Historic Description of Charel Jewelry

By Something Vintage Jewelry | 2025

Charel Jewelry was an American costume jewelry company that flourished during the mid-20th century, especially in the 1940s through the 1960s. Known for its affordable yet stylish designs, Charel offered women a way to embrace fashion trends without the high cost of fine jewelry.

The company specialized in producing pieces that balanced elegance with everyday wearability—necklaces, bracelets, brooches, and earrings that were often light in construction but bold in style. Many designs reflected the era’s shift toward more casual elegance after World War II, with a focus on floral motifs, textured metals, and colorful glass or rhinestones.

Unlike higher-end designers such as Eisenberg or Ciner, Charel’s creations were not intended for luxury events but for accessible glamour—pieces that could transition from daytime attire to evening wear with ease. This made Charel a favorite among women who wanted fashionable jewelry for work, social gatherings, or weekends out.

Though the brand did not achieve the lasting fame of some contemporaries, Charel remains collectible today for its reflection of postwar American fashion sensibilities. Its jewelry embodies the democratic spirit of mid-century costume design: stylish, affordable, and expressive of the everyday woman’s sense of style.