jewelry, once Monocraft Products Co, was one of the most popular triple-plated gold and silver jewelry brands in 1920s New York. The company was set up by two brothers, Michael and Joseff Chernow, who owned a patent for metal monograms.
After being in business for ten years, the brothers expanded their factory to produce enameled and plated metal jewelry in the 1930s. Monet’s early work comprised gold-plated monogram brooches with a ‘Monocraft’ tag for handbags and jewelry.
In 1937, the Chernow brothers exhausted their inventory and began marketing their products under a new name, ‘Monet.’ Then, in 1950, they renamed the brand ‘Monet Group Inc’ to expand their product line.
But in 1968, General Mills, a food processing company, purchased Monet’s assets and sold them to Crystal Brands Jewelry Group, which reproduced Monet jewelry as a subsidiary!
How to Identify & Date Vintage Monet Jewelry?
You can identify and date your vintage Monet jewelry with the help of brand, location, and material marks on its clasps and chains. The new 1970 – 1980s models might have a patent and designer mark, but those would be stamped, unlike the desirable embossed marks!
1. Monet Jewelry Marks & Hangtags
One of the most notable features of vintage Monet jewelry is its distinctive marks – either a brand mark or a trademark and logo.
While these marks verify your Monet jewelry, do they help age it?
Well, yes! Monet used different logos and hallmarks over the years, reflecting the company’s changes in design and philosophy. For example, it started with a simple textual mark and moved to licensed copyright marks!
Here is a handy chart I’ve prepared with hand-made drawings of the most valuable Monet Jewelry marks by year to help you:
| Vintage Monet Jewelry Marks | Years | Monet Jewelry Age |
 | 1927 – 1937 | 86 – 96 years |
 | 1937 & Onwards | Around 80 years |
 | 1937 – 1955 | 63 – 86 years |
 | 1937 – 1955 | 63 – 86 years |
 | 1937 – 1955 | 63 – 86 years |
 | 1937 – 1955 | 63 – 86 years |
 | 1955 & Onwards | Around 68 years |
 | 1955 & Onwards | 68 years or newer |
 | 1955 & Onwards | 65 years or newer |
 | 1955 & Onwards | 60 years or younger |
Apart from the marks, some distinctive era-specific details can also help you find the age of vintage Monet jewelry.
- 1930s: Inspired by the Art Deco style European fashionista look, early 1930s Monet jewelry had abstract floral or animal motifs with embedded round, oval, and teardrop rhinestones.
- 1940s: Monet introduced its triple-plated Sterling Silver jewelry, mostly fur clips, brooches, and charm bracelets with military-style chain-link designs and inscribed ‘PEACE,’ ‘LOVE,’ or crown pendants.
- 1950s: Monet transitioned to rose gold and yellow gold jewelry, featuring link-style necklaces, bracelets, and earrings under the Golden Enchantments Collection.
- 1960 – 1970s: These pierced or clip-on jewelry pieces were more formal with unique floral, animal, or geometric designs and rhinestone, jewel, or gemstone embellishments.
- 1980s Monet Jewelry: You can identify a piece of 1980s Monet jewelry by its funky, two-tone geometric chandelier earrings, statement pieces, and brooches. Usually, the statement necklaces cost up to $300, while you’ll get the brooches for $10 – 100.
It’s advisable to clean vintage Monet jewelry with a light detergent, toothbrush, or lint-free cloth to reveal the marks prominently.
2. Old Monet Jewelry Materials
Check the clasps and hangtags of your old Monet jewelry; the real ones have etched metal or plating marks – ‘GP,’ ‘GP over Base Metal,’ ‘Sterling Silver,’ etc.
I have also come across many early 1950s Monet Jewelry items with embossed glass or crystal rhinestones, enamel, onyx, pearl, vermeil, ivory, semi-precious stonework, and a triple plating finish that reduces tarnishing.
But fake Monet jewelry doesn’t have such material markings and might have common brass, copper, or bronze chains with fake plastic or resin rhinestones.
3. Monet Patent Numbers
One of the easiest ways to verify any 1970 – 1980s Monet jewelry is to check its patent numbers!
Usually, the early 1970 – 1974 Monet models have a plain, 6 – 7 digit incised number – ‘3956804,’ or ‘4026417,’ on their clasps, pendants, or chains.
The post-1975 Monet pieces have a location mark – USA, Italy, or Hong Kong and a small factory mark next to their patent numbers on the pendant.
4. Monet Jewelry Designer Marks
Besides the brand and location marks, the 1970s Monet jewelry can also have designer or artist signs and marks embossed on the bottom.
I’ve drawn some of the most popular Monet designer signs for your reference:
| Monet Jewelry Designer Marks | Mark Meaning & Use |
 | M. Monet mark – Used for jewelry designed by Michael Chernow |
 | Monet M. mark – Used for jewelry designed by Joseph Chernow |
 | Used for Jewelry designed by both Michael & Joseph Chernow |
Many forged Monet pieces I’ve received to appraise to date had fake ‘Monet & Co.,’ ‘Monet of France,’ ‘Monet of London,’ and ‘Monet of Japan’ signs. So beware of those!
How Can You Tell if Your Monet Jewelry is Real?
With so many Monnet jewelry replicas circulating in the market, finding the real and valuable ones can be daunting! But worry not! Here are some easy and foolproof ways to verify REAL Monet Jewelry:
- Triple plating sections with a thickness of ¼ – ⅜ inches
- Simple foldover, toggle, lobster, and barrel clasps
- Floral, Animal, Zodiac & Geometric pendants
- Heavy, ⅛ – 1-ounce designs
- Amethyst, Citrine, Garnet or Turquoise stonework
Is Monet Jewelry Real Gold?
Monet jewelry is mostly gold or silver-plated jewelry, but the company also sells real gold or silver jewelry, which you can spot with the help of various hallmarks on the hangtags or clasps of the jewelry pieces.
Vintage Monet Jewelry Values (With Auction Costs)
Even though Monet jewelry’s auction cost fluctuates now and then due to the daily gold price, I observed that most single-unit Monet pieces usually range from $10 to $500 today.
Of these, Monet necklaces fetch up to $500, while a complete earrings and necklace set sells for $300 – $800, depending on its condition. Monet earrings are worth less than $90, while brooches can range from $20 – 300, like this multi-stone faux pearl brooch that sold for $40!
I have also seen some people sell old Monet jewelry based on its weight! For instance, a 6 – 15 pound set comprising 50 – 300 jewelry pieces is worth $900 – 2000, while a big, 20 – 60 pound set fetches more, even up to $6,000.
But remember that vintage Monet jewelry’s value depends on the condition and packaging, and those with their original glass rhinestones, boxes, clips, tags, and pouches are worth more!
Is Vintage Monet Jewelry Pawnable?
Vintage Monet jewelry is pawnable only if it has a pure gold or silver plating with a rhinestone or gem pendant. The other common base metal or plain jewelry can be pawned only if it’s a huge set weighing 10 pounds or more!
Now that you have my guide, I hope that you’ll be able to identify all the real and most valuable Monet Jewelry marks yourself! Just don’t forget to rub off the tarnish with a mild detergent and lint-free cloth; you don’t want to miss out on any marks, right?
And if you want to identify your grandma’s old unbranded jewelry, this vintage jewelry hallmarks guide will answer all your questions!
