Jewelry brands

Ellen Designs was a costume jewelry brand that produced vintage jewelry, primarily earrings and clip-on earrings. The brand’s history is closely linked to another brand, Fashion Craft Jewelry Company NYC, founded in 1942.

1951 — One of the company’s three founders, Robert Jaffe, took over the business and renamed Fashion Craft to Robert Originals, Inc.
1975 — Robert Jaffe retired, and his daughter, Ellen Jaffe Wagman, and her husband, John Wagman, took over the business in January 1976. Initially, Ellen’s work was labeled “Ellen Designs for Robert Originals”—using Robert’s name was necessary for the successful promotion of the new brand.

1980 — Ellen changed the brand name to the shorter Ellen Designs.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the company produced enamel jewelry with nature motifs—flowers, fruits, and vegetables.

In the 1980s, Ellen produced clip-on earrings with large glass cabochons, such as purple ones.

In the 1990s, the brand continued to produce costume jewelry, but the pieces were no longer directly related to the old company, and their quality began to deteriorate.

The brand ceased operations in the late 1990s.

The brand’s old jewelry has become a part of history and collectors’ items. They were always marked.