DuJay was founded in New York in 1934 by Jules Hirsch and Jacques H. Leff. The business was a division of Hirsch Leff, a jewelry manufacturer.
While DuJay was a small store compared to many others, the adage “quality over quantity” is true for their products.
Their jewelry is considered a rarity today and they are among the best in terms of attention to detail, fine craftsmanship using high quality materials and brilliant enamel.
However, most of DuJay’s earliest and most valuable works have not been identified. The company began labeling jewelry after 1938.
As with other high-end costume jewelry businesses, this company’s designs (28 of which were patented between 1938 and 1940) were widely copied. For this reason, avid collectors are often wary of vintage unsigned items sold as DuJays, as they rarely match quality.
The style of DuJay jewelry changed after World War II, but the quality remained at a high level. Many pieces made in the late 1940s imitate fine jewelry, using high-quality glass stones to simulate sapphires, jade, and other gemstones set in gold and sterling silver.
