All About Jewels: Illustrated Dictionary of Jewelry

Trifari is a pre-eminent jewelry manufacturing company that produces high-quality and beautifully-designed pieces. The company began as Trifari and Trifari in 1910, founded by Gustavo Trifari and his uncle; a few years later, his uncle left and the company was simply Trifari. Leo Krussman joined Trifari in 1917. In 1918, when Carl Fishel joined the company, they renamed the company Trifari, Krussman and Fishel (their hallmark was T.F.K.). Later hallmarks include Trifari (in capital letters) and Trifari (in capital letters with a small crown above the T).

Alfred Philippe, who had been a jewelry designer for Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, designed pieces for Trifari (from 1930 until the 1960's). Some other Trifari designers included Benedetto Panetta, Lucius Passavanti (from about 1955 to 1968), Jean Paris (1958-1965), Andre Boeut (1967-1979), and Diane Love (1971-1974). The plating alloy "Trifarium" was developed by Trifari.

Trifari was owned by the Hallmark Company from 1975-1988, and by Crystal Brands from 1988-1994. It was then part of the Chase Capital division of the Monet Group, which later went bankrupt and was bought by Liz Claiborne (2000).

A Sampling of Trifari jewelry:

Classic Trifari Set The abstract, 3-dimensional pin/clip and earrings set above has paste rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and diamonds. This design was patenteded by Alfred Philippe in January 1947.

Trifari Sterling Bow Pin This sterling bow pin is studded with clear rhinestones..

Trifari Jelly Belly Fish The jelly belly brooch above has a pale blue stone for the body of the fish and tiny rhinestones studding the fish's head, fins, and tail.

Trifari Cornucopia Pin/Clip This Trifari cornucopia pin/clip is gold colored. It has a double-pronged fastening mechanism that can be used either as a fur clip or as a pin.

Trifari Bird Pin The small hummingbird pin above has red cabochon stones and a faux pearl.

Jewel-Covered Trifari Leaf Pin The leaf brooch above is covered with beautiful clear baguette and circular rhinestones.

Trifari Leaf Pin The leaf brooch above has high quality red and white rhinestones on gold-tone metal.

Trifari Leaf Pin The leaf brooch above is beautifully-detailed gold tone metal.

Trifari Poured Glass Pin The brooch above is yellow poured glass and gold-tone metal.

Trifari Flower Brooch The pink rose brooch above is enameled metal.

All About Jewels: Illustrated Dictionary of Jewelry

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