BROOCH

Mid Century vintage brooch featuring carved amethyst and nephrite jade set in a 14 karat gold floral motif, by German designer, Franz Breuning
Photo courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, CMA, AJP

A brooch is a decorative item fastened to a piece of clothing using a hinged pin and catch.

Brooches were popular throughout many jewelry periods, such as the Georgian, Victorian, Art Nouveau, Edwardian, Art Deco & Retro eras.

Brooch Safety Catches

HANDMADE C-CATCH
PRE 1910
Handmade C-catch brooch fastener on a Victorian Era antique brooch
Handmade c-catch on an antique brooch

Prior to 1910, brooches were fastened by a pin that extends far beyond the handmade C-catch, with a tube hinge.​
TROMBONE CATCH
1850 - 1910

The push-pull "trombone" safety catch was patented in 1850, in Great Britain.  They didn't become popular in jewelry made in the United States until much later.
LEVER SAFETY CATCH
1900-1930s

The lever safety catch was first used as a brooch fastener around 1900.
MODERN SAFETY CATCH
POST 1911

The modern safety catch used to fasten brooch pins was invented in 1911. The modern pin catch features a rotating mechanism that secures the pin, preventing accidental slippage.  This style of safety catch is still widely used today.

Brooch Hinges

HANDMADE TUBE HINGE
1850-1870

This type of handmade tube hinge was frequently seen between 1850-1870.
HANDMADE TUBE HINGE
1870-1930

This type of handmade hinge has two tubes soldered to a pad, which is easily soldered onto the reverse side of the brooch.  The third (middle) tube is soldered to the pin.
MACHINE-MADE ROUND HINGE
POST 1930

The round hinge was developed around 1930.  Usually machine-made, these parts saved jewelers both assembly time and labor costs.