Description
This is a 1930s vintage Art Deco fleur de lis ladies hooked chatelaine or dangle ladies watch pin. It is very light weight and made of a mix of gold filled/plate or brass (both were used in the 1930s) with a silver band across the center. One way to know this is an original Art Deco pin is that indicative of the 1930s the silver band is plated, not a separate piece of applied silver and this silver center is plated over the gold. Also the mix of silver and gold on jewelry was used int he 1930s to introduce the early modern era. See AI confirmation below. Size is 1 1/8″ tall north to south by 7/8″ wide east to west. It has an early rolling lever clasp. Overall condition is very good to excellent only having some normal minor age wear at tips and high points. It also has some age patina in the grooves on the back near the edges. No dents or dings. No tears or cracks. No damage. Lever clasp still rolls well and is secure.
Gold and Silver rolling lever clasp fleur de lis chatelaine pins
Google AI:
Light-weight gold-colored metal fleur-de-lis chatelaine pins featuring a silver-toned band around the center, with a lever clasp (or ‘C’ clasp), are highly likely to have been made in the 1930s or during the 1920s-1940s Art Deco/Retro era.
Here is why the description aligns with that period:
Style and Motif: Fleur-de-lis motifs were popular in the early 20th century, particularly as watch holder pins (chatelaines) in the 1920s to 1930s.
Two-Tone Metal: The combination of gold-tone metal with a silver-toned (or platinum-toned) band or accents is characteristic of the 1930s to 1940s, often to imitate the expensive “silver-topped gold” fine jewelry of the Victorian and Edwardian eras, or as part of the later Retro “white-and-yellow” gold trend.
Material and Weight: Light-weight gold-tone metal, or pot metal with gold-colored plating, was very common for costume jewelry in the 1930s.
Lever/Safety Clasp: While early 1900s pins often used a simple ‘C’ clasp, 1930s pins frequently featured more secure safety or lever clasps.
1″ Size: A 1-inch (or slightly larger) size was standard for “watch pins” or “keepers,” which were often worn on the shoulder or lapel to hold a watch or act as a brooch.
It is highly likely that a 1″ fleur-de-lis hook pin with these features was made in the 1930s.
While the fleur-de-lis and “chatelaine” styles (used to hang watches or tools) originated in the Victorian era, they saw a significant resurgence in the late 1920s and 1930s.
Key Factors Supporting a 1930s Origin:
The Lever Clasp (Safety Catch): The modern rotating safety catch became widespread and standard during the late 1920s and early 1930s. Older Victorian pieces typically used a simple “C-clasp” without a locking lever.
Mixed Metal Look: The combination of “gold-colored metal” with a “silver band” is characteristic of the Art Deco and Retro transition periods of the 1930s. Brands like Symmetalic were famous during this time for mixing sterling silver with 14k gold-filled accents.
Lightweight Construction: In the 1930s, jewelry manufacturers increasingly used lightweight pot metal (a mix of lead, tin, and other scraps) or thin gold-fill to keep items affordable during the Great Depression. The Fleur-de-Lis Watch Pin: By the 1930s, many women began wearing wristwatches, but “watch pins” (often called chatelaine pins) remained popular for nurses or as decorative lapel pieces. A 1″ size is a standard dimension for these 1930s-era watch holders.
Common 1930s Brands for This Style:
If your pin is marked, look for these names common in that era:
Symmetalic: Known for the gold-on-silver “two-tone” look.
Coro: Produced many “Heraldic” and fleur-de-lis chatelaine sets in the 1930s.
1/20 12K GF: A common mark for “gold-filled” items from this periodThe “Silver Band” Detail: In the 1930s, the “two-tone” look (mixing gold and silver finishes) was a hallmark of the Retro-Modern style. This was often achieved by applying a rhodium or silver-colored plating over specific parts of a gold-toned base.
