October | 2016 | Laurie Prindle's Blog

How to date jewelry with Aurora Borealis (AB) coating

October 20, 2016

Weiss blue set https://www.etsy.com/listing/768642902/fabulous-vintage-weiss-blue-aurora

Jewelry with AB rhinestones, crystals and cabochons became wildly popular in the 1950s, and it is still very popular today. The Aurora Borealis (named after the Northern Lights) rainbow coating process was invented in the early 1950s. By 1955 it became widely used by jewelry designers such as Manfred Swarovski and Christian Dior.

If you have a piece of jewelry with AB crystals that is in an older style, such as Victorian, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, etc. , don’t be fooled. It is most likely a revival piece manufactured in the 1950s or more recently. Either that or the piece has had its original stones replaced.

Here is a perfect example. This is a lovely Victorian style brooch. The center Aurora Borealis rhinestone belies its age. It is actually a midcentury Victorian Revival brooch.

Midcentury Victorian Revival brooch with rhinestones

https://www.etsy.com/listing/287947845/vintage-mid-century-openwork-victorian

Do enjoy all of your lovely Aurora Borealis jewelry pieces. Just know that they were created in the 1950s or later. Here’s another example of typical midcentury AB jewelry:

Laguna set