JOHN RUBEL CO
American jeweler famous for his 1940’s
angel and dancer brooches. Before he became its competitor, John Rubel
worked for Van Cleef & Arpels. His company, John Rubel Co. was one
of its Parisian manufacturing jewelers. In 1939, Rubel moved to New York
to help produce jewelry for Van Cleef's recently opened shop in the
city. Both firms shared designer Maurice Duvalet, a Frenchman who
reputedly “brought chic to everything he touched.” Duvalet designed
ballerina and cupid-motif brooches for both firms. The designs were
highly successful. In 1943, the collaboration with Van Cleef ended, and
Rubel opened his own showroom at 777 Fifth Avenue. In the years that
followed, Rubel created jewels depicting French cancan dancers, Spanish
flamenco dancers, the Rockettes, Louis XVI style dancers, and dancing
flowers inspired by the film, Fantasia. The firm also produced a series
of popular flower-motif brooches featuring rubies, diamonds, and
turquoise—a combination that was widely copied by other jewelers. It is,
moreover, credited for popularizing domed cocktail rings with matching
earrings. In 1947, the firm closed its doors.
