About Juliana Jewelry
Juliana jewelry was produced by DeLizza & Elster (D&E) from the 1960s through the 1990s. Unlike many other costume jewelry manufacturers, D&E rarely marked their pieces, making identification challenging for collectors. The Juliana line is known for its elaborate designs, dimensional construction, and exceptional use of art glass and rhinestones.
D&E Construction Hallmarks
Since most Juliana pieces are unsigned, identification relies on recognizing these distinctive construction techniques.
Five-Link Hinges
Brooch closures with 5 small metal links - a hallmark of D&E construction
Two-Part Construction
Stone settings attached separately from base metalwork
Figure-8 Puddling
Distinctive solder marks on the back of pieces
Foil-Backed Stones
Bright, reflective backing on rhinestones
What Makes Juliana Valuable
Several factors determine the value of Juliana and D&E jewelry.
Complexity
Multi-layered, dimensional designs command higher prices
Stone Variety
Art glass, rhinestones, and cabochons increase value
Color Combinations
Bold, unusual color pairings are highly sought after
Construction Quality
Heavy, well-made pieces indicate authentic D&E work
Attributing Unsigned Juliana: A Real Example
Because DeLizza & Elster rarely signed their own jewelry, Juliana attribution is a construction-reading exercise — and it's why so many valuable D&E pieces get sold for a few dollars at estate sales by people who assume unsigned means worthless. A past-sale example from our inventory is the Juliana D&E tulip brooch in autumnal tones pictured in our gallery below: an unsigned, dimensional brooch in one of the line's signature tulip motifs, with the layered stone work D&E produced from the 1960s through the 1990s.
When a piece like that comes in, we authenticate it step by step. We flip the brooch and look for the five-link hinge on the pin mechanism — a hallmark of D&E construction — along with figure-8 puddling in the solder on the reverse. We check whether the stone settings were built as separate components and attached to the base metalwork (two-part construction), and we examine the stones themselves for the bright foil backing D&E favored. Weight matters too: authentic Juliana pieces are heavy, with dense metalwork that lighter imitations can't match.
Motif and scale drive value. Tulip, fruit, and floral designs are the classic Juliana forms, and within the roughly $50 to $500+ range we see for the line, large statement brooches and complete parures sit at the top. Even unsigned pieces can be quite valuable when the construction checks out — so before you sell an unsigned rhinestone brooch as a generic piece, let us look at the hinge and the solder. Those two details alone often settle the attribution.
One more wrinkle: D&E produced jewelry for many other brands during those same decades, so identical five-link-hinge construction turns up under other names — and other companies copied the look without the construction. That overlap is exactly why we authenticate Juliana in person whenever possible. Bold, unusual color combinations like the autumnal palette on the tulip brooch are a strong indicator, but the metalwork underneath is what confirms a piece as genuine D&E.
Juliana Jewelry Examples
Examples of Juliana pieces we've authenticated and purchased.
Related Designers
We also buy jewelry from these costume jewelry designers.
Juliana Jewelry FAQ
Most Juliana pieces are unsigned. D&E produced jewelry for many brands and rarely marked their own pieces. Identification relies on construction techniques like five-link hinges, specific pin mechanisms, and distinctive stone settings.
Key identifiers include: five-link hinges on brooches, specific pin mechanisms, two-part construction with separate stone settings, and distinctive foil-backed rhinestones. Bring pieces in for expert authentication.
Juliana pieces range from $50 to $500+ depending on complexity, size, and rarity. Large statement pieces and complete parures command the highest prices. Even unsigned pieces can be quite valuable.
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