Retro Pennino Rhinestone Brooch – A 1940s Sparkler

About Pennino

Pennino Jewelry was a highly regarded American costume jewelry company, founded by three Italian immigrant brothers, Frank, Jack, and Oreste Pennino, in 1926. The company operated out of New York City and became known for its fine craftsmanship and use of high-quality materials, despite being costume jewelry.

Early Years

The Pennino brothers had a background in fine jewelry. Oreste, the company’s designer, was a trained jeweler and applied the same techniques used in fine jewelry, such as intricate settings and detailed craftsmanship, to create costume pieces. This attention to detail helped set Pennino Jewelry apart from other costume jewelry makers of the time. Their jewelry often featured elegant, classic designs that imitated fine jewelry.

Design Characteristics

Pennino jewelry was known for its distinctive style, often combining intricate metalwork with sparkling rhinestones, faux gems, and crystals. Many of their designs were inspired by European trends, and their pieces often had a romantic, vintage look. They used a mix of gold-tone and silver-tone metals, with settings that reflected the quality of fine jewelry craftsmanship.

Some key design elements include:

• Floral and natural motifs.Roses, leaves, and vines were common.
• Retro styles. In the late 1930s and 1940s, Pennino embraced the bold and glamorous retro style, featuring oversized rhinestones and large geometric shapes.
• Rhinestones. Clear and colored rhinestones, often prong-set, became a hallmark of Pennino designs.

Popularity and Legacy

Throughout the 1930s to the 1950s, Pennino was one of the most respected names in costume jewelry. Their pieces were favored by fashionable women and were often sold in upscale department stores. Collectors today value Pennino jewelry for its beauty and fine craftsmanship, with vintage pieces still sought after in the market.

Pennino’s attention to detail, combined with their ability to create glamorous yet affordable jewelry, ensured their place in American fashion history. The company ceased production in the early 1960s, but the legacy of Pennino’s designs endures, with many of their pieces considered highly collectible today.