Regency Jewelry : Brief History, Examples, Front & Back

(Updated - 2/21/22)

One of our favorite designers is Regency, which is also known as Regency Jewels. REGENCY is the hallmark for Regina Novelty Company, New York, New York. Regency was in operation from the 1940s to 1970. According to Julia C Carroll in Costume Jewelry 101, “Regency jewelry is beautifully designed and is manufactured with excellent materials. Regency designs have been mistaken for Schreiner or Juliana jewelry. Many of the designs resemble higher end Weiss designs.

Pamela Y. Wiggins of Warman's Costume Jewelry Identification and Price Guide shared this: "Regency jewelry has a distinctive look that most collectors learn to recognize very quickly even before turning the piece over to examine it for a mark." There are some pieces that are unmarked.  Many have a dark gold tone plating or matte plating.  It is in silver or gold tone.  Regency is also known for its molded glass leaves. Beautiful Austrian rhinestones are found on Regency pieces and even though the backs look for worn, the rhinestones are brilliant in sparkle and shine.  

In the late 1940s, Oscar Polowitz sub-conracted with Raymond Albertieri to design and manufacture a new line of high-quality rhinestone jewelry for his company, Regina Novelty Company. This new line of jewelry was called “Regency Jewels.” All of the stones used in Regency Jewels came from Austria.

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Here are a few of our Regency pieces.  Some are still listed in our store and others have been sold.  Please notice the gorgeous rhinestones and art glass. 

NOTE: If you scroll to the bottom of this section, you will see the front and back of a few of our recently listed Regency brooches.  Regency has a variety of very distinctive looks on the reverse side. Take a look at each one and see how different each brooch looks on the back. 

This is a photo of the front of a Regency brooch paired with the photo of the back:

  

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