Brands

LEDO POLCINI – vintage jewelry

Advertising poster for the company.
Advertising poster for the LEDO POLCINI company.

LEDO POLCINI – like many famous jewelers, an emigrant from Italy and a jeweler by education and main activity.

Jeweler Ralph Polcini left his native Italy in search of the American Dream back in the late 19th century. In 1911, he founded the Polcini Company in the small town of Mamaroneck near New York and began producing expensive jewelry. By 1949, Ralph had changed the mark on Polcini’s costume jewelry, changing it to Ledo.

Pendant and earrings with enamel and rhinestones.
Pendant and earrings with enamel and rhinestones.

It must be admitted that Ralph Polcini had reasons to declare his leadership ambitions. His company, of course, did not become a leader in terms of the volume of jewelry produced. On the contrary, jewelry marked Polcini and Ledo are real rarities. But in terms of the quality of jewelry, Ralph Polcini left many competitors far behind. Polchini’s jewelry was made only by hand (!) and with great skill. The basis for his costume jewelry was expensive jewelry alloys and silver, often with real gold plating(!). Along with high-quality rhinestones, which were favored by many jewelers of that time, Polcini used natural stones: opal, pearls, lapis lazuli, bone.

Gilded leaf brooch.
Gilded leaf brooch.

In addition, Ralph loved to experiment with glass. And many of his fittings adorn magnificent glass replicas of jewelry, imitating the shine of precious stones.

Almost all Polcini and Ledo jewelry is made in the Art Deco style. At the same time, jewelry marked Polcini is usually more elaborate, luxurious, and often uses natural and artificial gems. Products with the Ledo brand are more restrained, elegant, and classic. Ralph Polcini died in 1954, bequeathing the family business to his son Damon. And in 1960, Damon returned the name Polcini to the company.

Ring with coral cabochons.
Ring with coral cabochons.

In addition to the Polcini hallmark itself, the works of this jewelry house were marked with the “handwritten” marking “Ledo” and the seal “RIST-LETTE by Ledo”. Often the year of manufacture of the decoration was stamped next to it. In addition, the Lee Menichi for Polcini “designer” mark appeared briefly in 1971. Following Damon’s death, the Company ceased to exist in the early 1980s…

Large bracelet with crystals.
Large bracelet with crystals.
Polcini Detailed Filigree with Rhinestone Gilded Gold Vermeil Brooch.
Polcini Detailed Filigree with Rhinestone Gilded Gold Vermeil Brooch.
Vintage Polcini Diamante with Faux Turquoise Brooch Circa 1980s.
Vintage Polcini Diamante with Faux Turquoise Brooch Circa 1980s.
Vintage Ledo Rhinestone 3D brooch Circa 1960s.
Rhinestone 3D brooch Circa 1960s.
Vintage Ledo Gold Tone with Diamante Leaf Brooch, circa 1960s.
Vintage Ledo Gold Tone with Diamante Leaf Brooch, circa 1960s.
Vintage Ledo Diamante and Gold Bracelet Circa 1960s.
Vintage Ledo Diamante and Gold Bracelet Circa 1960s.
Elegant Faux Emerald and Diamond Plume Brooch.
Elegant Faux Emerald and Diamond Plume Brooch.
Vintage Polcini Freeform Rhinestone Pave Brooch, circa 1960s.
Vintage Polcini Freeform Rhinestone Pave Brooch, circa 1960s.