Designer of the Week
Who is BSK?
Dates of Operation- 1948 - 1980s
Design Characteristics - Colorful enamel designs. Use of base metal dipped
in enamel. Some whimsical designs. Use of Aurora Borealis Rhinestones, often
in combination with enamel. Leaf style overlay.
©2007 Vintage Jewelry Lane
There is very little information about the designer BSK. The company was founded in New York in 1948 and was in business until the mid 1980s. (I've seen one reference book listing the 1970s, but most seem to agree that they closed their doors in the mid 1980s. The letters BSK stand for the first initials of the three owners: Benny Steinberg, Slovitt and Kaslo.
Some designs are above average in looks, particularly those with rhinestones. Overall, though, their designs are of average style, although very good quality. The jewelry sold well in the 1950s, when the demand for affordable jewelry boomed after the war time period. The BSK line was reasonably priced and was sold in department stores such as Woolworths.
Often mothers and teachers received BSK designs as gifts because of the price point. Many of their designs were of the typical brushed goldtone finish so popular at the time with Trifari and other designers. One very interesting series that the company did was called My Fair Lady, and this is featured in many vintage jewelry reference books at better than average book values.
Value of the pieces today
BSK jewelry is not particularly expensive to buy and is relatively easy to find. Don't buy pieces with flaws, since they will not warrant repair costs to fix them. If possible buy sets instead of single pieces. BSK is prized by some collections of vintage jewelry for the lovely combination of enameling and rhinestones, so the pieces should slowly rise in value.
Design Marks - BSK and BSK My Fair Lady
©2007 Vintage Jewelry Lane
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