Forstner American manufacturer of vintage jewelry

Forstner is a renowned American manufacturer of vintage jewelry.

The company was founded in 1920 in Irvington, New Jersey, and was originally known as The Forstner Chain Corporation.

In 1950, the company was renamed Forstner Jewelry Manufacturing Corporation.

In 1939, Forstner patented a new bracelet design called the Komfit. His idea was to create a watch strap that allowed the clasp and buckle to be adjusted in length and then locked in place.

In the 1940s, a stylish version of the Bonklip bracelet was developed—shaped like a stair railing, intended for use with military watches.

In 1980, the company ceased operations. A revived company was incorporated in 1992, but by 2002, its status had changed to “liquidated.”

Forstner pieces are distinguished by their distinctive Art Deco or classical design. Common decorative elements include leaves, ribbons, flowers, and spirals, as well as intricate designs on brooches, clasps, pendants, and rings.

The pieces were made using gold-plated or silver alloys; natural gemstones or enamel were excluded.

Product markings changed as production progressed: from 1922 to 1937, the “Forstner Sterling” stamp was printed in large letters within a rectangle; from 1937 until the late 1960s, the “Forstner” inscription was in cursive; and, beginning in 1962, a backward-facing F with a central arrow.