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What Does the C.R. Stand for in Vintage Jewelry?

When costume jewelry features a maker's mark, it is considered a signed piece. A symbol or script appears on a clasp or in another inconspicuous place. If a "CR" mark is found, the piece is an early example of a product from the prolific Coro Jewelry Company.

Description
- CR stands for Cohn &Rosenberger.
  
  The CR mark appears as CR or C and R, and stands for Cohn &Rosenberger, the earliest incarnation of Coro. The imprint features a large capital C with a capital letter R in a slightly smaller pica size resting at its side. If the mark appears as "C and R," the word "and" bisects the letter C.
Early History
- Fashionable women of the 1920s wore Cohn &Rosenberger.
  
  The partners, Emanuel Cohn &Carl Rosenberger, founded the company in Rhode Island in 1902, and incorporated their venture in 1914.
Products
- Styles were adapted from around the globe.
  
  From the onset, the company featured imported costume jewelry pieces, mixed with work from a stable of designers who developed original work and adapted popular styles.
Timeline
- The widely recognized Coro name appeared on jewelry concurrently with other marks, but was officially adopted in 1947, when the company name was officially changed to Coro.
Other Marks
- Vendome and Francois were high-end lines for special occasions.
  
  Additional imprints of the company include the premium lines of Vendome and Francois, and moderate lines such as Corocraft.

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