K J Lane Jewelry
20th Century Pendant Necklaces
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Antique 15th Century and Earlier American Drop Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1960s American Dangle Earrings
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1980s American Beaded Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1960s American Drop Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1960s American Dangle Earrings
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1960s American Link Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1960s American Clip-on Earrings
Gilt Metal
Mid-20th Century American Dangle Earrings
Crystal, Rhodium
Recent Sales
21st Century and Contemporary American Clip-on Earrings
Vintage 1960s American Clip-on Earrings
Vintage 1960s American Clip-on Earrings
Vintage 1960s American Choker Necklaces
Vintage 1970s American Brooches
Vintage 1970s American Brooches
Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary American Brooches
Vintage 1960s American Chandelier Earrings
Gold Plate
Vintage 1970s American Bangles
Gold Plate
Vintage 1970s American Cuff Bracelets
Gold Plate
Vintage 1980s American Pendant Necklaces
Gold Plate
Vintage 1970s American Art Deco Brooches
Gold Plate
Vintage 1970s American Drop Necklaces
Gold Plate
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Gold Plate
20th Century Link Bracelets
Vintage 1960s American Drop Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1960s American Chandelier Earrings
Vintage 1970s American Brooches
Vintage 1960s Chandelier Earrings
Vintage 1970s American Brooches
Gold Plate
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Gold Plate
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1960s American Drop Earrings
Rhodium
Vintage 1960s American Clip-on Earrings
Enamel, Gilt Metal
Vintage 1960s American Drop Earrings
Vintage 1970s American Beaded Necklaces
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Vintage 1960s American Arts and Crafts Dangle Earrings
Base Metal
Vintage 1960s American Clip-on Earrings
Vintage 1960s American Chandelier Earrings
Crystal, Base Metal
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Vintage 1960s American More Bracelets
Vintage 1960s American Dangle Earrings
Vintage 1960s American Multi-Strand Necklaces
Vintage 1960s Brooches
Vintage 1960s American Clip-on Earrings
Vintage 1960s Brooches
American Brooches
Vintage 1960s Dangle Earrings
American Clamper Bracelets
Vintage 1970s American Clip-on Earrings
Vintage 1960s American Beaded Bracelets
21st Century and Contemporary American Clip-on Earrings
Vintage 1960s American Beaded Bracelets
Base Metal
Vintage 1960s American More Bracelets
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Vintage 1960s American Clip-on Earrings
Vintage 1970s American Clip-on Earrings
Crystal, Base Metal
Vintage 1960s American Dangle Earrings
Vintage 1960s Brooches
Vintage 1960s Chandelier Earrings
Vintage 1960s Clip-on Earrings
Base Metal
Vintage 1960s American Clip-on Earrings
Vintage 1970s American Clamper Bracelets
Base Metal
Late 20th Century American Pendant Necklaces
Base Metal
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Vintage 1960s American Clip-on Earrings
Vintage 1960s American More Bracelets
Vintage 1960s American Multi-Strand Necklaces
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Drop Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s Italian Retro Cocktail Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 9k Gold, Silver, Rose Gold
Vintage 1960s American Dangle Earrings
Gilt Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Stud Earrings
Coral, Diamond, Rose Gold, Enamel, 14k Gold
Vintage 1910s American Edwardian Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
Antique Late 19th Century Dutch Victorian Chain Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Gilt Metal
Antique 1890s European Victorian Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Silver
20th Century American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, Coral, Onyx, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Baroque More Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, White Gold
Antique 1820s British George III Drop Earrings
Citrine, Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Retro Brooches
Jade, Pearl, Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Retro Brooches
Gold Plate
2010s American Belle Époque Vanity Items
Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Art Nouveau Brooches
Diamond, Platinum
Late 20th Century American Modernist Multi-Strand Necklaces
Gold Plate
K J Lane Jewelry For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a K J Lane Jewelry?
Kenneth Jay Lane for sale on 1stDibs
The father of so-called “fabulous fakes,” Kenneth Jay Lane was a spirited innovator within the jewelry industry, designing elegant and luxurious pieces without the use of real jewels. And while Lane aspired to create classic designs for earrings, bracelets and necklaces intended for everyday wear, his pieces caught the attention of celebrities, royalty and socialites.
From a young age, the Detroit, Michigan-born Lane was a lover of fashion. He studied at the Rhode Island School of Design and the University of Michigan. He pursued a design career in New York City, and a failed start in the art department of Vogue magazine led to a decade of designing shoes for the likes of Delman and Christian Dior.
Lane would occasionally develop shoe designs for friends he had in the fashion world such as Bill Blass and Arnold Scaasi. A show for the latter afforded him the opportunity to beautify shoes with rhinestones and create bangles and earrings to pair with the footwear — he found plastic bracelets at discount variety store and had them embellished by craftspeople at a shoe factory.
A love for costume jewelry design emerged thereafter. Lane created his own collection and admirers such as Jackie Kennedy and Elizabeth Taylor showered him with praise. A pearl necklace he designed was worn by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. In the early 1960s, ready-to-wear pioneer Hattie Carnegie purchased Lane’s jewelry line. Lane was given the position of design director for Carnegie but he soon changed course, moving instead into a small studio and pursuing his own path.
Lane worked with milk glass, gilded silver hardware, faux coral and other materials, and sold pendant necklaces, dangle earrings and modern bracelets to private customers. He was fond of renowned fine jewelry houses Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels and designers such as Jean Schlumberger, and cited having found inspiration in Egyptian and Indian jewelry over the years as well as Art Deco jewelry. Lane’s designs, which he called “faque” and “junque,” became well-known for their distinctive color combinations and clever characteristics such as embroidery. By the time he purchased a small jewelry factory in Providence, Rhode Island, where his accessories would be made during the 1960s, Lane had secured relationships with top Manhattan boutiques and his work had caught the attention of fashion magazines.
Directed by the filmmaker Gisèle Roman, a 2018 documentary about Lane’s life and work called Fabulously Fake: The Real Life of Kenneth Jay Lane features interviews with legendary fashion designers Carolina Herrera, Tory Burch and Diane von Furstenberg.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage Kenneth Jay Lane brooches, rings and other accessories.