Cini Sterling Silver Vintage Charms and Jewelry
The Cini Jewelry Company makes some of the most intricate and popular vintage jewelry available. I’ve started a collection of Cini Zodiac charms and I’ve also sold a few Cini vintage silver pins so I decided to see what I could find out about them.
The company was founded by Guglielmo Cini, who was an Italian jewelry maker. He came to the United States in 1922 at the age of 17 and set up a shop in Boston Massachusetts, where he remained until 1957. During that time he and one of his designers, Felipe Mendosa, created both fine and costume jewelry using hand crafted, master jeweler techniques. The early pieces were marked “Guglielmo Sterling” in a rectangular box.
Guglielmo Cini frequently incorporated faceted colored rhinestones in his designs. The jewelry was high quality and began to attract a clientele in the Hollywood film and theater business. In 1957 Cini moved his operations to Laguna Beach, California and remained there until his death in 1979.
Many of the Cini pieces are reproductions of antique jewelry, but he also produced many original creations. Most of the later pieces are signed “Cini” or “Cini Sterling”. Cini vintage jewelry is highly collectible today and sought after by avid collectors. The company went out of business in 1970, but was reopened by Cini’s granddaughters in 1993 in Solana Beach California.
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Category: All About Old Jewelry
About the Author (Author Profile)
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.Subscribe
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I found a Cini bracelet in an estate auction 10 years ago as part of a group silver lot that I got for $20. I bought the lot solely out of love for the bracelet. It has a beach theme – fish, stars, etc. and that was the year I moved to Florida, so I bought it purely on sentimental value. I haven’t a foggy idea what it’s worth, but it’s my very favorite bracelet and I’d love to buy a couple more pieces.
Hey, He was a great man! He was my grandfather and his pieces are hard to find. He also worked with gold. I’m glad to see it circulating. Good luck! He came from Florence and worked out of Boston before moving to Laguna Beach CA in 1954. Look at Collen Moore’s Dollhouse and check out the miniatures he created for her.
Colleen Moore’s Dollhouse is amazing. I had never heard of it before and now I’m completely charmed. Thanks for reading my blog. I feel special that Mr. Cini’s granddaughter visited here.
My parents owned a women’s clothing and accessories store in Rancho Bernardo, Ca in the early to mid 1970’s. We were a retail of Mr. Cini’s fabulous jewelry during that time. I was recently in Solana Beach and was so disappointed that the shop that Mr. Cini’s granddaughters had was no longer there. I would love to know if they have moved somewhere else. I have several different pieces of his work. He was such a special man. I remember on one buying trip, he told my mother, “you can’t sell from an empty cart” Its something I have remembered for more than 30 years.
Hi,
I’ve always wondered about an interesting bracelet that was either my mom’s or grandmom’s. I finally took out a magnifying glass and saw the word “Cini.” Thanks to you and the Internet, I now know much more about it! It’s a series of creatures I can only describe as resembling the orcs in the Wizard of Oz. They are not cute! It’s quite fantastic.
susan
Susan I would love to see a picture of that bracelet. I’m so in love with vintage Cini jewelry. If get a chance to take a photo and wouldn’t mind sharing you can send it to my email address at fitzcharming@charmcrazey.com. If you want me to share with the readers I’ll post it on the blog but if you want to keep it private I will do that too. I would just be happy to look at it by myself too 🙂
I’m still wearing a silver Cini ring I bought 47 years ago! I bought the ring in his store in Laguna Beach (where I grew up) for $8 when I was 16 years old. The design is an alternating flower and ribbon, although it’s pretty worn…
I saw online that the store is closed now but I sure would have loved to have visited it when it was open. Hang onto that ring!
Been Collecting Cini for Years; Been to the locations in Boston and Laguna Beach, Visited the shop With Amy, and Molly. Also have a Cini Charm Bracelet as well as Jewelry by both Gino Peruzzi and the Parenti Sisters; all from the same area in Boston, Similar styles, Some designs are replicated with minor changes, sort of Etruscan style. When I get the hang of it will forward photos of some of the items, including two 14k Gold Owl Pins, Irresistable! Started when I found a Cross at a flea markt in Norton, Ma. @ ’75 -Been chasing them ever since. Still Find them Reasonably priced. My favorite is a parule set From the “Duchess” design, with moonstone centers, HOT!!! Too bad I can’t really wear it, but I still enjoy looking at it. Can’t even estimate the collection’s value, but it’s an investment that I still enjoy. New (Pcs I don’t already own) Pieces are Getting more difficult to find or obtain, I guess I just enjoy them for what they are, -miniature art. Other ‘smiths I got into later are Jensen, Hansen, From, D-A and Harvey Avedon
i have a gold cini charm bracelet with a 4 leaf clover
charm. it is really beautiful and i would like to know
its’ value. so far i’ve only seen silver cini. do you
have any ideas or suggestions? thanks.
