Guide to Vintage Avon Jewelry

If you are looking to add some vintage Avon jewelry to your collection, you have come to the right place. In this guide you will learn about the history, designers, jewelry marks, materials used, and tips on how to buy.

Avon may be best known for cosmetics and fragrances, but their jewelry, especially that offered from the mid-1970s to the late-1990s, is in great demand by collectors. Pieces created for special collections, such as those designed by Kenneth Jay Lane and Elizabeth Taylor, are hard to find and, therefore, quite valuable.

Brief History of Avon Jewelry

David H. McConnell founded the California Perfume Company in 1886 with an original and distinctly modern sales plan: ladies going door-to-door selling fragrances and toiletries directly to ladies. Women had the opportunity to establish their own businesses! By the turn of the century, there were 5,000 much admired “Avon Ladies.” Thirty years later, there were 25,000. In 1939, the company became “Avon Products, Inc.” and expanded their products lines, including skin care, talcum powder and vanity sets.

Avon jewelry began in 1963, originally as a free gift for purchasing a particular product or as a premium for buying a certain number of products. The jewelry, characterized by brilliant stones, filigree, and gold leaf, looked like fine jewelry, and it was wildly popular. The demand resulted in Avon’s first collection that customers could buy in 1970. The collection included necklaces, pendants, rings and brooches that held perfume, solid or liquid, a status symbol for the ladies of the 1970s.

By 1975, Avon was the world's largest costume-jewelry producer—for men as well as women. Jewelry representing owls and other animals were popular at the time, as were cameos, bangles, Christmas and Halloween designs, and the ever-romantic hearts. By the 1980s, Avon's reputation for offering high-quality yet affordable costume jewelry began to attract notable designers to the line.

Today, after a complicated series of mergers and acquisitions, Avon is a international conglomerate with sales of more than $10 billion. In 2020, it began its new campaign “Watch Me Now” and introduced a whole new logo.

Vintage Avon Jewelry Designers

Jose & Maria Barrera

1980s: Jose & Maria Barrera “Roman Holiday” Pendant and Earrings Set

Jose and Maria Barrera collaborated with Avon in the late 1980s-early1990s. Their pieces are some of the most collectible of Avon jewelry. The bold yet often delicate designs translated well to the Avon brand. Collectors will find that vintage Avon Barrera jewelry is worth two to three times the original price.

Kenneth Jay Lane

1970s: Kenneth Jay Lane for Avon Statement / Runway Capriati Necklace

Kenneth Jay Lane’s costume jewelry was in demand by Hollywood celebrities, socialites and royalty. His designs were fun yet sophisticated, and Avon carried his collections longer than any other of their designers. KJL for Avon pieces commanded a higher price than the “ordinary” Avon jewelry, and the same is true today for the vintage collectibles.

Elizabeth Taylor

1990s: Elizabeth Taylor for Avon Egyptian Bracelet Bangle

Elizabeth Taylor designed jewelry for Avon from 1993 to 1997. It was the most popular and the most expensive. Her designs are ornately detailed, luxurious and often indistinguishable from fine jewelry. Many pieces were inspired by her films, such as Cleopatra and The Taming of the Shrew. One show piece in particular was the replica of the Shah Jenah necklace gifted to her by Richard Burton. ET jewelry was glamorously wrapped in violet, the color of ET’s eyes. 

Celine Dion

Celine Dion Limited Edition Titanic Romantic Heart of the Ocean Necklace

In 1998, Celine Dion worked with Avon to offer a "My Heart Will Go On" necklace based on the jewel Rose wore in Titanic.

Smithsonian Institution

1997: Gellatly Cross Necklace - Book Piece

The original cross, 7 inches high, made in the 13^th century was gifted to the museum by John Gellatly. The Avon cross, at 2+ inches, was created by designers from Avon and the Smithsonian and signed by both on a metal tag. Crafted in copper and champleve enamel, the cross was highly textured and etched. One side was plain; the other blue and white enamel. 

Vintage Avon Jewelry Hallmarks

Some initials are merely an internal company code for who manufactured the piece.

Identified initials are: SH, MR, LYK, BW, WN, SP

© AVON

K.J.L. for AVON (Kenneth Jay Lane)

Barrera for AVON (Jose and Maria Barrera)

Large script E within an oval (Elizabeth Taylor)

Smithsonian Avon  

• Celia Sebiri for Avon - 1987
• Shaill Jhevari for Avon - 993 to 1994
• Coreen Simpson for Avon - 1994 to 1998.
• Billy D. Williams for Avon
• Trifari designed and made the 1986 Centennial Jewelry for Avon

Please note that a Canadian company, Avon of Belleville, made costume jewelry between 1945 and 1971. Those pieces have no connection to “our” Avon.

Here is a link to see all of the Avon marks.

Materials Used in Vintage Avon Jewelry

• Lucite
• Bakelite
• Thermosets (e.g., silicone and polyurethane)
• Resin 
• Acrylic
• Gold-tone metal
• Real gold (but rarely)
• Sterling silver
• CZ diamonds
• Rhinestones
• Cabochons (that simulated precious gems)
• Glass beads
• Faux pearls
• Moonstone
• Coral
• Enamel

Collectible Vintage Avon Jewelry 

AVON Burst of Spring Necklace

1988 – From the Burst of Spring collection, a green (“apple jade”) and white acrylic beaded necklace measuring 28-1/2 inches

AVON Gold Faux Pearl Perfume Ring

1970s – Art Deco Style statement ring, adjustable so you can wear it on any finger. Notice the hinged front where the perfume is hidden away, yet handy.

Gold Tone and Blue Stone Locket Necklace

1970s (estimated) – Locket (2 ¼ inches tall) with blue cabochon and rope chain (25 inches long) are gold-tone metal. 

14K Gold, 20-Pearl and Single Diamond Setting Brooch

20^th century – One of the rare pieces of fine jewelry rendered in 14K gold with 20 uniformly sized pearls and .10 carat brilliant diamond set in the center. This is a once in a lifetime piece for the buyer.

Aurora Borealis Bow Christmas Tree Pin - Book Piece

1992 – Gold-tone metal Christmas pin with six aurora borealis rhinestones, measures 2.25” high and 1 5/8” wide.

Halloween Pins, Boy & Girl Scarecrows

1992 – Gold-tone metal and enamel pins measure about 1 ¾ inch 1 ½ inch.

Is Avon Jewelry Worth Anything?

Yes, Avon jewelry is worth something to the people who collect it. Because Avon is a company that has been around for decades, and because they have massive distribution, there is a plethora of vintage jewelry designs available. 

Most Valuable Avon Jewelry

The most valuable Avon jewelry includes:

• Designs by Elizabeth Taylor sell for a high price, some pieces can fetch upwards of $500
• Kenneth Jay Lane designs are highly collectible. They can sell for $200 - $500
• Avon's President Club pins are rare because they were not sold for retail and were only given to top Avon sellers. 

Is Avon Jewelry Real Gold?

Avon mostly created gold-tone jewelry. There is some Avon jewelry marked with a 14k gold mark, so they did use some real gold, but it is rare. 

Is Avon Jewelry Real Silver?

Most of Avon's vintage jewelry is silver toned and not made with real silver. They do have a section on their current website for sterling silver pieces. 

Conclusion

One thing that contributes to the demand for vintage Avon jewelry is that it was limited. The market was never glutted with a particular piece or line. They were regularly discontinued. Another thing is that jewelry was only a small portion of the Avon business. Find a piece from the 1960s, and you have had a very successful hunt!

To see more examples of Avon jewelry, please visit the Avon pages on Etsy and eBay.