Vintage Heidi Daus Jewelry Buying Guide

Those of you not as familiar with Heidi Daus jewelry are in for a visual treat. Her collection features statement pieces of the highest order, with intricate designs, multiple colored crystals and a unique artistry often combining sculpted detailing and geometric, Art Deco-influenced styling. 

Heidi traveled the world at a young age and brought back many influences from nature, animals, the art world and home décor - things she had observed overseas – and she wove these masterfully into her jewelry. 

Looking for vintage Heidi Daus jewelry? Learn about the history, materials used, jewelry marks, and collectable pieces in this guide.

How Are Her Pieces Made? 

Her pieces are highly detailed, sparing no effort to create lifelike designs set in glittering crystals. Her jewelry goes through a rigorous design process, which starts with a simple sketch of a bird, flowers or other inspiration taken from nature. What makes the Heidi Daus difference is her extraordinary attention to detail. She uses not one crystal color but a combination of multiple colors which gives special depth and layering to each piece, bringing it to life. 

Craftsmanship 

Her craftsmanship is exquisite. A casting of the final piece is made in which the crystals must fit perfectly. Many of Heidi’s pieces contain literally hundreds of tiny colored stones or crystals which are then cast in a distinctive antique gold colored plate. The balance and fit of each colored crystal set in the plating must be perfect for a piece to earn the Heidi Daus name. 

Iconic Design

If you had to choose one iconic design that typifies the Heidi Daus look, it would be that of a dragonfly. Dragonflies appear in many of her pieces. You will also see geishas, pagodas, Chinese symbols, butterflies, flowers, animals, dragons and other mythical creatures. 

Heidi Daus pieces are sophisticated and confident. Her colors and designs are bold and beautiful and are considered ‘wearable art’ by her legions of fans. You will want to collect as many of her pieces as you can, as you come to appreciate their range, and marvel at their visual artistry. 

If you are looking for vintage Heidi Daus jewelry, then you have come to the right place. Here you will learn about the history, materials, jewelry marks, our favorite collectible pieces and where to buy them. 

History of Heidi Daus Jewelry 

1961 – Heidi Daus is born in New Jersey. She is educated in New York City and is exposed to the world of fashion at an early age. Her grandmother travels constantly, bringing home artefacts, jewelry and gifts which inspire the young Heidi to explore her own design talent. Her grandmother owns both street jewelry and luxury gemstones which she loves in equal measure. As a child, Heidi is also taken to visit the iris gardens in New Jersey, which introduces her to the beauty of flowers. Their shapes and colors become yet another influence in her journey as a designer. 

1981 – Heidi launches her company in New York, buying beads from downtown stores and making them into jewelry to be sold in her store. She also carries her bag of “pretties,” as she calls them, and walks up and down Madison Avenue selling them into the jewelry stores. 

She also travels the world, visiting the fashion capitals and bringing back her inspirations and state of the art jewelry-making techniques to incorporate into her jewelry designs. 

Heidi signs with the Home Shopping Network to sell her jewelry and produces many successful, top-selling lines with them. She also establishes an ongoing relationship with Swarovski Crystals. 

2012 – Heidi produces a jewelry line for the Home Shopping Network to launch the release of Snow White and the Huntsman starring Kristen Stewart and Charlize Theron. Her apple brooch has hundreds of tiny red stones set in an apple shaped brooch – with a bite taken out, of course. 

2017 – Heidi teams up with Swarovski Crystals to present her Holiday in New York Crystal Pin Collection. It includes Christmas inspired brooches, including a whimsical yellow taxi brooch featuring Swarovski crystals with a yellow enamel Christmas tree tied to the roof. Another of her designs features a champagne bucket with crystal ice and bottle. Her feathery angel holds a long glittering crystal in its hand, and a dazzling Empire State Building topped with a star completes her homage to New York.

2019 – Heidi introduces the most spectacular necklace she has ever designed. It is called The Goddess of Love necklace and it consists of crystal medallions set in six huge four-stringed glass pearl strands and thousands of Swarovski crystals. 

2019 – Having spent 35 years designing jewelry, Heidi turns her design eye to the world of fashion. She presents a Limited Edition 2019 Holiday Collection at Fashion Week. 

Along the way, she moves her design and manufacturing studio to Montclair New Jersey, where it is currently.

Heidi Daus Materials 

• Multi-colored crystals 
• Swarovski branded crystals 
• Bronze or brass tone metal plating
• Italian inspired chain
• Enamel
• Fabric
• Leather
• Glass
• Stones
• Shells
• Precious stones
• Semi-precious stones
• Pearls
• Rhinestones

Heidi Daus Jewelry Marks

• Heidi Daus
• Heidi Daus China
• Heidi Daus CN
• Heidi Daus for Jim Walters (from 1990- 1998)

Our Favorite Vintage Heidi Daus Collectible Pieces

Vintage Heidi Daus pieces are readily available online, and some of our favorite ones are to be found on Etsy. 

Start your collection with this jaw-dropping, exquisitely detailed Lark's Bird Nest Brooch. It is a multi-dimensional, stunningly realistic piece depicting a bird’s nest made of Austrian crystals, embellished with orange and pink flowers and green leaves. In the center are five robin egg blue hand enameled eggs:

Next, we’ve selected a vintage chunky rhinestone couture bracelet, with the medallion design seen in many of Heidi’s pieces. It is signed on the back. 

This “Court of Critters” crystal beaded bib necklace features monkeys and elephants in an exotic Asian design. 

Our next four choices are not expensive, but they are typical Heidi Daus brooches; they’re lifelike, detailed and exquisitely made. First is a the “High Life” high heel pin:

Then we have the cow who won “First Prize at The State Fair” …

Our last choice is a geometric shaped watch set with pastel-colored stones and crystals. It is a watch, but also doubles as a unique fashion bracelet. 

Vintage Heidi Daus jewelry is, simply put, collectible, wearable art. We encourage you to take a closer look at the pieces we’ve recommended and at other examples of her work. You will be both amazed and delighted by what you see. She has taken the concept of a simple brooch, earrings, necklace or watch and made them into glittering works of art. 

Best of all, her pieces are affordable - so start your collection today.