Vintage Charm Manufacturers – Danecraft, Inc.
Vintage Danecraft Charms
If you’ve been collecting vintage charms for any length of time you’ve probably run across old sterling charms with the Danecraft hallmark. The mark is very common on vintage charm bracelets and charms, as well as other pieces of jewelry. Danecraft sterling silver charms were some of the best manufactured during the period in terms of design quality and craftsmanship. Many have survived the decades and are available at reasonable prices, making them easy and fun to collect.
Danecraft, Inc. is currently privately owned by the Primavera family, who began designing custom jewelry for royalty & wealthy families in the Pescara region of Italy in the 1600s. In 1910 Victor Primavera, Sr. immigrated from Italy to the United States. He founded Danecraft, Inc. in 1934 in Providence Rhode Island. The company name was chosen because of Mr. Primavera's appreciation for the fine skill and craftsmanship of the Danish artisans in the industry.
During the period from 1934 -1960's the company produced some of the most intricate and high quality sterling silver charms, bracelets, necklaces, earrings and pendants in the industry. Danecraft was especially instrumental in the 1960s in bridging the gap from costume jewelry to fine jewelry in department stores by introducing Sterling and Vermeil (24kt gold over sterling silver) jewelry into their lines. It’s relatively easy to date many Danecraft jewelry pieces as their advertisements ran in national magazines and were found in fine department store catalogs.
Danecraft jewelry is still sold in fine department stores, but the vintage charms and charm bracelets made during the1940s and 50s are becoming increasingly collectible. Danecraft charms are some of my favorites to find because of the quality, design, and affordability.
Filed Under: All About Old Jewelry
About the Author: Wanda Fitzgerald is a Florida native and an vintage charm collector who loves to share her adventures in an e-commerce jewelry business with anyone who is interested.
Excellent answer to a question I had asked a fellow charmer, pertaining to how old was the company Danecraft. Thanks so much for being a wealth of information.