Fantastic Hobe Costume Jewelry; A Short History

One of the most sought after names for vintage jewelry collectors is Hobe.  From brilliant designs encrusted with rhinestones of all colors to mesh, highly filigreed and beaded sets, Hobe designs are a standout. The history of the company explains the extraordinary detail and quality of its jewelry.

William Hobe Parure - Pinterest

Hobe' et Cie was founded in Paris in 1887 by Jaques Hobe', a master crafstmen and jeweler to the French Court.  The company's ideal was to use fine jewelry techniques and non-precious stones to make affordable jewelry for the newly emergent middle class.

Jaques' son (or grandson in some accounts) William, immigrated to New York City in 1915 and set up shop in America.

Hobe Full Parure - Pinterest

Hobe's incredible, rich designs made the company a standout in the field of costume jewelry. William studied the jewelry of the historical French courts.  He replicated these designs and imbued his creations with a royal touch.  Jacques' roots in fine jewelry continued to guide the Hobe design ethos.

Hobe Portrait Cameo from Glitzer by Sal on Etsy

Hobe's star went up when Florence Ziegfield commissioned William to design for the Follies.  Some scholars believe that this association may have led to the phrase "costume jewelry" as Ziegfield used it to describe the jewelry William made for his shows.

So began a long history of designing for Hollywood. By the 1940s Hobe jewelry was known as "Jewels of Legendary Splendor" and the company's magazine advertisements featured Hollywood legends --Bette Davis, Ava Gardner and other Hollywood luminaries.

From the 1920s to the 1950s Hobe jewelry was made with chrysoprase, garnet, real pearls and other fine stones. Hand woven meshes, enamels, filigrees, vermeil and other high end techniques were used.  William used semi-precious stones and gold plating.

Hobe Brooch from Vintage Sparkles on Etsy

Hobe always focused on high quality and designs tied to historical European aristocracy. The beautiful workmanship and breathtaking pieces, especially the earlier ones, is what makes Hobe jewelry so valuable to collectors today.

Sadly, the family company stopped making jewelry in the 1990s.

There is a present day company that marks its jewelry as Hobe -- but it is not the legendary company started by Jaques in France and brought to America by William.















References: Collector's Weekly; Vintage Hobe Costume Jewelry
                    Morning Glory Jewelry: Hobe Jewelry Information
                    JewelryAccessories.com; Hobe (1887- 1990)