Krementz black Mother of Pearl Art Deco cufflinks

These superb quality Art Deco cufflinks were made by Krementz & Co of New York during the early 1900s.

The round faces have an intricately etched platinum coloured border with a shimmering black Mother of Pearl centre. The polished Mother of Pearl has a gentle iridescent sheen with pink and green hues. The faces are mounted onto a gold filled backing with the Krementz makers mark. They measure 14 mm across and connect with the company’s unique ‘loose link’ chain.

German immigrant George Krementz founded Krementz & Co in 1866 in New Jersey and within a few decades had become one of the most significant manufacturers of high quality men’s jewellery of the period. At that time the style, design and wearing of men’s jewellery was regularly featured in etiquette manuals and popular magazines like Gentleman’s Quarterly, Vogue and Vanity Fair.

Krementz & Co advertised its designs widely, usually focussing on its many patented men’s pieces. They encouraged the purchase of its accessories for almost every conceivable occasion, and worked to convince potential customers that its men’s jewellery was “proper” in every way. One such advertisement proclaimed: “Wherever you find well-dressed men you find Krementz jewellery. The two are inseparable.”