Costume Jewelry maker
Monet marks
Brothers Michael and Jay (also given as Joseph) Chernow started Monocraft Products in New York in 1927, first making metal monograms for cars and handbags.
- Active
- 1927–2000s
- Based in
- New York, New York (factory in Providence, Rhode Island), United States
- Marks listed
- 6
- Typical pieces
- monograms, chains, necklaces, charm bracelets
The marks, by date
Each mark’s wording is written out as a transcription: the words and line breaks, not a picture of the mark. Where a source describes a mark instead of quoting it, the description is shown in italics.
Where: back of piece
Block letters.
Where: back of brooch or clip
Early brooches and clips carry an accent over the e (per search-result text).
Where: back of piece / on clasp
Where: back of piece
Where: back of piece
Where: back of piece / on clasp
History
The firm moved into costume jewelry and launched the Monet name in 1937, with manufacturing in Providence. General Mills bought it in 1968; it later passed to Crystal Brands and then Chase Capital Partners' Lattice Holding. Liz Claiborne bought the Monet Group, which also held Trifari and Marvella, in July 2000.
Dating clues
- Monocraft marks date 1927–1937, before the Monet name.
- A copyright symbol with the Monet name indicates after 1955.
- Judge lettering, copyright symbol, clasp and construction together rather than the signature alone.
Other names on the marks
Monocraft; Monocraft Products Co.; Monet Jewelers; Monet Group
Where sources disagree: Second founder's name given as Jay Chernow (RCJ) vs Joseph/Joseff Chernow (Jagged Metal, Collectors Weekly). The Monét accented mark is known only from search-result text, not a fetched page.
Sources
Marks help identify a maker and a date range, but they can’t prove a piece is genuine. Reproductions and later reissues can carry old marks. This entry isn’t an appraisal.