All of today's products from Miriam Haskell epitomize the spirit of the founder. She was born in 1899, in the Indiana city of New Albany. Her parents had immigrated to the United States, from Russia.
The goal of her costume jewelry was to complement high-end clothing. She was among several independent women of her time who had the same goal. Haskell originally created spectacular jewelry from the 1920s until the 1950s. In 1926 she opened her first jewelry boutique. The boutique was located in New York City's McAlpin Hotel. Later, Haskell's company opened boutiques at other renowned locations in the city, including Saks Fifth Avenue. And within time, Miriam Haskell boutiques also emerged in areas such as Miami and London.
She received assistance from Frank Hess, her business partner. In fact, some controversy exists about whether Frank Hess or Miriam Haskell should receive credit for certain pieces in the Miriam Haskell collection. However, what's undeniable is that the two collaborated on jewelry designs until she departed from the company. And the results were simply spectacular.
Her jewelry became extremely popular during the United States' Great Depression. Not only were the gold-plated pieces stunningly attractive, but they were also affordable. In fact, several celebrities (including Lucille Ball and Gloria Vanderbilt) publicly sported her jewelry creations. Interestingly, big screen star Joan Crawford collected virtually every jewelry piece that she introduced from the 1920, through the 1960s.
Products
Her products include a cornucopia of different jewelry types. Some of the most common ones include earrings, necklaces, and cuffs. These pieces feature various styles, which allow the wearer to complement her outfit with ease.
Features
Jewelry from Miriam Haskell has become renowned for various reasons, including:
1. Craftsmanship
In fact, craftsmanship has become a hallmark of Miriam Haskell jewelry. Many of the craftsmen who made the company's jewelry were European immigrants. While the work was grueling, the craftsmen were paid well for their work. And such fair compensation helped to make her jewelry superior to the competition's jewelry.
2. Quality
This was yet another key feature of jewelry from M.H. It began with the raw materials that the craftsmen used to produce the jewelry. When combined with exquisite craftsmanship, the result was high-end jewelry that was perfect for virtually every occasion.
3. Collectability
Another key benefit of M.H jewelry is that such pieces have held their value over the years. For instance, jewelry that Haskell personally signed is much rarer than other pieces are. Also, pieces that Robert Clark designed are also particularly rare today.
4. Value
Throughout the decades since she designed her pieces, the value of jewelry from M.H has increased drastically. That's been due to several features of the jewelry. In fact, even paintings that depict women sporting M.H pieces have become quite valuable. Serious collectors of vintage costume jewelry have remained interested in collecting pieces from Miriam Haskell.
Throughout the year, M.H has remained a leader in the world of costume jewelry. Previously adorned by some of the world's top stars, virtually any woman can sport them today.
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