Seahorse gold tone metal alloy, pink enamel pin brooch. 1970s. Signed RNK vintage costume jewelry (1971-1985, Pawtucket, Rhode Island)
The history of the R.N.K. costume jewelry brand began in 1971 and ended in 1985. Its founder was a renowned costume jewelry maker Robert Newman Koch Jr (September 26, 1926, Buffalo, NY – July 2, 2006, East Orleans, Massachusetts). Veteran of World War II, he served in the navy as a radio operator in the Pacific. After graduating from the college he joined the legendary Coro jewelry company and finally became its president.
Robert Newman Koch Jr. founded his family business R.N. Koch, Inc., in 1971. The office of the company was on the 5th Avenue in his native New York, and the factory was in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
When making jewelry by hand, the company’s craftsmen used high-quality gold- and silver-toned metal alloys, beautiful enamels and rhinestones. The marking on the back of the products includes the abbreviation RNK, after the name of the company’s founder. Today, made fifty years ago RNK jewelry is rarely found on the vintage jewelry market and is highly collectible.
Bee moth white enamel gold tone brooch
Maker’s mark
Signed R.N.K. vintage costume jewelry (1971-1985)
Dangle drop stud earrings of gold tone
Fan with floral and butterfly design gold tone white enamel brooch
Floral design silver tone brooch
Flower swirl silver tone brooch
Leaf textured silver tone openwork brooch
Modernist silver tone openwork leaf brooch
Openwork white flower gold tone enameled brooch pin
Patriotic US flag white red and blue enamel sailboat brooch
Pear stick pin and earrings of gold tone, enamel
Ribbon bow silver tone brooch
Romantic couple cameo brooch, gold tone filigree frame, faux pearls
White blue enamel silver tone dangle earrings
Maker’s mark
RNK trademark first used in 1971