I would search for a similar charm on eBay or Ruby Lane. There’s also a site called Worthpoint you can try. It’s a subscription site but I believe they will allow you a trial period. Otherwise check with a jeweler. Hope that helps.
Wow your collection sounds impressive. I have a few pieces, mostly charms and pins. I love them and will continue to collect. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Hello fitzcharming…. recently, out of boredom, i searched my last name on Ebay and discovered Cini sterling jewelry. I was shocked and very delighted. My two adult daughters. 24 and 26, are thrilled as well. The girls have a very strong Italian family history, their father being first generation American, however grew up in Georgia being virtually the only “cini’s” in the state. I’m interested in collecting a few items for the girls but first need to know how can i distinquish between vintage pieces vs reproductions from the existing molds? Appreciate your thoughts, S~
I’ve just enherited a bit of jewelry from my mother-in-law. I have a beautiful single rose with 6 leaves bracelet and silver ball accents, 1.5 inches wide or more, 4 parts; and I have been researching its history. My husband’s grandmother lived in San Diego at turn of the century and it was given by her to his mother. I never saw her wear it, but I am so proud to have it. Each part has a “Cini sterling” logo on it, plus the silver clasp as well has the logo. It is truly a cherished beautiful adornment. LK
I’m desperate to find a gold Cini St. Christopher medal to replace one I recently lost–the chain broke. I have worn this medal, given to me by my Sicilian grandmother, and purchased by her at Mr. Cini’s Laguna Beach store when I was a teenager. I’m now 70, have never taken it off and have traveled safely with it for years. I also had it engraved with “allergic to penicillin.”
I hope someone can steer me in toward one soon. I will be very grateful.
Carol, from the Snoqualmie Valley of Western Washington
I checked my stash and I don’t have a Cini St. Christopher medal but if I run across one I’ll let you know. And if anyone responds here with one I will forward the message. Good luck.
Mr Cini made and designed my wedding band in Laguna Beach in 1964. Its a plain gold band and although it is thinner, I still wear it every day. I was married on August 8 in Laguna at St. Catherine’s. I wanted a wider barrel shaped ring but Mr. Cini convinced me that the idea he had was better and he was right!
How lucky you are! I probably would have opted for the wider ring and been disappointed. I would have loved to have met Mr. Cini.
My Dad, Van France of Disney University, lived in South Laguna for many years and had a garnet birthstone gold ring made for me by Cini for my 21st birthday in 1966. I was thinking of selling it for the gold but now after reading these comments maybe I should hang on to it. I haven’t worn the ring in a number of years as I have gained weight and the ring no longer fits. I wore it for many years and still love it to this day. Do you know what the value of this ring might be?
I have no idea. You can look up the value of the gold weight on any online gold calculator. I wouldn’t ever sell anything made by Cini though. Especially something your dad had the shop make for you. You could try looking on Worthpoint and see if there is anything similar. I think they have a trial subscription. Also look on eBay periodically. Unique things pop up all the time. If it was a custom piece you won’t find and exact copy though.
hello, i have a Cini Sterling brooch with double chained necalce, it says Guglielmo Cini Sterling in a box on the back of brooch. i have looked up all his pieces but can not seem to find this rare one anywhere, can someone help? you can contact me @ soniaharris12.sh@gmail.com
What is it you are trying to find out? When it was made, how much it’s worth, something else? Can describe the brooch a little better?
I have a beautiful Sterling by Cini Rose Brooch that I’d like to sell for around $100. Any idea who would be collecting this sort of thing? It’s from the estate of an Anglican Clergy wife who had exquisite taste.
If I were you I would try selling it on eBay or another website. Cini designs sell very well. Good luck.
I recently lost in London one of a pair of much loved earrings which I’m seeking to replace. They were purchased from Nordstroms, South Coast Plaza, when the granddaughter began making jewelry with the Cini molds and consist of a silver leaf with a red stone dangle (they were made with stones of various colors). If anyone has one or a pair to sell, I’d love to be in touch. Thank you.
Hi Wanda,
Warm greeting from a fellow Floridian! I have a Cini parure that I would like to know the date it was manufactured. It’s marked G. Cini Sterling. Do you have any advice on how to research this type of information?
Thanks,
Carol in Clearwater
Hi Carol, I typically use google and search through pages and pages to find information on Cini jewelry. Lots of people have written about them but I haven’t found a research book with any information. You could also look on eBay but sometimes you need to watch constantly to find what you are looking for to be listed. Sorry that’s not much help. Thanks for your comment.